Why are inventories increasing? The risks in your organisation’s supply network can be reduced in two ways. At the strategic level, supply chains and operational processes can be changed, but to achieve this outcome takes time. The more likely approach is for Logisticians to manage capacity and inventory. However, in the era of globalisation, the opportunity to manage capacity has … Read More
Logistics challenges of distribution in Smart Cities
Smart City Logistics. A United Nations report estimates that by 2050, there will be more than eight billion people living in urban societies; an increase of 100 percent on the current situation. Because the figures are for 2050, it is easy to dismiss them as ‘future guessing’ that does not apply to the ‘here and now’. However, the increases may … Read More
Are temporary employees best for business flexibility?
Employment options for long term success. Are you using ‘weasel’ words? This is the expression for words used to cover the true meaning of a situation. An example is ‘flexible labour’, a term used as a cover for the actual situation of irregular hours and underemployment of people. Both shippers and 3PL state that due to the demands of customers … Read More
Bringing demand and supply chains together with S&OP
The same view for sales and supply chains. Your successful enterprise cannot be ‘demand driven’ if it is not ‘supply supported’ – a statement that appears to be obvious. Yet I recently read an article which said the ‘old’ supply chain focus was outdated and the ‘new’ focus will be on the customer and demand management. As if the customer … Read More
Demand is amplified as it goes through supply chains
Pioneer work in supply networks. The concepts and rules by which Logistics functions within organisations are much like a wheel. At the hub are the foundations by which the discipline and associated IT applications work and at the rim of the wheel are ‘new’ discoveries. These are often adaptations of established concepts, typically with a different name. One of those … Read More