Supply chain solutions - Articles - Page 19

Manufacturers Need a More Data-Driven Approach to Direct Materials Sourcing

August 19, 2014

Few decisions have as much power to make or break a product's success and profitability as those around the sourcing of direct materials. The components, parts and assemblies that go into making products not only account for 70 percent of an average manufacturer's annual spend, they have a significant impact on such critical competitive factors as brand reputation, time to market and supply chain reliability.

Trends in Inventory Optimization

August 18, 2014

SupplyChainBrain

John Sharkey, senior vice president for supply chain consulting at Spinnaker, discusses how Spinnaker's clients are employing inventory optimization and supply chain network modeling to meet specific service requirements without excess safety stock.

Stanley Black & Decker Finds RFID Technology to Be Highly Useful Tool

August 18, 2014

RFID Journal

AeroScout Industrial, a provider of active radio frequency identification solutions, has installed an "Internet of Everything" system at a power tools plant owned by its parent company, Stanley Black & Decker, located in Reynosa, Mexico. The solution has enabled the firm to improve product throughput and labor efficiency, and to reduce the quantity of inventory stored on site for assembly-line replenishment.

Retailers Risk Falling Behind if They Don't Plan Now for Internet of Things, Report Claims

August 15, 2014

IDC Retail Insights

Retailers must plan now for the IoT because the technology positively impacts top- and bottom-line business performance by improving omnichannel operations and enabling personalized and contextualized interaction with consumers, says a report from IDC Retail Insights.

Omnichannel Solution Strategies for Retailers

August 14, 2014

SupplyChainBrain

The challenges of omnichannel distribution are perhaps the largest issues facing retailers today. Two senior consultants from Kurt Salmon identify solutions that can help retailers deal with omnichannel demands today and stay ahead of future changes.

Supply Chain Challenges in Emerging Markets

August 14, 2014

SupplyChainBrain

Global companies increasingly view emerging markets not only as a source of supply but also as a source of sales. Clive Geldard, group vice president for retail and supply chain at Solving Efeso, discusses supply chain challenges that these markets present and steps companies can take to improve performance.

Designing a Supply Chain to Support Global Brands

August 13, 2014

SupplyChainBrain

Big Heart Pet Brands is the parent company for many of the biggest selling pet foods, including Kibbles 'n Bits, Meow Mix, Milk Bone and 9Lives. Ryan Dimond, manager of supply chain optimization, discusses how Big Heart uses supply chain design to support its many brands and employs supply chain modeling to make better decisions.

Business Transformation Through Agile Supply Network Design

August 13, 2014

SupplyChainBrain

Organizations need an agile supply network to be able to respond to unplanned events and continuing market volatility, says Jake Barr, CEO of BlueWorld Consulting. Barr explains what an agile supply network encompasses and outlines steps that companies can take to build agility into their supply chains.

The Role of SCM in Reputation and Brand Management

August 5, 2014

SupplyChainBrain

Supply chain performance has a big impact on consumers' perception of a company and its brand, says Bill Tomasi of IBS. He suggests that companies need to more actively incorporate SCM into their brand protection strategies.

Taking the Air Out with Package Optimization

August 4, 2014

SupplyChainBrain

Companies continue to lose money by shipping air as a result of packaging that doesn't fit the product, says Tom Blanck, leader of the packaging optimization practice at Chainalytics. Blanck discusses optimization techniques that can save money and improve productivity.