Why Supply Chain Financing The past few weeks has seen articles in the media about ‘controversial’ Supply Chain Financing (SCF). This has occurred due to the collapse in the UK of a financial services company which provided this form of finance. But is SCF ‘controversial’? Since the start of trading using money, the situation has existed where a seller wants … Read More
S&OP is the ‘hub’ of supply chains in your business
S&OP flow in your business Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) is not a difficult process to follow – the challenge is to make it happen! The objective is to improve the balance through supply chains, between expected future demands for the organisation’s products and services, the organisation’s resources and the supply of purchased or intra-company provided items. And, of course, … Read More
Future directions for planning supply chains using S&OP
Sales & Operations Planning developments Even as ‘collaboration’ software is implemented, gaining power within organisation structures will continue. The increased importance of Supply Chains in the eyes of senior executives could result in the discipline become a target for takeover by Finance. And developments happening in Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) lend support to the possibility. The research firm Gartner … Read More
Reducing costs in supply chains may not improve productivity
eCommerce drives storage sector expansion The drivers of productivity improvement are technological advances in machines, infrastructure development, more efficient organisations and investment in human capital through education and training. But, in developed economies advances in technologies appear to have not transferred to increased productivity over the past 20 years (measured as gross domestic product (GDP) per hours worked). This has … Read More
Segment items and suppliers to provide a structure
Disruption and the traditional approach For reasons outside the control of individual organisations, supply markets are being disrupted and in some cases, distorted. Procurement professionals need to be aware of the potential concerning increased risks at suppliers (and where possible, their suppliers). The result will be different approaches to the various supply markets and suppliers. In some industries, suppliers are … Read More