Supply Chain View from the Field

Category Archives: Global Supply Chain

1. Random thoughts on “close-to-home-shoring” based on my travels last week…

   April 27, 2013
   by: handfield
   categories: BRIC Supply Chain, Contract Management, Global Supply Chain, Supplier Relationship Management, Supply Chain Management, Supply chain Relationships

   Last week I had the opportunity to travel first to New York and then Monterrey, Mexico, and speak with a number of people to explore perspectives on the current economic situation we find ourselves in. Early in the week I sat in on a lecture given by Clay Christenson (from Harvard Business School) to a [...]

   [No comments]

2. Jason Busch’s Thoughts at the Coupa Conference

   April 10, 2013
   by: handfield
   categories: Category Management, China Supply Chain, Global Supply Chain

   Jason Busch from Spend Matters gave another great speech at the Coupa INSPIRE conference in San Francisco which I attended last week.  As an aside – Jason started Spend Matters in 2004 as a side interest because he was bored.  Look where it is today!  Spend Matters has grown to be a big part of [...]

   [1 comment]

3. Thinking Differently About Procurement: The SCRC Meeting Theme on April 29-30, 2013

   March 14, 2013
   by: handfield
   categories: Global Supply Chain, Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Relationship Management, Supply Chain Management, Supply Market Intelligence

   Our next SCRC meeting will focus on “The Future of Procurement”, and will be held on April 29-30, at the NC State University Club in Raleigh, NC.  We will be hosting a number of senior executives reflecting on this theme, including Ron Reising from Duke Energy, Pat Murzyn from Caterpillar, Bill Knittle from BP, Jason [...]

   [No comments]

4. Using Scooters for Logistics in China

   March 7, 2013
   by: handfield
   categories: China Supply Chain, Global Distribution, Global Supply Chain, Retail Logistics

   A recent article in the Wall Street Journal shows pictures of logistics couriers in China riding scooters, with stacks of deliveries teetering six feet up in the air, parked outside of office buildings in downtown Shanghai.  The reporter goes on to describe the increasing salaries for logistics workers, and goes on to document the high [...]

   [1 comment]

5. Walmart can’t manage their inventory?

   March 1, 2013
   by: handfield
   categories: Global Distribution, Global Supply Chain, Retail Logistics

   Students of supply chain and logistics know that when the topic of supply chain excellence and inventory management prowess comes up, the companies that comes to mind first are Walmart and Toyota. Toyota has already admitted to slowing sales and poor management of their supply chain, through shutdowns due to supplier failures, lack of attention [...]

   [No comments]

6. Growing the logistics network means building partnerships with the right people

   February 17, 2013
   by: handfield
   categories: Global Supply Chain, Logistics, Retail Logistics, Supply chain Relationships

   Growth of the global logistics network is fraught with increasing difficulty.  Large BRIC country governments have recognized their power in the channel, and have raised the stakes for import and export requirements and regulation.  There is also considerable debate among experts as to the path this will take.  Some believe India will continue to grow, [...]

   [2 comments]

7. Controlling the extended supply chain: Horse Bolognese, anyone?

   February 10, 2013
   by: handfield
   categories: Global Distribution, Global Supply Chain, Retail Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Quality, Supply chain Relationships, Supply Market Intelligence

   A recent article in the Guardian shows how uncontrollable supply chains can be.  Managing tier 2 suppliers, in this case, became problematic when supermarkets found that the beef they were selling was not what they thought it was….. Several supermarkets in the UK announced that what they thought was beef in the food they were [...]

   [2 comments]

8. Bangladesh Working Conditions: A Human Rights Issue? Or a Supplier Capacity Issue?

   January 30, 2013
   by: handfield
   categories: BRIC Supply Chain, Global Distribution, Global Supply Chain, Procurement Sustainability, Sales and Operations Planning, Supply Chain Management, Supply chain Relationships, Supply Chain Strategy, Sustainability

   The recent press in the Wall Street Journal and other papers on Walmart’s fire in Bangladesh is raising the ire of corporate responsibility groups and human rights groups alike.   How can retailers like Walmart support buying clothing in factories that are treating workers with such disregard, not to mention exposing them to working conditions [...]

