Operational Excellence

I once mapped out multiple severe bottlenecks and mind-boggling money wasting processes throughout the entire procurement organization in a pharmaceutical company.  The Procurement manager became so upset over our discoveries, he shut done the whole project out of embarrassment and fright of losing his job. That is just one example. The issue at heart is that you don’t need fancy consultants or individuals that believe they have all...

The 2013 Logistics and Supply Chain Management event in Las Vegas gave me a chance to present as well as connect with a number of outstanding people and organizations. Here are the major tips from the week which pertain to our business the most. Presentations regarding master data governance (including CIF – APO core interface) with or without APO were the most popular. Before launching sophisticated tools like APO, make sure you are...

Companies can potentially bleed staggering amounts of money implementing SAP APO (Advanced Planning Optimizer), with a mediocre results that requires extensive re-engineering.  Here are the top five steps required to create a company – wide – lean – mean – APO machine. 1. Get the best of the best to consult and guide you. You will fail or create a nightmare APO design if you do not do your homework and hire the very best...

There are a few ways to create a world class supply chain. When I talk about Supply Chain I’m starting at the Sales and Operations Plan and integrating all key functions to make that plan a success. Oliver Wight I’ve recently completed participating in a project based on the principals of the Oliver Wight system of Sales and Operational Planning excellence.  What I admire about this methodology is that it is a very holistic approach...

To reach and maintain Operational and Supply Chain excellence you need to take an unbiased and holistic review of your supply chain three ways. Strategy and Execution. What and why are we selling these products? How do we efficiently execute them throughout the supply chain? Review the Sales and Operation process and how key demand and supply data feeds it in a continuous loop. Convert this into a solid and ongoing financial plan....