Analyst Insight: Years ago in the consumer products industry, the "supply chain of the future" looked much like today's supply chain. Industry change was gradual and incremental. But the pace of change today demands a more proactive and aggressive approach to future logistics planning. Market and competitive forces are completely reshaping how supply chains need to operate in the future. There are several opportunities for companies to improve their market position by improving internal operations. - Charles Trimarco, Managing Consultant-Supply Chain Management, Capgemini Consulting

Analyst Insight: For many supply chain executives the term analytics is synonymous with reporting and Big Data is a new buzz word. However, when leaders harness new forms of analytics coupled with an understanding of Big Data opportunities good things happen. Here we share some insights from three studies that illuminate the opportunity. - Lora Cecere, CEO and Founder, Supply Chain Insights

Big data is the all the rage and getting tons of press as it has allowed manufacturers and supply chain executives to create new and compelling data-driven strategies that help them compete, innovate and capture wallet-share. Perhaps fueled in part by the likes of leading database vendors or system integrators (SIs) looking to cash in on high-dollar predictive analytic and scoring engagements, big data represents many things to many people, but one of the most pragmatic applications is mastering all the data elements used in a business infrastructure. The term commonly used for this process is master data management, or MDM.

Over the past five years we have experienced a dramatic change in the role that manufacturing has played as part of the fabric that ties together our global economies. No longer seen as simply "black boxes" in the supply network that simply consumed materials and produced products "” manufacturing has experienced a renaissance whereby investment has returned with an expectation of continued growth into the future. In today's demand-driven reality, the role of the factory has evolved to necessitate greater flexibility and an ability to adapt to real-time sales information, resulting in better customer satisfaction, efficiency and profits.

As we move into the heart of the holiday shopping season, consumer packaged goods (CPG) providers are once again faced with the challenge of matching supply with uncertain demand. How can they avoid the twin threats of stockouts and excess inventory at this crucial time of the retailing year? It's a delicate balance indeed.