Reducing total supply chain costs remains one of the top five objectives for corporate executives, according to The C-Suite Agenda: The Enterprise's Top Issues in 2012, the latest edition of an annual report on key corporate issues produced by The Hackett Group. Some 75 percent of the executives from nearly 200 companies who participated in the survey said that total supply chain cost reduction was an "important" or "extremely important" issue facing their companies in 2012.

Overall, supply chain cost reduction was ranked fifth on the list of issues confronting business enterprises this year. The number one issue—cited by 92 percent of respondents—was accelerating revenue growth. The second most cited issue, with 90 percent, was improving operating margins. Improving customer satisfaction ranked third, with 81 percent, and talent retention and development, cited by 80 percent, was fourth. Reducing overhead cost tied for fifth place with supply chain cost reduction.