‘Normal’ trade and supply chains Due to the pandemic and the inability of businesses engaged in supply chains to quickly respond, international trade has been disrupted. The expectation is that trade flows will return to ‘normal’ by the end of 2021 (but it may take until mid-2022). However, will ‘normal’ continue to be the same? Currently, about 70 percent of … Read More
When Demand exceeds Capacity it hurts Supply Chains
Lead Time Syndrome The flexibility of a supply chain or an operation is based on the time to change (or flex) capacity and the total cost to change. Automotive assembly lines may have a flex time of up to six months to change the output of cars per day and with a substantial cost. The aim of Operations Planning (also … Read More
Risks in Humanitarian Logistics drive delivery design
The flow of disaster relief As the negative effects of climate change become evident, the increase in natural disasters will require additional relief resources. A Learn About Logistics reader in Somalia asks a question about the risks to be considered when providing logistics services in a disaster. The terms used are: Humanitarian Logistics, which provides international disaster assistance, typically into … Read More
Supply Chain Financing gets the wrong sort of attention
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