Supply Chain Management

Nov 21, 2017

The Legal Implications of Transport Visibility is NOT Good News for Truckers

Our prior post discussed the benefits and challenges of visibility in logistics.  But WAIT!  There’s more to it than just benefits. Carriers and shippers should also proceed carefully as they… 

Nov 21, 2017

Transportation Providers are not All Happy About Visibility

At a recent CSCMP meeting, I attended a session of transportation providers called “Supply Chain Visibility and the Possible Legal Implications” – and the participants shared some insights into their… 

Nov 21, 2017

Exploring Visibility in the Supply Chain: Themes for the Nov 2017 SCRC Meeting

Our upcoming meeting on November 29th, the 36th semi-annual Supply Chain Resource Cooperative meeting, will explore some of the more interesting aspects of how organizations are coping with the availability… 

Oct 27, 2017

Getting the Question Right is at the Heart of Supply Chain Analytics

“If someone asked me to come up with the answer to the world’s problems in an hour, I’d spend the first 55 minutes coming up with the right question.” –… 

Oct 24, 2017

Overcoming the Objections to Being Transparent

In addressing some of the questions, one that came up is the fat that many companies are hesitant to act, because of their inability to construct an effective business case for transparency.  “What is the ROI?” is a common complaint.  The key to establishing the business case is not on market share, but through the velocity of material and decision-making, taking action in the face of uncertainty, using the most up-to-date information. 

Oct 21, 2017

Creating the Right Team Culture for A Deluge of Data: Storytelling as a Core Capability

A core element in the LIVING supply chain is the concept around the “Anti-Control Tower”, of what has been called a “data democracy”.  An important shift in human behavior is… 

Oct 7, 2017

“Trust but Verify”: The Promise of Block Chains

As noted in previous blogs I've written, block chain is a technology that is emerging but has not yet been widely adopted except in pilots.  However, multiple industries are very interested in it, including life insurance companies, aircraft manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, food and tobacco, and electronics companies, to name a few. 

Sep 27, 2017

Missy Cummings from Duke on Logistics Automation: We’re Going in Reverse!

I had the opportunity to listen to Missy Cummings, a Professor in the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University.  Missy shared some insights on automation in the logistics sector,… 

Sep 18, 2017

Procurement Must Contribute to Competitiveness to Become Relevant!

Procurement is always thinking about cost savings, year over year.  But is this really a true measure of competitiveness? So procurement will have a budgeted amount for, say 4.5 cents… 

Sep 15, 2017

Sales Can Use RACI Charts to Understand Procurement… and vice versa!

RACI Charts have been around for years, yet are often discounted.  RACI stands for Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed – which refers to the relative governance structure that exists in…