You're Only As Strong As Your Weakest Link
Supply Chain Success is People Dependent
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 to effectively collaborate with one another as well as with the members of their extended global supply chain community.
My experience as a global supply chain manager, vice president of purchasing, as a teacher, executive coach, and global supply chain design consultant taught me to hire “great people” whenever I could find them. Of course in most cases it was my responsibility to train and develop them and help them adapt their existing skill sets to the nuances of their new position. Without additional training and development their effectiveness would require in long incubation period that may not fit properly into the organization as a whole.
A recent survey of best practices in 225 top companies revealed that just 36 percent of all respondents think that their companies' staffing for managing global supply chain processes are fully adequate to meet their needs. As management expert Peter Drucker reminds us, “Our most important educational system is in the employee's own organization.”
Our own success will be about as good as the people with whom we work and depend upon. Increasingly, these individuals will be outside of our own direct organization. They will be located around the globe in “sister” functional organizations (purchasing, logistics, operations, finance) and in allied business organizations (subsidiaries, divisions, and suppliers). They will speak many languages and operate under different goals and objectives. Yet they are a vital component of our supply chain.
Supply Chain Experts can help your organization identify and hire skilled professionals that can immediately contribute to your success..
Dr. Edward F. Knab
Productivity Constructs, Inc.
800 660 8718 office
949 413 7333 mobile
ed@edwardknab.com
www.productivityconstructs.com
Dr. Knab is an academic practitioner and seasoned Global Supply Chain expert whose company, Productivity Constructs, is focused on driving cost and inefficiency out of the Global Supply Chain. Dr. Knab can be contacted for speaking engagements, coaching, or consultation at efk@productivityconstructs.com, ed@ewardknab.com or www.edwardknab.com.
Tags: chain, supply, design, efficiency, financials, forecast, inventory, manufacturing, productivity, profits
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 to effectively collaborate with one another as well as with the members of their extended global supply chain community.
My experience as a global supply chain manager, vice president of purchasing, as a teacher, executive coach, and global supply chain design consultant taught me to hire “great people” whenever I could find them. Of course in most cases it was my responsibility to train and develop them and help them adapt their existing skill sets to the nuances of their new position. Without additional training and development their effectiveness would require in long incubation period that may not fit properly into the organization as a whole.
A recent survey of best practices in 225 top companies revealed that just 36 percent of all respondents think that their companies' staffing for managing global supply chain processes are fully adequate to meet their needs. As management expert Peter Drucker reminds us, “Our most important educational system is in the employee's own organization.”
Our own success will be about as good as the people with whom we work and depend upon. Increasingly, these individuals will be outside of our own direct organization. They will be located around the globe in “sister” functional organizations (purchasing, logistics, operations, finance) and in allied business organizations (subsidiaries, divisions, and suppliers). They will speak many languages and operate under different goals and objectives. Yet they are a vital component of our supply chain.
Supply Chain Experts can help your organization identify and hire skilled professionals that can immediately contribute to your success..
Dr. Edward F. Knab
Productivity Constructs, Inc.
800 660 8718 office
949 413 7333 mobile
ed@edwardknab.com
www.productivityconstructs.com
Dr. Knab is an academic practitioner and seasoned Global Supply Chain expert whose company, Productivity Constructs, is focused on driving cost and inefficiency out of the Global Supply Chain. Dr. Knab can be contacted for speaking engagements, coaching, or consultation at efk@productivityconstructs.com, ed@ewardknab.com or www.edwardknab.com.
Tags: chain, supply, design, efficiency, financials, forecast, inventory, manufacturing, productivity, profits
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