   [4 comments]

9. Is Walmart Really Ready to Take on Logistics In India?

   January 12, 2013
   by: handfield
   categories: BRIC Supply Chain, Global Supply Chain, Logistics, Retail Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Risk

   Today’s Wall Street Journal printed a great story on the challenges that Walmart faces as it grows its logistics network in India.  The article notes how India is the second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world, but that one-third of the produce rots because of its horrendous logistics infrastructure. The story highlights some [...]

   [8 comments]

10. The Next Region for Globalization: East Africa?

    January 6, 2013
    by: handfield
    categories: Global Supply Chain, Logistics, Supply Chain Management

    Our logistics study suggests that Russia and Eastern Europe are the regions that 20% of respondents identified as a growth region. Both Russia and Eastern Europe represent high growth but also high risk countries to operate in, that are fed by growing energy resources, but which have a difficult government regulatory environment to operate in. [...]

    [5 comments]

11. Is the Chinese manufacturing engine waning?

    January 5, 2013
    by: handfield
    categories: BRIC Supply Chain, China Supply Chain, Global Supply Chain, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Talent

    A recent post in the UCLA blog features an interview with the former COO of Walmart-China, who makes some very interesting observations on the state of manufacturing in China. Edwin Keh notes that “Net export from the Pearl River Delta has declined over the last few years. The number of foreign-owned factories, the pool of [...]

    [2 comments]

12. Where’s My Stuff? The West Coast Strike is Over….Get Ready for the East Coast to Shut Down!

    December 13, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: Global Distribution, Global Supply Chain, Logistics, Supply Chain Risk

    Just when you thought that global shipping channels were re-opening and imports/exports to the US were going to resume after the union settled in Los Angeles, the word on the street is that the East Coast ports are ready to strike this coming Monday. An official at the National Retail Federation warned that a strike [...]

    [No comments]

13. The Long Beach Port Strike….An Unfolding Economic Disaster

    December 4, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: Global Supply Chain, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Risk

    A lot of people at this week’s SCRC meeting were discussing the on-going strike in the port of Long Beach, California. It is remarkable to me how little attention this issue has received in the press, as it is in fact an economic disaster with massive implications that is unfolding as we speak. Most Americans [...]

    [4 comments]

14. SCRC Meeting December 3-4 2012: Coping with Increasing Global Supply Chain Complexity

    November 26, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: Global Supply Chain, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Strategy

    It’s a week before our bi-annual Supply Chain Resource Cooperative meeting, taking place at NC State’s Centennial Campus on December 3-4, 2012. This year’s meeting has an exciting lineup of speakers, all sharing insights on how organizations are coping with the brave new world of global logistics. As organizations continue to expand their global footprint, [...]

    [2 comments]

15. The Fiscal Cliff’s Impact on Global Supply Chains

    November 24, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: Forecasting, Global Supply Chain, Sales and Operations Planning, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Strategy

    It’s the day after Thanksgiving, and we’re still talking about the fiscal cliff….and the days are ticking away. For those of us who study and work in supply chains, the impending decision (or lack thereof) has a few implications worth thinking about. First, let’s talk about the likelihood that it can be averted…The fiscal cliff [...]

    [4 comments]

16. Thinking About the Future Role of Procurement/Purchasing/Supply

    November 12, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: Global Supply Chain, Strategic Cost Management, Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Relationship Management, Supply Chain Management

    The field of supply management has undergone quite a few changes over the past several years. Leaders in the field are always thinking about what the future of procurement will look like. There is even some confusion about what to call it: Procurement? Purchasing? Supply Management? Does it matter? In view of this, I was [...]

    [3 comments]

17. Alcoa’s Strategic Transformation

    November 2, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: Global Supply Chain, Strategic Cost Management, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Strategy

    Klaus Kleinfeld, CEO of Alcoa, spoke recently at NC State’s Wells Fargo Executive Series. His informal open style went over very well with students. But make no mistake – beneath an informal exterior, Klaus is aware of everything going on in his organization, and is well aware of the challenges ahead for Alcoa. With a [...]

