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”
Tag Archives: expenses
Working What We Have vs. Changing What We Work With
We who are supply chain managers have their hands full doing their jobs. The problem is we work with what we only have. Executives of enterprises determine our scopes; executives also decide what resources & assets we will have at our disposal or have authority over. Supply chains extend beyond the borders of enterprises, andContinue reading “Working What We Have vs. Changing What We Work With”
Embracing Supply Chain Productivity in Strategic Planning
“No, we will not change our sales policy,” the general manager of the consumer goods wholesale trading company tersely said. As I was formerly a logistics manager and land transportation service provider (trucker for short), the wholesaler GM was asking me for advice on how to bring down transportation costs, which had been rising sharply. Continue reading “Embracing Supply Chain Productivity in Strategic Planning”
Ellery's Essays 