An acronym lives again To explain how enterprise will structure and perform as the COVID-19 crisis recedes, a speaker at a recent on-line conference used the term VUCA, which required a dig into the archives. The acronym was developed in the late 1980s by the US Army War College, in relation to strategic thinking in a post-Cold War scenario. While … Read More
Supply Networks are being recognised for their value
Supply Network in the media What a surprise to read an article in a mainstream business magazine that uses the term Supply Network and the words Complex and Uncertainty all in the same paragraph! The virus crisis and its economic shocks are showing that supply chains have a use beyond just cutting costs. Similar to Logistics written on the side … Read More
Design and planning process for future supply chains
Recovery will take time Black Rock, the world’s largest fund manager has stated that the crisis will fundamentally reshape business practices, society and consumer habits – rethinking the way people work, shop, travel and gather. There will be a ‘new normal’ way of functioning and businesses will need to adapt. And the timeline for recovery could be long. The investment … Read More
A strategy for planning in the new supply chain world
The future will differ from the past Major downturns in business activity are when the ‘deck of cards’ of industry get reshuffled. So, what strategies will be in place for your organisation’s supply chains to respond? Developing a supply chain strategy for when the peak of the pandemic has passed will be a ‘clean sheet’ exercise. Typically, plans are designed … Read More
Action steps to reduce risks in your supply network
A change in approach to risk While many supply chain professionals will express concern about risks in their supply network, not so many take action to gain some measure of understanding and control over the risks. Given the spread and unknowns associated with the COVID-19 virus, attitudes about risks may change. The previous blogpost discussed two foundation processes for Risk … Read More