So much has changed in a year! While the supply chain pressures that have built up over the last two years continue to abate as transportation capacity problems ease and consumption shifts from goods to services, newer challenges and opportunities lie ahead. As costs pressures build up, organizations need to get creative in increasing the […]
As global supply chains continue to tackle ongoing disruptions, one major headwind that most organizations are faced with is the inflationary environment we are living through. This is starting to mount cost pressures just at the time when additional investments are needed to build resilience. So, how can organizations tackle the inflationary environment by finding […]
We’ve only just entered the second half of the year and people haven’t even taken their summer vacations yet, so why are we talking about holiday supply chains now? Last year, retailers started encouraging holiday shoppers to shop early. As a result, the holiday season got front loaded sometime in September. Given the challenges we’ve […]
My recent conversations with the supply chain practitioners are dominated by supply chain risk — specifically geopolitical risks in light of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Even companies that serve markets and rely on supply chains that are not directly affected by the conflict are starting to feel the effects of the war. Some […]
As I was enjoying the holidays, I had an opportunity to reflect on the year past and what the future holds for supply chains. Wanted to share these thoughts here. Organizations will increasingly look to optionality to risk proof their supply chains: As the recent events exposed single points of failure within the supply chains, […]
Recent supply chain disruptions are forcing organizations to challenge the prevailing wisdom and look for newer approaches to decision making. The simultaneous shocks to demand and supply, and the magnitude of these shocks are not something the world ever experienced. The demand patterns significantly shifted in terms of the product and channel mix. On the […]
Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) as a process has been around since the 1980’s. While the terminology evolved, the underlying thesis of S&OP has stayed the same, i.e., bridge the divide between sales forecasts and operational plans while respecting the budget. In general, S&OP consists of a New product review, Demand Review, Supply Review, Management […]
In a previous post, I made a case for how the Chief Supply Chain Officer (CSCO) and Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) are smarter together. I took the viewpoint that as the need for supply chain resiliency becomes front and center, CSCOs and CPOs will need to collaborate very closely; and shared the reasons why this […]
Over the years, cost and efficiency ruled the supply chain agenda. In light of the global pandemic, resiliency and business continuity come to the fore for the C-suite across many businesses and industries. The Chief Supply Chain Officer (CSCO) has gained prominence as organizations tackle the disruption and prepare for a post-COVID world. At the […]
Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. When I started my career in the late ’90s, supply chain was a cool place for math geeks! As a discipline supply chain was not really that big in […]
Over the past several years, companies have been incorporating sustainability in the supply chain, thanks in part to younger consumers who place a higher premium on environmentally-friendly practices. In fact, according to a Nielsen study, 81 percent of global consumers feel strongly that it’s a company’s duty to help improve the environment, making “going green” […]
