Supply Chain View from the Field

Category Archives: Supply Chain Strategy

1. 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]

2. The business case for extending sustainability in the supply chain: The Burt’s Bees Story

   January 26, 2013
   by: handfield
   categories: Procurement Sustainability, Supply Chain Strategy, Sustainability

   Jenny Sebley, former supplier sustainability manager at Burt’s Bees, spoke in my sustainable supply chain class today.  Sustainable supply chains was a key issue at Burt’s Bees, and continues to play an important role. There were several business drivers behind this.  The first focus was on reducing waste and leaning the supply chain.  The brand [...]

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3. Handfield’s Supply Chain Predictions for 2013

   January 1, 2013
   by: handfield
   categories: Forecasting, Logistics, Retail Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Strategy, Supply Market Intelligence

   Well we made it through 2012, and it actually turned out to be a reasonably good year, in terms of supply chain news and events.  There were a few disasters of course, but this now seems to be a commonplace theme for global supply chain planners  (the world’s logisics network are impacted at least once [...]

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4. Bio-based Feedstock Supply Chains: Subject Matter Experts Speak in Washington

   November 29, 2012
   by: handfield
   categories: Commodities forecasting, Procurement Sustainability, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Risk, Supply Chain Strategy, Sustainability

   I attended a conference today in Washington DC hosted by Duke University and Yale University on Biobased Feedstocks. The discussion led to some interesting observations about the tradeoffs and opportunities between biobased and fossil based feedstocks. The bioeconomy is a large and rapidly growing segment that allows everyone to live longer, healthier lives, reduce dependence [...]

   [5 comments]

5. 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, [...]

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6. 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 [...]

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7. Participate in our Global Logistics Survey!!

   November 16, 2012
   by: handfield
   categories: China Supply Chain, Strategic Sourcing, Supply Chain Strategy

   We have currently launched an important online survey, being conducted in conjunction with BVL International, a non-profit global logistics institute dedicated to promoting knowledge and best practices in logistics. The study is also being carried out in parallel with Technical University Berlin, Darmstadt University, FDC Cabral (Brazil), and other research partners in India and China. [...]

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8. 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]

9. 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]

10. 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]

11. 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]

12. Do Investors Really Reward Sustainable Enterprises? What do You think?…

    September 4, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: Procurement Sustainability, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Strategy, Sustainability

    The SCRC research team has recently been conducting a series of studies, whereby we try to link improvements in share price performance, with higher scores on sustainable supply chain performance.  In a series of research studies conducted by MB students, we set about developing a set of Sustainable and Labor/Human Rights Scores, to identify companies [...]

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13. 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]

14. Key Forces to Consider that will Impact the Future Global Logistics Environment

    August 7, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: Global Supply Chain, Logistics, Supply Chain Innovation, Supply Chain Management, Supply chain Relationships, Supply Chain Strategy, Supply Chain Systems, Sustainability

    Today’s global logistics environment is characterized by increasing complexity and a much greater number of parameters shaping the logistics environment. The speed of trends is breathtaking and increasingly complicated – and there is a need for the public sector to provide greater levels of support to facilitate economic growth. One of the immediate implications is [...]

    [1 comment]

15. A differentiated lean volume channel strategy for Russia and India

    July 30, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: BRIC Supply Chain, Global Distribution, Global Supply Chain, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Strategy

    I recently spoke with a CFO in charge of building a global value chain into India and Russia, who shared with me some of his insights on the differentiated supply chain approach needed to move into these regions.  While I hear many executives complain of the challenges of entering these markets, this executive was truly [...]

    [1 comment]

16. Five “Not so Easy” Pieces: Globalizing the Industrial Supply Chain

    July 17, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: Global Supply Chain, Inventory Management, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Risk, Supply Chain Strategy, Supply Chain Systems

    This summer we kicked off a new research project being sponsored by for BVL International entitled “Trends and Strategies in SCM/Logistics”.  BVL International is a non-profit neutral platform to promote an awareness logistics and supply chain management in industry, science and the public sphere, to systematically document logistical problem definitions, and to develop methods and [...]

