There I was. The shipping manager of a multinational consumer goods corporation. Pending orders were piling up. Sales & marketing managers were calling, asking, and following up why shipments weren’t arriving at stores. The manufacturing lines were running. The warehouse was full. The shipping department was loading trucks. Why weren’t orders being served? There wasContinue reading “Seeking Success from Order-to-Delivery Systems”
Tag Archives: business
What is the Aim of Serving Orders?
The CEO of the consumer goods multinational put me on the hot seat. “Why aren’t we serving these pending orders?” He pointed to the pages of computer printouts on the conference room table. I didn’t understand why I was the only one there. Where was the chief supply chain officer or the logistics director? ItContinue reading “What is the Aim of Serving Orders?”
Don’t Underestimate an Old-Fashioned Manual Inventory System
Ben (not his real name) was the warehouse-in-charge person at a printing press company. His job, as the title suggests, was to receive, store, and issue materials and products going to and coming from the printing press’s production lines. Ben tracked the inventories of items via his Daily Warehouse Status Report (DWSR). It essentially wasContinue reading “Don’t Underestimate an Old-Fashioned Manual Inventory System”
How Do Supply Chains Fit into Your Firm’s Priorities? (Wrong Question)
Supply chains are the lifelines of the products & services of enterprises. Hence, executives should manage their enterprises’ supply chains to ensure they will meet strategic goals. Nice answer. Wrong question. Supply chains don’t fit into the priorities of enterprises. It’s the other way around. Enterprises must fit into the supply chains they are linkedContinue reading “How Do Supply Chains Fit into Your Firm’s Priorities? (Wrong Question)”
Her Problem Was Worse Than Mine
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) employee told me to come back with several documents before the agency would give my business firm access to the forms on its electronic payment portal. I already submitted the application for the new forms via the BIR’s registration portal, I said. And it was already approved, I toldContinue reading “Her Problem Was Worse Than Mine”
Arguing for Adversity vis-à-vis Risk
The built-in artificial intelligence (AI) program on the word processing software advised me to replace the term, adversity, with risk. Risk, the AI app said, is a more familiar term than adversity. I didn’t agree and I kept writing ‘adversity’ into my essay. Risk is the likelihood an unfavourable event shall occur. Adversity is anContinue reading “Arguing for Adversity vis-à-vis Risk”
What Did They Say?
I was a staff industrial engineer in a multinational consumer goods corporation and I was in a meeting with two (2) senior accountants. We were discussing why the budget for operating expenses was going up for the department I was assigned to. Whenever I replied to questions about expenses, both accountants would huddle and talkContinue reading “What Did They Say?”
The Un-Ease of Doing Business
I hate January. Every January of every calendar year, enterprises must renew their business permits with the cities and towns they have their offices located at. On top of the hefty fees & taxes, the process of renewal is tedious. Every enterprise must submit numerous requirements such as but not limited to securing clearances forContinue reading “The Un-Ease of Doing Business”
Lost Opportunities are Unsolved Problems
A company was stuck in a vicious cycle. The company delivered orders late. Customers did not pay right away for deliveries received, citing the tardy arrivals of their orders. The ensuing tight cashflow caused delays in purchasing and importing critical raw materials. Manufacturing could not make products on schedule. Logistics, therefore, could not deliver pendingContinue reading “Lost Opportunities are Unsolved Problems”
Paperless Productivity is a Myth
To pay for my company’s taxes, my accountant logs into the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) website and types into forms on the computer screen. Once filled, she checks and mouse clicks a button to submit the form. She logs out of the BIR website and then tells me to log into the company’s bankContinue reading “Paperless Productivity is a Myth”
Ellery's Essays 