Ellery

The Many Questions Supply Chain Managers Are Asked to Answer

The following are questions customers typically ask supply chain managers: “Why is it taking you so long to deliver my order?” “When will you deliver?” “How many of the items we ordered will you deliver today?” “How much of an item do you have available?” “Your items didn’t meet our specs; when will you replaceContinue reading “The Many Questions Supply Chain Managers Are Asked to Answer”

Solving Problems, Cultivating Ideas Together

I worked for Procter & Gamble Philippines in the late 1980’s. I was a production manager who oversaw the food packing lines of the company. As production manager, I was invited at times to join the food brand team meetings led by marketing managers, who were responsible for their respective products’ success. P&G is famousContinue reading “Solving Problems, Cultivating Ideas Together”

How Sales & Supply Chain People Can Work Together

Customer inquiries and quotations have long been seen as traditional jobs of sales professionals. Field sales representatives visit customers and strive to get orders from them. When customers inquire, sales professionals are expected to answer with accurate information. Trouble starts when sales professionals have no adequate answers to give. Sales professionals may know prices, terms,Continue reading “How Sales & Supply Chain People Can Work Together”

Pursuing Perfection Beyond the Acceptable Quality Level (AQL)

An ad promotes an Internet Service Provider’s (ISP) subscription plans. On the bottom in small fine print is written “30% minimum speed at 80& reliability.” The Philippines’ National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in a memorandum in 2011 mandated that ISPs should provide at least 80% service reliability to customers: An ISP therefore should be able toContinue reading “Pursuing Perfection Beyond the Acceptable Quality Level (AQL)”

Nothing Matters More Importantly than the Delivery

In the final scene of the 1975 movie, Three Days of the Condor, Deputy Director Higgins (played by the late Cliff Robertson) of the CIA tells Turner (played by Robert Redford) that when faced with shortages of basic necessities like oil and food, people won’t be asking but will be demanding there will be supply. Continue reading “Nothing Matters More Importantly than the Delivery”

Why We Need Engineers

I spent fifteen (15) minutes one morning pounding several pills into powder. The powdered pills are medicinal supplements for my pet cat, to fight against liver ailments. One of my cats tested for high SGPT, an enzyme when found high in a blood test, indicates problems with the liver. The vet prescribed the cat neededContinue reading “Why We Need Engineers”

The Value a Small Table Can Bring

I was in a bad mood that morning. The bank I always go was closed. The manager said the staff was sick with the coronavirus so I had to go to another branch further away. I didn’t like my time being wasted but I had no choice if I wanted to finish my transactions thatContinue reading “The Value a Small Table Can Bring”

Negotiating Needs Time

One important thing the expert hostage-negotiator, Chris Voss, teaches in his book, Never Split the Difference, is to exercise empathy with whom we negotiate with. Mr. Voss advises we listen intently, ask questions, and mirror what the other party says as the latter cites whatever demands he or she puts on the table. Easier saidContinue reading “Negotiating Needs Time”

Products & Services: What’s the Difference and How Do We Maximise Their Value?

What’s the difference between a product and a service? A product is an item of value that benefits a user. A service is an activity that leads to the benefits for those availing of it. Products are tangible, i.e., as in solid, liquid, gas, or energy, or as virtual (e.g. software, streaming videos, speeches,Continue reading “Products & Services: What’s the Difference and How Do We Maximise Their Value?”

Why Responsibilities are Important in Time Management

We don’t control our time. Every morning I wake up at 5am. It doesn’t matter what time I sleep. My eyes open at 5am. Sometimes I oversleep but that’s more of the exception than the rule. I wake up at 5am, Mondays to Sundays, and holidays. It’s rare I don’t. I wake up at 5amContinue reading “Why Responsibilities are Important in Time Management”