Supply Chain Trends
How Do You Avoid Supply Chain Disruptions?
Many companies have a complex and globalized supply network, and while that offers numerous benefits, it can also mean a company is vulnerable to supply chain disruptions caused by events halfway around the world. In order to prevent supply chain disruptions caused by disasters or catastrophic geopolitical events, companies need to assess their supply networks…
Read MoreDoes Your Company Need a Transportation Management System?
Transportation management systems (TMS) are software solutions designed to help supply chain managers with tasks like routing, scheduling and shipment consolidation. The typical TMS allows shipping managers to gather information up and down the supply chain. A TMS offers numerous benefits to organizations that use them, but is one right for your organization? There are…
Read MoreWhat Are Virtual Reality Supply Chains?
It may seem like a gimmick, but virtual reality has been finding its way into supply chains, and those using the technology are reporting they are happy with the results. VR technology allows for supply chain managers to make more informed decisions than they otherwise would without the technology. With VR, managers can increase sales…
Read MoreWhy Is Last-Mile Delivery So Important?
Customers don’t see many aspects of the supply chain. They don’t see suppliers sending raw materials to a manufacturer, products rolling off the lines or shipments headed off to distribution centers. However, customers do see the final link or ‘last mile’ of the supply chain. They want final deliveries to be on time and their…
Read MoreHow Does the Whole Fulfillment Process Affect the Last Mile?
Empowered by smartphones, the explosion of services has led to an intense amount of focus being placed on the so-called ‘last mile’ in the supply chain – or final delivery in the supply chain. While the focus may be on the last mile of the supply chain, problems earlier in the process can make this…
Read MoreHow the Driver Shortage Is Affecting the Supply Chain Industry
With the average age of truck drivers increasing by the day and regulations limiting the number of hours a driver can be on the road, supply chains are looking at a severe shortage of qualified individuals. The problem of a weak labor market is compounded by the high turnover rate it causes. During times like…
Read MoreSupply Chain Value Webs Provide Flexibility
As industry evolves, companies need to make their supply chains more competitive by reexamining just what they can accomplish. An emerging way to accomplish this goal is not to look at the procurement ecosystem as a series of supply chains, but as a ‘value web’. When set up properly by a company, a value web…
Read MoreDon’t Get Left Behind: How to Merge Supply Chain and IT
To be able to compete globally, more businesses are adding technology to their supply chain management strategy. In the past few years, consumers have become more demanding and started setting their expectations high in terms of quality and service. Concurrently, supply chain managers must understand how the latest technology can assist them in terms of…
Read MoreHow Does Total Cost Perspective Help Make Better Supply Chain Decisions?
Working with quality suppliers is a top priority for almost every business, and companies need to assess suppliers with an eye in the direction of overall cost, quality, and performance. Furthermore, complicated supplier relationships, untrustworthy providers of material supply and growing customer expectations also add to the considerations when putting together a supply chain. Recent…
Read More3 Ways to Improve Order Management and Fulfillment
Many supply chain companies are seeking the elusive goal of perfect order fulfillment. However, obstacles like dated planning operations and disconnected execution programs often prevent the maintenance of a completely optimized scenario. While the challenges to perfect order fulfillment vary from industry to industry, there are a few steps that can be applied in a…
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