3 tips for supply chains It seems each day highlights new, strategic supply chain risks such as potential: U.S. dockworkers strike, closure of the Strait of Hormuz, upcoming legal requirements, changing customer expectations of your sustainable operations, … How should you prepare for what may, or may not, happen? If you run a large, global… Read More

Competency is king. Did you know a majority of those in leadership believe their workforce doesn’t have the supply chain skills needed for today’s rapidly changing economy and its technical needs? On the other hand, employees are frustrated that available supply chain training isn’t as robust or advanced as they want. The kind of training… Read More

Do this, do that – now Or should you? It’s been tough living with constant uncertainty coming from different directions at different time concerning different elements of supply chain and business. If only you could just get one thing off your plate, things would be better. This is where I see many businesses falling into… Read More

… 12 integrations (It’s officially the last Day of Christmas – Jan 5)   I started as a manufacturing engineer designing assembly lines, inventory flows, and machinery to make or test product, automating the factory to increase global competitiveness, and working with amazing people producing quality product. Manufacturing was the supply chain (although the phrase… Read More

… 11 Planners planning (BTW: the 12th Day of Christmas is Jan 5)   With all the change going on, you might think taking the time to plan makes your supply chains too slow. That would be an incorrect thought. Without planning, everyone gets to set their own path – not an easy or effective… Read More

… 10 loads of data (The 12 Days of Christmas officially end on Jan 5 every year)   You’re swimming in data from your supply chain. But can you trust it to not be a trojan horse sneaking in bad actors without your or the sender’s knowledge? These 10 data points should help you immensely… Read More

… geese a laying Not just any geese; the geese that lay the golden eggs. Unfortunately, too often we squash the eggs in our handling of our supply chains. Maybe not intentionally, but let’s take a quick look at 6 areas where some of your golden geese can be found that may be getting squashed:… Read More

…a port closure by air, land, and sea As the speed of business continues to increase, strategic risk management is more critical than ever. When it comes to ports, your risk management must include the ability to enable visibility during transport, including: on the sea, so you have an early warning signal if your containers… Read More

Your productivity software may be launching an inside attack New productivity software doesn’t measure business elements that count – yet it does force white collar workers, like supply chain management professionals, to create a false corporate ROI. Are you falling for it? BTW: Blue collar workers have also been stressed for a while from productivity… Read More

It hurts a lot.  2 actions to stop the hurt. As I discuss improving strategic procurement performance with companies, I’m hearing distressing supply chain news… …because of spikes in demand, buyers are panicked about being able to bring in materials on time in full… …because buyers are panicked, and want something to land on their… Read More