As a supply chain manager and an organizational leader what do you find most challenging? Are these challenges something you avoid or something you confront. Recently, we have seen General Motors go bankrupt because of their inability to change their business model and supply chain. Their centralized approach to automobile manufacturing worked a generation ago but not in today's environment. We also see that Boeing cannot deliver on their "Dream liner" commitment because of a poorly conceived su… Continue

Most manufacturers and distribution companies receive some orders that call for delayed shipment. In the case of manufacturers these orders may be blanket purchase orders. In the case of distribution, they may specify future ship dates. These orders have one highly desirable quality: they demonstrate your customers’ commitment to your company or product. Consequently, when the number of these orders decline, it could indicate a lessening of customer commitment, which should be cause for concern.… Continue

In the complex environment of business “usually, there is more than one approach or solution available to most any problem”. The identification of potential solutions is normally affected by time, resources, and knowledge. There can be a range from short-term solutions to long-term solutions; the financial considerations can range from minimal cost to significant cost, and similarly, knowledge can range from the organization needing little to requiring significant amounts of new knowledge.

Know… Continue

Success is People Dependent


Friedman in his book The World Is Flat, told us that “supply chaining is a method of collaborating horizontally to create value”. This supports the principle that our single most important supply chain element is the people who collaborate. Accordingly, our investment in training must become less about implementing the “bricks” of e-tools and systems and more about the “mortar” of a supply chain of people. These individuals need the cultural and communication skills… Continue

It's hard to believe that we're halfway through 2009 and still waiting for the US economy to rebound. As President Obama and the Congress continue to debate the best way forward, most business executives are working five times harder to keep their current customers satisfied and win new business. Some are so buried in their day-to-day activities and concerns about surviving that they are hesitant to take on anything new that isn't "mission critical" to the enterprise. Although this is understand… Continue