Today’s supply chain is inside-out. Companies wait and process orders. They cannot sense and respond to demand. It is a struggle. The processes are largely batch and out of cadence with the markets they serve. Increasingly, business requirements are outside-in. The channels are multi-tier and companies are more dependent on outsourcing. Systems are growing more complex. Yet, the primary means to manage trade with network partners is through spreadsheets and email….
Volatility. Demand redefined. Economic markets plummeting. Daily we see the financial charts roll across the news. “It’s partly about growth, partly about trade, and partly about psychology.” CNN Money – August 12, 2015 On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Chinese restated and devalued the Yuan. The new valuation and its impact is swinging the global stock markets. The water cooler is buzzing. The discussions on 401K losses of 10-13% permeate the…
Last week, I interviewed Robert Byrne, founder of Terra Technology on his demand planning benchmarking study. I enjoy creating the Straight Talk podcast series, and Rob’s findings in his benchmark study are always thought-provoking. This is his fifth year of studying demand processes. In this blog, I share the findings and why I think they should matter to supply chain professionals in consumer-facing industries. Based on Rob’s study, the number…
It was a stuffy, hot day, and I found myself sitting by Bridget. The supply chain team was attempting to explain their demand-driven project. They were asking for funding; and Bridget, the treasurer, was not buying the message. On my way back to the train, I struggled with what had just happened. I had worked hard to teach the team—presenting how to talk the language of demand —but it was not…
“How can I move the ball down the field, if I don’t have the ball?” A Question from my Training Class this Week “How do I know if I am ready for cool technologies? Especially demand sensing and shaping?” A Demand Planner for a Large Multinational Pharmaceutical Company Last week was a blur. It was a series of days on planes, trains and automobiles. Unfortunately, it was one of those weeks…
New shoes feel awkward. Blisters appear. Feet hurt. The shoes are worn for short periods. Often we shelve them to allow our feet to recover. However, over time, they slowly feel comfortable. They become a part of our wardrobe. Learning to speak a new language is similar. Conversations are strained. Mistakes are made. Pauses are awkward. Confusion reigns. Communication is stilted. It takes time. Slowly the words take definition in everyday…
I love hearing from blog readers. This morning, I woke to receive this email in my inbox: Good morning Lora, I have read with pleasure the insightful report related to SC 2020 (race for Supply Chain – April 2013). If it is possible, I would like to use some of the info for a presentation I will deliver in a couple of weeks to the General Management. I have a…
The promise was harmony. The delivery is dissonance. It was to be a unified signal spanning customer’s customer to supplier’s supplier to join, align and guide the supply chain response. For most, it has failed. Let me start with some perspective. I have followed the evolution of supply chain practices for thirty years. I am an old gal. Yes, it has been over 30 years. <My birthday this week is a stark reminder…
The shift happened. Haiti crumbled. Chile did far better. The difference was substantial. The contrast offers lessons on how to shelter cities from future devastating earthquakes. In a similar vein, the Great Recession shook the core of value chains. Some supply chains crumbled and some weathered the storm. What made the difference? It is this story that I want to tell. The Great Recession In my lifetime, there has never been one quite like it. October 2008 shook the foundations…
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