Posts Tagged "Supply Chain Optimization"

Here are a few sobering statistics on how IT automation has eliminated non value adding tasks – from Quartz magazine. Between 2000 and 2010, the jobs of 1.1 million secretaries were eliminated In the same period, the number of telephone operators dropped by 64%, travel agents by 46% and bookkeepers by 26%. “Two-thirds of the 7.6 million middle-class jobs that vanished in Europe were the victims of technology”. Let’s talk about...

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...

Don’t change what you can’t. When I first joined a past company I was sitting in with the senior executives discussing the long term IT strategic plan. I told them that if key executives kept throwing products in the short term forecast without warning, the IT system does not “fix” the multiple disruptions to the supply chain. Your IT system is only as good as what you decide to drop in it. I knew I couldn’t change those high level...

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...

You’ve seen it too often; dreadfully boring PowerPoint presentations killing audience participation.  Or one assertive executive forcing his or her view on how business processes and SAP should work. How about company projects to improve the Supply Chain based on which VP yells the loudest? All these methods are incredibly outdated and as technology and processes become more and more sophisticated you need to capitalize on your best...