We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
  • ::COVID-19 COVERAGE::
  • INDUSTRY PRESS ROOM
  • SUBMISSIONS
  • MEDIA FILE
  • Create Account
  • Sign In
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Newsletters
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
  • STRATEGY
  • GLOBAL
  • LOGISTICS
  • MANUFACTURING
  • PROCUREMENT
  • VIDEO
    • News & Exclusives
    • Viewer Contributed
    • Upload your video
  • BLOGS & MORE
    • White Papers
    • Webcasts
    • Events
    • Blogs
      • SCQ Forum
      • Reflections
    • Mobile Apps
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
  • STRATEGY
  • GLOBAL
  • LOGISTICS
  • MANUFACTURING
  • PROCUREMENT
  • VIDEO
    • News & Exclusives
    • Viewer Contributed
    • Upload your video
  • BLOGS & MORE
    • White Papers
    • Webcasts
    • Events
    • Blogs
      • SCQ Forum
      • Reflections
    • Mobile Apps
Home » Five supply chain challenges for 2012
Forward Thinking

Five supply chain challenges for 2012

January 24, 2012
Supply Chain Quarterly Staff
No Comments

To overcome the kinds of challenges they are likely to confront in 2012, supply chain executives working in manufacturing companies will need to focus on "speed and responsiveness across the demand and supply sides of the supply chain to support the intelligent economy," says Simon Ellis, practice director, Global Supply Chain Strategies for the research firm IDC Manufacturing Insights.

Ellis and coauthors Kimberly Knickle and Catherine White explain that assessment in detail in the recent report "Worldwide Manufacturing Supply Chain 2012 Top 10 Predictions." Here is a brief synopsis of five of their predictions:

Prediction No. 1: Manufacturers will focus on clock-speed alignment across the supply and demand sides of their supply chains. Manufacturing companies have long known that the demand side of the supply chain operates at a faster rate than the supply side, thus the need for buffer inventory. As demand cycles become more volatile and supply lines lengthen, it becomes harder for buffer inventory to compensate for mismatches. IDC expects manufacturers to address this issue by focusing on internal actions, such as improving inventory management or stepping up their use of demand signals to align supply and demand.

Prediction No. 2: The requirement for speed and the ubiquity of information will create a new landscape for IT support of the supply chain. Given the need for a more responsive supply chain that can react to changing business conditions, manufacturers will impose new requirements on information technology such as the adoption of cloud computing software and more mobile devices.

Prediction No. 3: Big data will create an even bigger data quality problem for manufacturing supply chains. With the growth in external data sources, manufacturers will have to work harder to ensure data quality. As a result, they will likely adopt master data management systems that can help impose standards to achieve information quality.

Prediction No. 4: Supply chain organizations will rediscover the need for differentiation. As consumers continue to bypass retailers and purchase products online, manufacturers will be forced to consider supply chain differentiation as a means of supporting direct-to-consumer initiatives.

Prediction No. 5: Risk management will mature as a focus area for supply chain segmentation. Because of the number of natural disasters that disrupted supply chain operations last year, manufacturers will make a more concerted effort to study and understand any inherent risks when they segment supply chains to serve a particular industry or customer.

  • Related Articles

    Five ways to reduce your supply chain's carbon footprint

    New e-book identifies five stages of supply chain design maturity

    Five ways consumer packaged goods companies can respond to seismic changes in the supply chain

Recent Articles by Supply Chain Quarterly Staff

Blasgen to retire as leader of CSCMP in March

Reports: Outlook calls for stronger supply chains

Gartner: 4 ways to compete with industry disruptors

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Most Popular Articles

  • The 3PL industry: time to reset

  • Supply chain resiliency starts with supplier mapping

  • Freight market growth expected to slow in 2021

  • Seizing the helm

  • The Top Supply Chain Pains That You Should Address For a Healthier 2021

Featured Video

Be8de8b1 9bd3 48d6 9400 0bf476fd1f5d

Optimization Through Lean Management 

Viewer Contributed
Uncertain times can put a tremendous strain on your business’s people, processes and supply chains. However, operations can mitigate some of these factors by adopting lean management principles and instilling a culture of continuous improvement. Raymond Lean Management Manager of Solutions and Support Centers Keith...

FEATURED WHITE PAPERS

  • The Top Supply Chain Pains That You Should Address For a Healthier 2021

  • Research Report: New Rules for Supply Chain Insights, Collaboration and Overall Resiliency

  • Logistics 2030 – Navigating a Disruptive Decade (Year 2 Report)

View More

Subscribe to Supply Chain Quarterly

Get Your Subscription
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • E-NEWSLETTERS
  • ADVERTISING
  • CUSTOMER CARE
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT
  • STAFF
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright ©2021. All Rights ReservedDesign, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing