Change in CPG companies Are disruptions to supply chains just caused by geopolitical, climate and natural events, because these can influence supply chains relatively quickly? What about changes to supply chains that are caused by changes within industries, that can take longer to be felt? An example is the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry, where products often carry a ‘use … Read More
Political promises and decisions about Supply Chains
Forecasts are always wrong For any forecast, always attach probabilities of them occurring. A current forecast is the threat to increase tariffs on all goods entering the US and for very high tariffs on goods from China. This was mentioned many times in the recent US election campaign speeches and has received much coverage in the media. As a repeated … Read More
Supply Chains group, Networks and Cyber Security
Digitalization and Cyber Security Commentators have made many promises that Digitalization – the conversion of work processes into digital flows, will improve visibility through supply chains, both within and between organisations. Much less has been said about the risks to supply chains. As more digital connectivity is implemented through supply chains, the higher is each organisation’s vulnerability to cyber-attacks. Cyber Security … Read More
Supply Chains data accuracy and new technology purchase
‘New’ technologies in 2025 One skill that technologists have in abundance is promoting terminology that potential users will hopefully accept and use. Technology products promoted as a ‘must have’ for supply chains in 2025 include ‘agentic AI’ (or AI agents) and ‘AI-powered decision intelligence data platform (DIDP)’. What are they and are they needed? A brochure states that “AI agents … Read More
Supply Chains group can use Inventory Velocity metric
Inventory Management term A question for supply chains professionals is “How much finished goods inventory should be held”? But should the answer be provided as a financial value or as physical quantities? And is the answer readily available? As with other aspects of supply chains, a discussion of inventory must commence with an assurance that definitions agreed at the organisation … Read More