Shhh…. Listen closely. You cannot hear them. They are quietly working. They don’t ask for breaks. When it comes to lunch, they are never late. They are hard at work. While a typical third-party logistics operation is typically ALL about labor, this one is not. It is ALL about the personalized EACH: the effective picking of the order of ONE. With the rise of social commerce,warehouses are struggling to effectively…
It is the longest recession of the last four decades; and economists are gathering to discuss the possibility of a double-dip recession. It will not go away anytime too soon. All that is known is the unknown. As 2010 winds to a close, three things are certain for supply chain professionals: The links of the supply chain are weaker Demand is more uncertain Supply is more volatile These three factors make horizontal processes like S&OP more…
Over the past seven years, I have written more than 500 articles on Demand-Driven Value Networks. So it may come as a surprise to readers that I do not believe that Demand Driven is the end state. I believe that it is the most effective means to an end. So, if you are scratching your head and saying, “huh?” Please give me a few more minutes to explain. The research supports…
Aluminum. Corrugated. Freight. Ocean cargo. Labor in China. The surprise and dismay continues. Supply is tightening, international currency is changing, prices are more volatile, and the future is less certain. Supply chain leaders need to steer the course. As a result, S&OP has risen in importance. If 2009 was about demand, 2010 will be all about supply. Are you ready? It Matters. Over the past six years, I have spoken…
“We live in a world where supply chains, not companies, compete for market dominance. But companies often have diverging incentives and interests from their supply chain partners, so when they independently strive to optimize their individual objectives, the expected result can be compromised. ” Hau Lee, 3 A’s of Supply Chain Excellence
It happened yesterday. It happens at least once a day. When I travel, the most frequently asked question is “what do I see in the market that is cool?” Yes, it seems that everyone is looking for the inside track on cool technologies. So, here I share my take. Let me start with a disclaimer. What is cool for me: may not be what is cool for you. And, my daughter…
SNAP. CRACKLE. POP. Yes, we got what we asked for…. Efficient supply chains that snap and break under stress. Have you ever asked yourself the question, in the design of supply chain networks, should supply chain efficiency be the goal? Based on seven years of supply chain research, I think not. I think that the goal should be resilience. Recently, I got the chance to reflect on this over dinner with two…
This week I am off on vacation. On some beautiful Caribbean island, I will raise my glass to toast Barbie. Barbie, you might say? Yes, this year, my early childhood friend is 50. I am DEFINATELY telling my age when I share that she consumed the first 10 years of my life. I am also telling my age when I share that Supply Chain Management (SCM) has consumed the last 20 years of my…
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