wehkamp.nl takes it one day at a time
When the Dutch online retailer worked with a key supplier to switch from weekly to daily replenishment, inventory levels improved—as did sales, service, and working capital.
A commanding view
For companies that are struggling to get an end-to-end view of their global supply chains, taking command of multi-enterprise visibility issues in ways that combine real-time information, event processing, and advanced analytics may provide the answer.
Painting a bigger picture
Supermodeling allows a company to take an end-to-end view of its supply chain and make adjustments in production, distribution, and inventory practices to meet changing market demands.
All for one and one for all
To ensure success when they outsource manufacturing, companies need to adopt a community approach with their partners and back it up with collaborative technology.
A rudder for course correction
"Sales and operations management" (S&OM) offers a strategy—plan-do-check-act—that allows companies to quickly get back on course when events deviate from plan.
A pet project pays off
A Web portal for communicating order and shipping information improved visibility, timeliness, and accuracy for a pet products company and its contract manufacturers.
The "Long Tail" of e-commerce standards
The Long Tail concept dictates that only 80 percent of a group will agree on using a particular standard. For electronic commerce, that's a problem given the emergence of competing formats for data transmissions. New technologies may offer a solution.
The software question: To buy or build?
Candy makers Just Born Inc. and The Hershey Company took different approaches to network optimization: One used a customized software package, while the other chose a commercially available solution. Here's why they made those decisions.
A model of independence
After Carestream Health was sold to a new owner, the medical imaging company had to design its own, stand-alone distribution network. Modeling software helped supply chain managers make the right decisions.
Supply Chain Executive Insight E-Newsletter
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Free Articles From The Current Issue
The way forwardThe statistics and industry insights contained in the "State of Logistics Report" can help companies better prepare for the business demands that lie ahead.
Economic anemia will lead to innovation
Expect no letup in the relentless pressure on U.S. logistics managers to cut costs. To meet that challenge, they will have to regularly re-examine the makeup of their supply chain networks.
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Perspective
Power to the (supply chain) people
When the unexpected happens, let the managers on the frontlines make decisions to quickly address developing situations.
Forward ThinkingPower to the (supply chain) people
When the unexpected happens, let the managers on the frontlines make decisions to quickly address developing situations.
Higher oil prices call for flexible supply chains
As companies wrestle with rising energy costs, says MIT Professor David Simchi-Levi, they need to need to know their "tipping point"—the level at which higher prices will necessitate changes in their supply chain strategy.
Forward Thinking
Look to lean in bad times
Bad economic times should require more companies to incorporate lean principles into their supply chains to gain additional flexibility, says Gartner Research Vice President Dan Miklovic.
Forward Thinking
Should the CIO "own" the supply chain?
Merck CIO J. Chris Scalet says he knows of at least 25 CIOs of major companies who have taken on expanded roles in process management in their companies.
Forward Thinking
Manufacturing practices differ widely in North America
A recent survey by the Manufacturing Performance Institute and Industry Week found that when it comes to supply chain integration, Mexican plants are ahead of their counterparts in the United States and Canada.
Forward Thinking
Four with the power to transform
These four IT trends identified by Gartner could have important implications for supply chain information management.
Forward Thinking
Survival of the leanest
Companies need to speed up their adoption of "lean" practices in order to survive the global economic downturn, said one of the founders of the lean movement, Daniel T. Jones.
Forward Thinking
Wood or plastic? That is the pallet question
For years debate has raged in the pallet industry about which type of platform is better for the environment—wood or plastic.
Forward Thinking
Job hunters rely on referrals
Most job hunters, including those in the supply chain field, use personal connections or referrals to find work, according to a recent survey by executive recruiters TopGrading Solutions Inc.
Forward Thinking
Efficiency gains offset by rising fuel prices
The total cost of logistics remained about the same this year as last, as gains made from reduced inventory, costs savings, and greater efficiencies in the warehouse were negated by increases in fuel costs, according to supply chain consulting firm Establish Inc.
Departments
Dialogue: A Conversation With a CSCMP MemberLean leadership
NutriSystem is experiencing phenomenal growth. Customer-focused, "lean" supply chain management is fundamental to the company's success, says Chief Supply Chain Officer Lou Arace.
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