Analyst Insight: Inventory is the most visible dimension of supply chain performance. It is scrutinized on the balance sheet by the CFO and external analysts. However, inventory performance is more than a financial metric. Supply chain leaders who are charged to act as stewards for inventory performance must ensure sound planning and supply execution while collaborating to influence and align with demand and product managers. - Paul Lord, Research Director, Gartner Supply Chain

Analyst Insight: Complex executive priorities and deeply embedded functional tendencies present challenging organizational dynamics to the chemical supply chain leader. These challenges require a combination of operational effectiveness and leadership vision and influence to establish a hierarchy of layered and synchronized governance processes that connect differentiated execution to segmented demand fulfillment strategies. Features of this integrated capability will include supply and demand visibility with analytics that support agile decision making to manage and mitigate complex constraints. - Paul Lord, Research Director, Gartner

The maker of sophisticated medical equipment had reached a "plateau" in its efforts to boost customer service and optimize costly inventory within its global operation. Then it found a way to climb higher.

A conversation with Gregory L. Schlegel, adjunct professor of supply-chain risk management at Lehigh University.

Each disruption in global supply chains seems to bring a new surprise. On March 31 of this year, it was an explosion and fire at a chemical plant in Marl, Germany. The incident at the factory of Evonik Industries resulted in the deaths of two workers and caused damage that will take all summer to repair.

Proforma IdeaPress has managed to remain competitive in the market for printed promotional items, even though its plants are in the U.S. and customer requirements can be extremely complex. Company co-owner Pratt Pande tells how it's done.