Supply chains had become popular in the 2020’s, thanks greatly to the era of the coronavirus pandemic when our world experienced major economic disruptions in transportation, production, and deliveries. Because of aggravations such as missed deliveries, shortages, and overstocked inventories, we pledged we’d do better in managing our supply chains. But we hadn’t done muchContinue reading “Five Characteristics of Supply Chains”
Tag Archives: customers
The Need to Conform Before We Can Sell
There used to be a time when we made things, and they’d sell. Artists would draw their paintings or sculpt their masterpieces, display them, and people would walk up to buy them. Artisans would produce their wares (e.g. potteries, garments, trinkets), place them in front of their houses, and customers would purchase them outright. Continue reading “The Need to Conform Before We Can Sell”
When Friends Become Customers
Several years ago, I approached an old classmate from high school who was in the construction business and asked him if he can quote me for a big project I was undertaking. He replied, “sorry, I’m too busy with other jobs.” Recently, I asked a friend if she can quote me for some equipment sheContinue reading “When Friends Become Customers”
Why We Need to Ask More (Right) Questions
We ask a lot of questions. But which questions do we choose to answer? Which questions do we delve into? Which questions become the bases of our lifetime quests? Both words, ‘Questions’ and ‘quests,’ have a similar origin: quaerere, to ask, seek. What we seek depends on what we ask. And the first things weContinue reading “Why We Need to Ask More (Right) Questions”
Comparing Supply Chain Management versus Supply Chain Engineering
What’s the difference between supply chain management (SCM) and supply chain engineering (SCE)? Supply chain management is the management of people, structures, & systems that underlie the relationships of functions which enable the flow of merchandise & services from their sources to their destinations and users. SCMs work with existing systems & structures as theyContinue reading “Comparing Supply Chain Management versus Supply Chain Engineering”
What Our Superiors Expect
Customers expect perfection in service. But what do our superiors expect? For those among us who are supply chain professionals or managers, we answer to our employers, our superiors or bosses, the owners and executives who rule the enterprises we work for. And as much as customers expect us to be perfect in serving them,Continue reading “What Our Superiors Expect”
What Our Customers Expect
What do our customers expect from us? The Total Quality movement from the 1980’s preached that the people we work with are either “suppliers” or “customers.” We played the role of either one. The idea of TQM was to do the right thing right the first time when we, as “suppliers,” serve our “customers.” WeContinue reading “What Our Customers Expect”
Two Kinds of Customers
Two (2) occupants of two (2) condominium residences were refusing to pay their share of association and water bills. They, in fact, haven’t paid for over a year despite repeated follow-ups from the condominium’s treasurer. The rationale of both occupants (who happen to be sisters, by the way) was that the condominium association wasn’t legal,Continue reading “Two Kinds of Customers”
We are Consumers in a Take-It-or-Leave-It World
I’ll never fly, Emirates, the Dubai-based airline, ever again. At least I’ll avoid it as much as I could. The Emirates flight I took from Manila to Dubai was horrible. I had a economy seat in which I could not get the in-flight entertainment system to work. The flight attendants ignored my requests for assistance. Continue reading “We are Consumers in a Take-It-or-Leave-It World”
Demand Fulfilment Begins Before the Order, Not After
As managers of our enterprises. we entice our customers to select our products & services. Once our customers show interest in the items we are selling, the demand creation process comes closer to ending, and the demand fulfilment comes closer to beginning. Hence, we don’t wait for customers to order when we start the fulfilmentContinue reading “Demand Fulfilment Begins Before the Order, Not After”
Ellery's Essays 