Tesla’s shift to a magnetic motor using neodymium in its Model 3 Long Range car adds to pressure on already strained supplies of a rare earth metal that had for years been shunned because of an export ban by top producer China.
For almost 50 years, the operations/supply chain profession has been embracing the sales and operations planning process to balance supply and demand in complex supply chain networks. As a former S&OP process owner for three Fortune 100 manufacturers, I can identify with the challenges associated with developing the process and sustaining it as well. With more and more tools emerging, especially supporting solid supply chain risk management, the future looks bright for strategic S&OP. -Gregory L. Schlegel, CPIM, CSP, Jonah, Founder, The Supply Chain Risk Management Consortium, Executive-in-Residence, Center for Supply Chain Research, Lehigh University
While over 80 percent of companies have demand and supply planning, success has the same probability as a flip of a coin. How do companies improve the odds? Success may lie in the redesign of supply chain planning from the outside-in using cognitive planning. -Lora Cecere, Founder, Supply Chain Insights
Slowing growth, intensifying competition and rapidly changing consumer preference are creating rising cost pressures, driving major focus to reduce supply chain costs across industries. However, companies are stuck in an endless death spiral of cost cutting with little impact to the bottom line. Leading companies are breaking this cycle with ZBSC (zero-based supply chain)— a way to drive profitability by looking forward, continually improving bottom line results in a rapidly changing world. –Gary Hanifan, Managing Director, Accenture Strategy, Supply Chain & Operations Strategy
President Trump on Thursday imposed tariffs on imported steel and aluminum but offered relief to some U.S. allies, a move that marks his administration’s most protectionist step yet but stops short of the global tariffs his GOP allies begged him to avoid.
U.S. consumers have filed a lawsuit against Kobe Steel Ltd and Toyota Motor Corp accusing the companies of violating consumer protection laws and engaging in fraud by concealing the use of substandard metal components in vehicles.
Coming out of the Retail Value Chain Federation Fall Conference, it was clear that retailers, merchandise suppliers and even service providers are facing a do-or-die situation. It's a simple choice – adapt to meet the needs of today's consumer or become obsolete. Period. That means optimizing drop ship and direct-to-consumer operations, practicing strategic trading partner relationship management, expanding into untapped markets, and increasing face-to-face collaboration. -Kim Zablocky, Founder and Chairman, Retail Value Chain Federation (RVCF)