My mother told me why she and my father were sending me to college in the United States. “They have better facilities,” she said. She was right. The Philippines where I came from had good teachers. Philippine universities also offered courses and curricula similar as one would find in the USA. What the country lacked,Continue reading “Facilities in the Supply Chain”
Tag Archives: enterprise
Imagining the Benefits of Addressing Incomplete Orders
When I order croissants from Starbucks, the baristas would include packets of jam & butter. One time, there was no butter. The barista said the shop was all out of butter; the commissary had also not delivered butter for a whole week. I took the missing butter in stride and ate my croissant. But IContinue reading “Imagining the Benefits of Addressing Incomplete Orders”
Improving the Commodity Supply Chain
Just about every supply chain involves commodities. And it is in commodities where many supply chain challenges emerge. By the strictest definition, commodities are essential raw materials like grains, minerals, fish, livestock, metals, and fruits. Commodities are basic items that are typically the same wherever they may be sourced or how they are processed. OneContinue reading “Improving the Commodity Supply Chain”
When Standard Features Aren’t Needed
How do engineers justify buying equipment if it comes with standard features that the enterprise doesn’t really need? Before engineers recommend buying new equipment, managers first mention what they need or what the problem is. Managers may already have a solution in mind such as a machine they read on a catalogue or saw inContinue reading “When Standard Features Aren’t Needed”
Why Should One Care About How Long Customers Wait
A leading drugstore chain in the Philippines was getting flak on social media for only having one (1) cashier at each of its branches. Netizens were complaining that whenever they went to any of the drugstore’s branches, they’d see two to three pharmacists at the prescription counter but only one (1) cashier. The complaining netizensContinue reading “Why Should One Care About How Long Customers Wait”
In Cost Reduction, Context Matters
It’s a commonly asked question from business leaders. ‘How can we reduce costs?’ Answers arrive almost immediately. Reduce head counts. Buy cheaper stuff. Cut overtime. Save energy. The list goes on. A large multinational corporation initiated a ‘cost improvement program.’ Departments were asked to submit reports on cost improvement projects they initiated and implemented. ThoseContinue reading “In Cost Reduction, Context Matters”
How Many Depots Does Your Business Need?
The large consumer goods company where I used to work as shipping manager had a central warehouse which served customers via distributors in different regions of the country. My former boss boasted then that the company saved plenty of money from not having depots. A company that sells laptops & printers utilises a 3rd partyContinue reading “How Many Depots Does Your Business Need?”
Seeking Success from Order-to-Delivery Systems
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”
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?”
Solving Urgent Problems in Supply Chains
A shipping manager of a medium-sized consumer goods company is dispatching deliveries one morning. One of the company’s trucks unfortunately won’t start. The driver says the battery is dead. The truck is loaded with products a customer ordered and is waiting to receive. The truck is twenty (20) years old, and the manager already securedContinue reading “Solving Urgent Problems in Supply Chains”
