An acronym lives again To explain how enterprise will structure and perform as the COVID-19 crisis recedes, a speaker at a recent on-line conference used the term VUCA, which required a dig into the archives. The acronym was developed in the late 1980s by the US Army War College, in relation to strategic thinking in a post-Cold War scenario. While … Read More
Supply Networks are being recognised for their value
Supply Network in the media What a surprise to read an article in a mainstream business magazine that uses the term Supply Network and the words Complex and Uncertainty all in the same paragraph! The virus crisis and its economic shocks are showing that supply chains have a use beyond just cutting costs. Similar to Logistics written on the side … Read More
Design and planning process for future supply chains
Recovery will take time Black Rock, the world’s largest fund manager has stated that the crisis will fundamentally reshape business practices, society and consumer habits – rethinking the way people work, shop, travel and gather. There will be a ‘new normal’ way of functioning and businesses will need to adapt. And the timeline for recovery could be long. The investment … Read More
A strategy for planning in the new supply chain world
The future will differ from the past Major downturns in business activity are when the ‘deck of cards’ of industry get reshuffled. So, what strategies will be in place for your organisation’s supply chains to respond? Developing a supply chain strategy for when the peak of the pandemic has passed will be a ‘clean sheet’ exercise. Typically, plans are designed … Read More
Protect your supply chains with a WH or DC risk plan
Planning for a ‘known unknown’ Your facilities are at risk of exposing people to the COVID-19 virus, resulting in the shutdown of a warehouse (WH) or distribution centre (DC). Rather than just responding when the event happens, develop your WH/DC risk management plan, to reduce the likelihood of a disruptive event happening and if it does, lessen the consequences. Factors … Read More