Change is not just technologies. Three recent events emphasise that changes to supply chains over the next 10 – 15 years are unlikely to be driven by new technologies. Instead change will come from economic, political and environmental events and movements. The first event (economic) was an update about the three main shipping container alliances. These influence close to 80 … Read More
Agile supply chains require apps for Assemble to Order
IT applications which meet the need. Commentators are telling us that to be successful, manufacturers and distributors operating in an ‘on-demand’ economy will require to integrate the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing and multiple other technologies. But what they do not write about are the software requirements to plan the flow of materials and resources through an Agile supply … Read More
Innovations require effective planning of supply chains
Innovation and Continuous Improvement. Media articles and programmes that are focused on innovative technologies for business make much of the technical aspects, sometimes address the social (i.e employment) aspects, but rarely discuss the required integrated systems challenges. We have been there before in the 1980’s, with the advent of innovations associated with computer integrated manufacturing (CIM). It went through the … Read More
Segmentation for structuring supply chain relationships
Commercial relationships in supply chains. The essence of your Supply Network is to manage relationships between buyers and sellers in the core supply chains and to better understand the uncertainties associated with your extended supply chains. Within your core supply chains, the techniques and procedures of planning, buying, inventory storage and distribution are to achieve the expectations concerning ‘delivery in … Read More
Scenario Planning – a tool for responsive supply chains
Supply Chains will be changing. Over the past forty years, global sourcing, outsourcing and lean structures, overseen by IT networks have often improved efficiency and reduced costs, but they have also allowed the creation of extended (and potentially fragile) supply chains. This occurred on the assumption that the world had entered an era of stability and safety. But that scenario … Read More