Analyst Insight: A number of factors are drawing increased attention to the order-to-cash (OTC) process. Achieving a perfect order, one that is filled to completion and arrives at the customer undamaged and properly documented, is under stress from doing new ways of business and increasing customer expectations. - Alex Bajorinas and Jim Morton, both Senior Managers, Ernst & Young LLP
Analyst Insight: Food and beverage companies lag consumer packaged goods companies in corporate performance. With rising raw materials costs and volatility, coupled with increased compliance for food safety, they are facing greater change and increased risk. As they move into 2014, their supply chains are not as mature and their challenges are greater. - Lora Cecere, CEO and Founder, Supply Chain Insights
Product development has traditionally been seen as the responsibility of research and development (R&D) or engineering departments. Hand-in-hand with product development comes product lifecycle management (PLM), a function which is often wrongly positioned as product data management and thus rarely used to its full potential.
Spinnaker, a supply-chain and logistics-consulting firm, has acquired Plan4Demand Solutions Inc., a supply-chain consultancy with an emphasis on planning.
Food-cost inflation is inevitable year to year, but it doesn't necessarily have to eat into the profit margins of full-service restaurant operators. The key is to understand all the components that affect food costs and the available options for controlling them through strategic purchasing programs.
Innovation of the Year: Smart packaging creates right size box for every item shipped from e-commerce centers
Winner: Staples & Packsize International; Runner-Up: PepsiCo; Finalists: LMI, Motorola Solutions, Pa. Liquor Control Board, IBM
The Defense Logistics Agency tasked partner LMI with helping to develop a more efficient system for managing items with infrequent demands through an innovative system that accounts for need and risk, without sacrificing mission-readiness.
