Attaining Flow via Systems & Platforms

We complain how little time we have.  Or we complain about how long we have to wait.  Either time is too short or too long. We lose track of time when we’re engrossed in a task.  But we use a lot of it when we distract ourselves from our jobs.  Time is an intangible resourceContinue reading “Attaining Flow via Systems & Platforms”

Three (3) Real-Life Cases of Demand Fulfilment

We fulfil demand in different ways.  For instance, we make products available such as at store shelves.  Another example is we customise and deliver based on what our customers order.  We encounter challenges in fulfilling demand, however.  And we sometimes don’t know we do.      I went to a newly opened convenience store one SundayContinue reading “Three (3) Real-Life Cases of Demand Fulfilment”

The Order-Winning Operations Strategy

We, whether we are executives, entrepreneurs, or employees, face challenges and disruptions every day.  Most of us have goals or at least have things we want to realise or get done.  We hate it when we run into obstacles.  We therefore develop strategies to anticipate and overcome them, if not get around them. Goals areContinue reading “The Order-Winning Operations Strategy”

Formulating the Operations Strategy

Every enterprise has a strategy.  Not all have an operations strategy.  A strategy is not a vision nor is it a mission.  A strategy is also not a goal and nor is it an action plan.  A vision is a desired future state.  Where do we want to be 1 to 5 years from now?Continue reading “Formulating the Operations Strategy”

Dissecting Demand and Its Four (4) Stages

What do we think of when we discuss demand? We tap it, capture it, deliver it, and get people to pay for it, but do we really know what it is?  We equal demand with how long a line is at a restaurant, or by the sheer number of customers at a shop.  We sayContinue reading “Dissecting Demand and Its Four (4) Stages”

Compliance is Not Service

Every year, banks notify us that we need to update our background information for the accounts we opened and deposit our money in.  They say it’s a rule of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas or BSP, the governing monetary authority of the Philippines, where I live & work.  All depositors must comply to enjoy theContinue reading “Compliance is Not Service”

The Supply Chain Orchestra

In August of 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait.  The United States of America led a coalition of nations to counter the invasion via a military campaign that started with Operation Desert Shield and then with Operation Desert Storm.  In November 1990, General Fred Franks, Jr., commander of the US Army VII Corps, deployed the Corps’ fiveContinue reading “The Supply Chain Orchestra”

Developing the Right Demand Fulfilment Strategy

A large fast-food chain hired executives from a fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) multinational.   The owners of the fast-food chain wanted the best and the brightest and they thought that the former executives from the multinational FMCG would best meet their expectations.  They were almost right. The former executives spent a lot of time revamping theContinue reading “Developing the Right Demand Fulfilment Strategy”

What to Do with Unserved Orders

A global fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) corporation had set up a contact centre in Singapore to centralise sales orders management in the Asia-Pacific region.  Customers and field sales of the Southeast Asian market of the FMCG company would inquire or send their orders via email, SMS, or via internet calls to the Singapore office.  TheContinue reading “What to Do with Unserved Orders”

Supply Chain Engineers Have Much to Offer

‘There were nearly 2.2 million mentions of “supply chain” on Twitter in the fourth quarter of 2021, some five times more than in any quarter in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic…’     Global supply chains were a mess in 2022, so it seems when one reads any business news article or video that year. SinceContinue reading “Supply Chain Engineers Have Much to Offer”