    [1 comment]

18. A Sustainable Energy Platform for the EU and the World

    October 25, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: BRIC Supply Chain, Commodities forecasting, Forecasting, Global Supply Chain, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Strategy, Supply Chain Systems

    At the BVL conference, I had the opportunity to speak to the group, and provide them with an overview of the insights and trends from the global logistics study that is currently underway. I also had the opportunity to introduce Dr. Michael Seuss, CEO of the Energy Sector for Siemens AG, and Member of their [...]

    [2 comments]

19. ThyssenKrupp: The Amazon of Material Services

    October 17, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: Customer Relationship Management, Global Distribution, Global Supply Chain, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Strategy

    ThyssenKrupp is one of the big steel producers in Europe, and is getting ready to move to a completely different supply chain model.  The company competes in a number of areas, including steel, in Europe, steel in Americase,, Materials Services, Inoxum, Elevator Technology, Plant Technology, Components Technology, and Marine Systems.  The Chairman of the Board, Dr. [...]

    [1 comment]

20. Logistics Notes from the BVL Conference in Berlin

    
    by: handfield
    categories: Global Distribution, Global Supply Chain, Logistics

    This week I had the opportunity to attend the BVL (Bundesvereinigung Logistik) conference in beautiful Berlin, Germany.  Berlin in the fall is a beautiful time of year, with the leaves changing in the nearby Tiergarten Park.  For those not in the know, BVL is the largest non-profit logistics organization in Europe, and the conference this [...]

    [3 comments]

21. Ralph Lauren’s Supply Chain: A Lot More Complex Then You Think!

    October 11, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: BRIC Supply Chain, Global Distribution, Global Supply Chain, Inventory Management, Logistics, MBA Supply Chain Programs, Supply Chain Management, Supply chain Relationships

    Jeff Holcomb, Senior Vice President of Customer Operations and US Transportation at Ralph Lauren’s offices in Greensboro, NC spoke in my MBA supply chain class last week.  He told the story of when Ralph Lauren came to visit the Greensboro offices, and shared his previous experiences.  Apparently, Lauren once had an idea about creating a [...]

    [1 comment]

22. Three Key Trends in the Brazilian Logistics Market

    September 19, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: BRIC Supply Chain, Global Supply Chain, Inventory Management, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Strategy

    I recently interviewed a senior logistics executive at one of the top three largest logistics service provider firms in Brazil.  This gentleman provided a very cogent and insightful set  of ideas about what is happening in the logistics environment in Brazil.  Brazil is one of the four largest growth market in the world, and with [...]

    [3 comments]

23. Organizations Continue to Expand their Global Supply Chain Footprint…But Not Without Growing Pains

    September 12, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: BRIC Supply Chain, Global Distribution, Global Supply Chain, Logistics, Supply Chain Management

    Organizations in multiple sectors are continuing to pursue global growth strategies that focus on expansion into new regions.  In particular, the focal BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) represent major targets for expansion, but with them come a host of new problem which enterprises have little to now experience in dealing with in terms of [...]

    [No comments]

24. Thoughts for Labor Day

    August 31, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: Global Supply Chain, Supply Chain Management

    As we go into Labor Day in the United States, people are thinking about those who work for a living – e.g. those who Labor.  But what does Labor actually mean?  Is it necessarily a reference to the Blue Collar worker, who toils on the assembly line, perhaps in a union environment, and who builds [...]

    [1 comment]

25. Unilever’s End-to-End Sustainability Push: Hitting all elements of the supply chain…

    August 13, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: Global Supply Chain, Procurement Sustainability, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Strategy, Sustainability

    Unilever’s Corporate Sustainability Report came out in the last month, and was received with great fanfare.  Some of the highlights identified in the first year of its Sustainable Living Plan released to  media and partners at events in the UK, Netherlands, India, US and Brazil include: 24% of agricultural raw materials are now being sourced sustainably, [...]

    [1 comment]