What does sustainability mean to you? To address new circumstances, commercial organisations have always had to change their business model, products and processes. However, the added challenge in this century is the increasing range of factors to be be considered. The various factors have often been incorporated under the heading of Sustainability. But sustainability can mean different things. An example … Read More
Performance measurement and your supply network
Review your supply chain performance measures. Performance measurement at department level is often locally focused, without links to performance of the wider organisation or events outside the business. My previous blog discussed ‘you behave how you are measured’ and noted that performance measurement can be debased. Managers (and their staff) can ‘tick the box’ while hiding behind what appears to … Read More
In Supply Chains we behave how we are measured
A perfect system goes wrong. Keeping your job, passing a performance review or gaining a promotion all require that you have at least met corporate performance requirements and adhered to the rules regarding how processes should be done. Problems occur when the performance requirements do not match the process; do you achieve the performance requirements or adhere to the process? … Read More
Supply Chains investments – in technologies or people?
Technologies and their applications. The three main functions of an organisation’s Supply Chains are Procurement, Operations Planning and Logistics. To improve the performance and productivity of supply chains, technology investments are made and typically justified within a capital expenditure (Capex). The requirement is for the investment to exceed the organisation’s return on investment (ROI) ‘hurdle’ rate. The justification process places … Read More
Electric powered vehicles and ‘last mile’ deliveries
Internal combustion engine has a limited life. Managing transport in an effective and efficient manner is a core requirement of an enterprise selling goods. While the physical part of transport operations will be undertaken by either a 3PL organisation or the in-house transport department, developing and implementing the strategy is a role for your supply chain group. Among the reasons … Read More