The basics of logistics is easy to understand. A colleague told me this week that Logistics is simple – pick it up, move it, put it down. But, as he said, it gets more difficult when you consider what must operate successfully, so that the simple tasks are not a waste. Some years ago there was a video about waste … Read More
Trade Agreements can change your supply chains
Moving towards regionalism. As multilateral trade agreements negotiated through the World Trade Organisation (WTO) appear to be going nowhere, it is Free Trade Agreements (FTA) that will influence your supply chains. But, FTAs are not about free trade but preferential trade – a country gives preferences to one other country at the expense of others. This week, Australia signed its … Read More
Oil shock is one of your supply chain risks
It only takes one supertanker. Does your supply chain strategy consider a scenario of less oil? Economies operate the way they do because of the availability of oil, but if countries in which you operate are not oil producers, what are their risks concerning supply? As an extreme risk, a Middle East jihadist group has requested its affiliates to sink … Read More
In your supply chains do you have partners as suppliers?
Partnerships rarely exist in business. A major supermarket retailer in Australia has been accused by the regulator of ‘unconscionable conduct’ against suppliers, due to the power it can exercise. The retailer’s buying power meant that it could aim for a ‘no risk’ approach to selling. It set a profit target for each category; if the retailer did not achieve the … Read More
Climate change drives competition in your supply chains
Know the risk of climate change. A partner of PWC in the UK stated in a recent article that “…more businesses are seeing climate change for what it is – a risk issue, a resilience issue and a business opportunity” It is good to read a realistic and practical statement from a person with influence in business. This takes the … Read More