Selling technology solutions A LAL blogpost written one year ago discussed the potential uncertainties of developing and using artificial intelligence (AI) within your supply chains. As the rate of promotional activities has not slowed, think about the steps to take before AI. In competitive technology situations, there are products to sell and concepts for potential buyers to get excited about. … Read More
Your Supply Chains group, Uncertainty and managing Risk
Uncertainty in Supply Chains What new risks in your organisation’s supply chains have been identified? In the past week articles have discussed the potential (new?) risks to global supply chains from the outage of communication cables under the Red Sea. Also that the current lack of rainfall in Panama could be a risk to the long-term viability of the Panama … Read More
Structure a Supply Chains Organisation to be effective
Why change? Does your company or organisation employ a person responsible for all aspects of supply chains and who reports to the CEO or a senior executive? Surveys indicate that the majority do not. But with all the media coverage of events that disrupt supply chains, why is this? It could be that the majority of businesses are structured as … Read More
The role of Procurement within the Supply Chains group
Procurement and Availability The role of the Supply Chains group (Procurement, Operations Planning and Logistics) is to provide Availability of finished products that satisfies customers’ demand. The lead role of Procurement is to enhance that capability through providing Availability of input items. When asked about the role of Procurement (or Purchasing), most people will answer ‘buys things’. But, no matter … Read More
The Scheduling part of Operations Planning and Scheduling
Different requirements In manufacturing businesses, production run lengths have become shorter, due in part to the real or imagined need for product extensions that address narrow customer and consumer needs. There is less of high volume Make to Stock (MTS) and more of High Mix, Low Volume (HMLV) under descriptors of Make to Order (MTO) and Assemble to Order (ATO). … Read More