Inventory balances sales and supply. To become more competitive, management continue to make their organisations more efficient. But this has made their Supply Chains more complex. These competitive initiatives have ranged across: increased item (SKU) numbers, additional sales channels, quicker delivery times, outsourcing, global sourcing and low cost country sourcing. As complexity has increased, the processes and IT applications used to … Read More
Collaboration in Supply Chains – hard to be successful
Sales margins under pressure. Retail shopping power is now said to lay with the consumer using their mobile phone. However, it is the retailer and on-line merchant that dictate the channels available and the price per channel. Will the full cost of Internet shopping be charged to consumers? Studies have estimated the total cost of the ‘consumer click and retailer … Read More
Supply Chain risks you do not know about, but should
A recent event and risk. Its not the risks that you know about that are a challenge, but those you do not know. This situation came to the fore recently with regard to Australia’s smallest State, the island of Tasmania. With a small population and little industry, the State is reliant on imports from the mainland to stock the shops. … Read More
Consumer-centric networks – the next supply chains
A new ‘buzz’. Over the last eighteen months, the term ‘consumer-centric network’ has been used by some commentators and consultancies. So, what is new, because whenever there is competition for sales of an item or service, the customers’ needs should be taken into account. The explanation is that in current value and supply chains, the consumer is positioned at the … Read More
Where will future logistics hubs become established?
What makes a Logistics Hub? To have a city known as a ‘logistics hub’ is a goal that many politicians strive for. They believe it will bring wealth to the city and its region; but through the centuries, logistics hubs (even without that name) have risen and disappeared, so how do you know where future hubs will be? In late … Read More