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
Think about Supply Chains and Logistics as Strategic
Innovation in your supply chains. You cannot cut your business to glory. There comes a time when being smarter is the better option. After some seven years of hearing and reading about re-organisation and retrenchment as a solution to business challenges, is it the right time to invest in smarter supply chains? This thought was triggered by a recent report … Read More
The total cost of your low cost items may be high
Know the Total Cost of Ownership for items. Are you thinking about outsourcing the manufacture and delivery of a product, or renewing a current outsourcing contract? For manufacturing items, you may think of China or other countries in north or south east Asia. Why? because production costs are considered to be lower. Labour costs are still a dominant feature when … Read More
Good ideas to improve supply chains do not always work
A new supply chain idea of ten years ago. Demand driven supply network (DDSN) was a new concept in 2004, but no mention is made ten years later. Why is that? Surely a DDSN is what all right minded businesses should aim for. The design of DDSN was developed from the supply chain challenges of the early 2000s: distortions downstream … Read More
Supply Chains are where the money is in your business
Where is the money made in your business? Have you heard the saying ‘Know the price of everything and the value of nothing’? The first part has come true through access by customers and consumers to information via the Internet, aided by the growth of digital mobile data. The second part is more subjective; companies such as Apple and BMW … Read More