Internal flexibility and responsiveness. Promotion of eCommerce has increased the expectations of shorter lead times and quicker deliveries of products. This could influence perceptions about lead times within many supply chains, irrespective of their reliance on eCommerce channels of distribution. The most recent posts have identified that improvements to your supply chains will occur mainly within the core supply chains … Read More
Improving supply chains takes time so improve Logistics
Threat to Outbound Logistics. For most businesses, internal Logistics is where supply chain professionals maintain the balance between inbound and outbound Logistics. But what success can be expected from working independently from other functions? Inbound Logistics can experience change caused by the effects of decisions by suppliers, service providers, natural emergencies and external (i.e. government). However, an increasing threat of change … Read More
Availability is provided from within the Master Plan
Planning for Availability. Providing Availability is what Logistics does. The role of Logistics is ‘the time related positioning of items and resources that provide Availability of goods and services for customers’. Availability is achieved through four planning (thinking and calculating) functions: Customer Service logistics – planning inventory, distribution, storage and transport Conversion logistics – planning product manufacturing or the final assembly, … Read More
Manage eCommerce as another channel of distribution
Towards Omni-channel. The underlying processes and techniques of ordering from suppliers, moving and storing items and delivering orders to customers are well established. It is the progressive implementation and use of technologies which has enabled refinement and improvement through supply chains. Over the past forty years, the introduction and increasing use of home computers, mobile communications, warehouse automation and improved … Read More
An external decision can affect your supply chains
Decisions about imports and inventory. Holding inventory is one approach to reducing the sales risk of not satisfying customer demands. In most situations, inventory management (policy, planning and control) is based on internal organisation guidelines, but what about an external decision that could influence your inventory decisions? The blog Supply Chains can change but not for your reasons illustrates that … Read More