Inventory is a cost or asset. Too often, inventory is viewed as just a feature within a business – that is, until it is the cause of lost sales. I always hope that understanding by senior management will improve about the value of inventory and the people who manage it, but there is still a way to go. Two situations this … Read More
Technology devices can improve Logistics operations
Logistics applications and the future. The objective of Logistics systems is to enable the time related positioning of resources that will provide availability of goods and services for customers. Integrated ERP systems are designed to achieve this, but users are dependent on the software company’s design specification and upgrade cycle to achieve the objective. Meanwhile, changes continue in supply chains, … Read More
SNAP Apps Improve Supply Chain Analysis and Planning
You cannot manage supply chains. At the heart of an effective supply network is your IT system. As supply chains become a more critical part of successful businesses, so responsibility for the effectiveness of the supply network will rest with the supply chain vice president/ director/manager. Changes in the business climate will continue to force changes in business models; with … Read More
ERP systems may not give your business all the answers
Working within complex systems. Supply chain planners should be able to access more than transaction data from company IT systems. There is streaming data from instruments and unstructured data from the Internet. These are in increasing amounts; but can your current ERP system turn this additional data into information that is of value to planners? The selection and implementation of ERP … Read More
Mixing up a value chain and a supply chain
Using the right term. If you are telling a story about climbing a mountain, you would not use the term ‘descending the mountain’ when talking about going up the mountain. But when it comes to logistics we are not so sure about the terms to use. I have read articles this past week where the authors talk about value chains. … Read More