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17. What does B stand for in BRIC Logistics Trends?

    July 5, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: Global Supply Chain, Logistics, Strategic Cost Management, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Strategy

    Prior discussions I’ve had with supply chain executives have alluded to the many challenges that exist in the BRIC economies.  Brazil is the first letter in BRIC, and perhaps also stands for “bloody impossible” when it comes to importing into the country.  At the root of this problem are the many regulatory requirements for importing [...]

    [5 comments]

18. Upsides and Downsides of Logistics Clusters

    June 29, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Strategy, Sustainability

    As Yossi Sheffi pointed out at the SCL Europe conference last week, logisics clusters have positive AND negative consequences as well.  One of the biggest negatives is the environmental impact, including poor air, congestion, and health issues.  In Chicago, the cluster results in very long trains – some as long as 2 miles – which can [...]

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19. Emphasizing PEOPLE and PROCESS in Beiersdorf’s global supply chains

    June 20, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: Global Supply Chain, Inventory Management, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Strategy

    I sat in on a panel debate today at the World Trade Group meeting for Supply Chain and Logistics Europe in Berlin.  During the panel, I had an opportunity to speak with Clemens Woerhle, Head of Beiersdorf’s global end to end supply chain operations, including manufacturing, logistics procurement, and S&OP. Most of you have probably [...]

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20. News from the UK: Coffee with Gerard Chick

    June 10, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: Forecasting, Strategic Sourcing, Supply Chain Strategy

    Had coffee with my friend Gerard Chick while in London this week, who is on the research team at CIPS (the Chartered Institute of Professional Supply Management).  Gerard and I have done a good bit of work in the past, in particular holding an executive summit with British CPO’s, on the status of the supply [...]

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21. A new way of looking at the biopharma industry

    June 1, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: Biopharmaceutical Supply Chain, Forecasting, Healthcare Supply Management, Pharmaceutical Supply Chain, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Risk, Supply Chain Strategy

    My new book comes out this month, which focuses on the biopharma supply chain and the numerous trends and challenges that exist today, and which will continue to occur down the road.. Titled “Distribution, Regulatory, Systems, and Structural Changes in Biopharmaceutical Supply Chain”, the book covers the major themes and changes in the biopharmaceutical supply [...]

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22. Socialization: An Important Dimension of Supply Chain Relationships

    May 8, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: Business Process Outsourcing, China Supply Chain, Customer Relationship Management, Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Relationship Management, Supply Chain Strategy

    The ability to capture value from your business relationships is increasingly seen as critical differentiator in firm success (Cousins et al., 2006). Much of the strategic purchasing literature addresses the role of spend analysis, supplier selection, leveraging, negotiation, and contract management – yet there is a critical element of strategic supply management that occurs after [...]

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23. Talent Management Insights from SCRC Meeting

    May 1, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Strategy, Supply Chain Talent

    A number of great presentations from today’s SCRC meeting focused on how different organizations are thinking about managing their talent supply chain.  I helped to set the stage by applying Peter Capelli’s “Talent on Demand” model and thinking about the four key elements that drive talent management.  Many of these focus on utilizing common supply [...]

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24. Building the Integrated Delivery System at Honeywell Aerospace

    April 18, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: Aerospace Supply Chain, Inventory Management, Sales and Operations Planning, Supply Chain Strategy

    I had an opportunity to meet with the executive team at Honeywell Aerospace in Phoenix this week, and learned a great deal about the interesting challenges that exist in the aerospace supply chain.  As can be expected, Honeywell has only a few major customers (Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, etc.) in commercial, and a slightly larger amount [...]

    [4 comments]

25. How to Read the Inventory Tea Leaves…

    April 10, 2012
    by: handfield
    categories: Commodities forecasting, Forecasting, Inventory Management, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Strategy

    An article in the WSJ provides an interesting set of perspectives on what increasing or shrinking inventory numbers might mean in terms of an organization’s supply chain performance.  As I noted in an earlier blog, inventory is often an indicator used to measure how efficient supply chains are, as is considered a key component in [...]

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