Water in supply chains Water is not a resource in which Logisticians typically concern themselves; but should they? Changes in climate and weather activity are likely to affect supply chains – less water available for much of the time; then too much water, in the form of floods. Water has not received the publicity of climate change, yet is a … Read More
Cultural influences on supply chains and trade
Geopolitical factors The uncertainties generated by ongoing trade tensions between the US and China and other inter-government trade disputes have initiated reviews by enterprises of the international supply chain operations they own or have outsourced. In addition to the cost implications of changes to supply chains, there are other factors affecting logistics to consider (where to relocate distribution and maybe … Read More
Inventory to ensure deliveries through supply chains
Actions to limit variability Increasing numbers of stock keeping units (SKUs), extended and variable lead times and shorter planning horizons are challenges for planners. Variability was discussed in the previous blogpost, identifying (at the end) actions that could be taken to limit variability. One action is to manage the allocation of finite capacity within a business. An approach to increasing … Read More
Investment in new technologies for your Supply Chains
New technologies list Articles, conferences, workshops and subjects in degree programmes continue to promote investment in technologies that are considered ‘new’. But when are these technologies right for your organisation to implement? Technologies currently considered as ‘new’ (enhanced from the Deloitte consulting list) are: Software Analytics: Predictive (using ‘big data’ within and between connected devices to enable decisions) and Prescriptive … Read More
New knowledge and skills for people in Supply Chains
Your organisation’s Supply Network Changes to global and regional supply chains are currently occurring through actions by national governments rather than market forces. This could influence how supply chain professionals approach their understanding of an organisation’s extended supply chains and decisions to modify or change business relationships. Your organisation’s Supply Network reflects the political, business and physical environment in which … Read More