I looked at the bottom of a dog food can at the pet shop to check its expiration date. It said “10/26/2026,” but the production date said “10/27/2023.” I concluded the dog food was safe as I bought the can of dog food on May 25, 2024. I thought, however: why was the production dateContinue reading “Why Does It Take So Long?”
Tag Archives: supply chain management
Flagships & Anchors
Every enterprise has a flagship. A flagship is an enterprise’s leading product. It’s the brand that customers identify with the enterprise or it’s the enterprise’s number one item in terms of customer popularity or sales. We know The Coca-Cola Company by its flagship namesake, Coca-Cola. Likewise, we know the Pepsico corporation from its Pepsi lineContinue reading “Flagships & Anchors”
It’s Not Only About ROI
The chief executive officer of a multinational consumer goods corporation handed down an edict: he won’t approve any project unless the proponent presents a justifiable return on investment (ROI). Whether it be an investment in new facilities, hiring of additional staff, or a promotion of a new product, the CEO won’t let an undertaking pushContinue reading “It’s Not Only About ROI”
Solving Problems Before They Become Calamities
Starbucks Corporation had reported lower sales in the second quarter of its fiscal year ending March 31, 2024. This led to the coffee chain company’s stock price tumbling by as much as 12% on April 30, 2024. Starbucks’ chief executive officer, Laxman Narasimhan, cited customers abandoning their app orders because of very long waiting timesContinue reading “Solving Problems Before They Become Calamities”
Solving Problems in the Midst of Crises
We who are supply chain veterans have encountered many crises in our operations. Over the decades since Keith Oliver (and Mr. Van t’Hoff) coined the term, supply chain management, we have had our share of challenging crises. But even as many enterprises recognise their critical importance, supply chains remained a not well understood branch ofContinue reading “Solving Problems in the Midst of Crises”
Engineering for Versatility, Not Resilience
When we analyse the gaps in our supply chain operations, it isn’t just about how wide the differences are in how we’re performing versus what we’re aiming for. It won’t only be about variances between targeted & actual results, but it will also be about how well we respond to and handle risks now andContinue reading “Engineering for Versatility, Not Resilience”
Understanding the Supply Chain Engineering Roadmap
We know what we want, i.e., we have a vision. We know where we’re at versus what we want, i.e., we did our reality check. We see the disparities between our present-state & future-state performances, i.e., we mind the gaps in our supply chain operations. The next step in building our supply chains is toContinue reading “Understanding the Supply Chain Engineering Roadmap”
Mind the Gap
We see the sign in many railway stations around the world: mind the gap. It’s a reminder, if not a warning, for us to watch our step as we cross the space between the train from the platform. As much as we may take it for granted, if we don’t watch our step, we canContinue reading “Mind the Gap”
Transitioning from Yesterday’s Trade Routes to Tomorrow’s Supply Chains
We use maps to guide us to a new destination. If we don’t have one, we’ll end up lost and asking people on the way for directions. We then would remember the route we took in case we’d return to where we went. Thanks to apps like Waze, Google Maps, and Apple Maps, it’s easyContinue reading “Transitioning from Yesterday’s Trade Routes to Tomorrow’s Supply Chains”
Lessons from an IT & Logistics Mess
A multinational consumer goods corporation initiated a comprehensive information system project for all its departments, manufacturing & logistics operations included. The lead person of the project was Dana, one of the corporation’s up-in-coming IT managers. Dana convened a working group comprised of senior heads of respective departments of the multinational’s various departments, i.e., finance, sales,Continue reading “Lessons from an IT & Logistics Mess”
