Current Issue Table of Contents
A little of everything can go a long way
When products don't sell very much, conventional wisdom calls for reducing assortments and tailoring them to local conditions. But the opposite approach—stocking small quantities of each product at every store and centralizing replenishment decisions—has been shown to increase sales and reduce inventories without raising costs.
ASICS keeps pace with growing demand
ASICS America's single distribution center couldn't keep up with surging demand for its athletic shoes and apparel. Changing its distribution pattern and adding another warehouse helped the company manage both current sales and future growth.
Should you swap commodities with your competitors?
Swapping commodities with other manufacturers instead of shipping internationally can greatly reduce transportation costs and boost profits. Finding the right swap partner will help you avoid the risks that are inherent in these arrangements.
How to write a Vested Outsourcing contract
In this excerpt from the book Vested Outsourcing: Five Rules That Will Transform Outsourcing, the authors explain how to write contracts that allow an outsourcing partner to profit in exchange for achieving the desired performance outcome.
Box size does matter
The right assortment of carton sizes will improve operational efficiency and reduce material, freight, and labor costs. Shippers can determine the right mix by analyzing order history data and examining the frequency of use for current carton sizes.
Columns
Perspective
Supply chain versus the volcano
The disruption to air traffic caused by Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano is a reminder of why we should prepare for both expected and unexpected supply chain risks.
Afterword
Dealing with our oil addiction
Will the Deepwater Horizon disaster spur us to develop new sources of energy?
Career Ladder
There's more to performance management than metrics
Getting people to consistently perform at a high level requires more than implementing an incentive program.
Monetary Matters
How to find savings in reverse logistics
Monitoring returns can cut credit issuance by as much as 30 percent, adding directly to the bottom line.
Direct Connection
Keeping it personal in a digital world
While electronic communication has become a permanent part of our daily lives, face-to-face communication is still important for supply chain success.
Supply Chain Executive Insight E-Newsletter
Each month the Supply Chain Executive Insight e-newsletter will include brief articles about developments that are often overlooked by other supply chain publications. We will present you with summaries of the latest research as well as new ideas on how to make your supply chain operations more effective. And we'll offer commentary that sheds light on what's happening in supply chains today.Sign up now!
Free Articles From The Current Issue
ASICS keeps pace with growing demandASICS America's single distribution center couldn't keep up with surging demand for its athletic shoes and apparel. Changing its distribution pattern and adding another warehouse helped the company manage both current sales and future growth.
Supply chain versus the volcano
The disruption to air traffic caused by Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano is a reminder of why we should prepare for both expected and unexpected supply chain risks.
Dealing with our oil addiction
Will the Deepwater Horizon disaster spur us to develop new sources of energy?
There's more to performance management than metrics
Getting people to consistently perform at a high level requires more than implementing an incentive program.
Keeping it personal in a digital world
While electronic communication has become a permanent part of our daily lives, face-to-face communication is still important for supply chain success.
Most Read Articles
Sponsored Links
Perspective
Commentary: Do-it-yourself diesel
Although diesel-powered trucks are our best option right now, it makes sense to develop other fuel sources—even if it means manufacturing it ourselves.
Forward ThinkingCommentary: Do-it-yourself diesel
Although diesel-powered trucks are our best option right now, it makes sense to develop other fuel sources—even if it means manufacturing it ourselves.
Get ready to go mobile
Distribution operations in the future will need to support mobile commerce, such as consumers ordering and paying for products with their smart phones.
Forward Thinking
Sharing tech talent could help supply chains
A pilot program encouraging companies to share technological expertise will soon be under way.
Forward Thinking
Logistics outsourcing is most common subject of academic articles
Information technology was the second most common subject of academic papers.
Forward Thinking
More retailers to merge store, online inventory
The need for inventory reduction will drive the integration, creating a common pool of stock for both types of retail operations.
Forward Thinking
It's time to rethink the MBA
Even before the economic downturn, employers had begun questioning the value of an MBA.
Forward Thinking
Lower costs, better quality top manufacturers' agendas
Respondents' most important supply chain initiative in the coming year was in a completely different area: improving product quality.
Forward Thinking
Global Trade and Container Flow Index: Trade stabilizing as economies emerge from recession
World trade growth was flat in Quarter 4 of 2009, at about US $1.626 trillion.
Departments
CSCMP NotebookCSCMP Notebook
News and ideas for success from CSCMP
Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment
Upcoming professional education programs around the world
Dialogue: A Conversation With a CSCMP Member
How to make it in Mexico
To successfully shift production and distribution to Mexico, companies must overcome some challenges and find the right employees, says strategist Rolando García.
