The surprise victory by Greece in soccer’s most recent European Championship wasn’t the only unexpected success of the tournament. Adidas, the sporting apparel and footwear company, also scored big by delivering more than 145,000 blue-and-white Greece team jerseys to stores across Europe just days after the winning match.

Read the rest of this eLog »

More and more companies today are realizing that if you can’t measure it, then you can’t improve it. But what is the best way to gauge supply chain performance?

Read the rest of this eLog »

AMR Research gathered supply chain executives together for the Supply Chain Executive Conference and Supply Chain Peer Forum. The group discussed technology and structures for global supply chain organizations.

Researchers found some patterns in how companies build their global supply chain organizations. Researchers also identified nine truths in building a global supply chain:

Alignment happens through an outward focus. Building demand networks and reducing demand latency are vital.

Processes are changing. As companies mature, companies must unlearn old processes and accept new processes to build an effective supply chain.

An organization must be built. Companies must take internal responsibility for training and skill building.

Design and modify supply chains. Companies must realize the supply chain is not one entity. There are many supply chains and there must be active design-and-modify strategies.

Process definition allows agility. Effective supply chain response hinges on adaptively translating demand.

Networks are essential. Systems and processes are needed to support demand, design and supply networks.

Metrics are the glue. The metrics definitions are essential for alignment. Performance management systems are increasingly needed to align metrics that foster the desire supply chain response.

It must be a total company effort. This requires a redesign of front office (sales and marketing) processes to transition from marketing to market driven.

The supply chain is critical to support innovation and growth. Sustainable market growth cannot happen without embedding innovation in demand and supply processes.

Source: AMR

The Glossary of Terms in Logistics & Shipping is the most comprehensive paper-based dictionary and therefore the standard for defining terms used in the area of Logistics and Shipping. Use this powerful tool to expand your professional vocabulary and ensure that everyone on your team is speaking the same language. www.theKnowledgeTransfer.com

paperback student version $ 19,99 hardcover executive version $ 29,99

Penn State University’s Smeal College of Business and World Campus are offering the new program that will allow working professionals to earn a graduate degree by taking courses online.

Read the rest of this eLog »

Logistics is finally being recognised as a decisive competitive tool by the automotive industry, but this is unlikely to help logistics operators, despite major opportunities in developing markets. This is one of the main conclusions of Transport Intelligence’s new Global Automotive Logistics report.

Read the rest of this eLog »

Companies across a broad spectrum of manufacturing, distribution, and retail segments are striving to be more demand driven. The demand-driven strategy of allowing actual demand to pull inventory through the company and its supply chain seems simple. However for those using traditional supply chain management practices, other corporate strategies - along with some outside forces - make it a challenge to create a truly demand-driven supply and distribution network.

Read the rest of this eLog »

Recent research by Aberdeen reveals that the top priorities for global trade management (GTM) in 2007 are improving trade compliance and global supply chain visibility in an attempt to more effectively manage growing global operations and distribution networks. This was the general consensus of the 200 survey respondents.

Read the rest of this eLog »

One of the biggest challenges that the global logistics industry faces over the next few years is from environmental legislation. Governments and consumers are showing an increasing interest in the level of ‘food miles’, i.e. the distance between where a product originates and its eventual market. In particular this is likely to detrimentally affect the movement of goods from developing countries in continents such as Africa to markets in Europe and America. This would inevitably impact on the associated logistics sectors such as air cargo and sea freight.

Read the rest of this eLog »

Today’s “lean” warehousing managers are trimming the fat by eliminating unnecessary tasks and by improving value-added activities. One strategy they frequently adopt is cross docking, the practice of expediting the flow of product from receiving to shipping with a minimum of handling in between.

AMR Research released its annual Supply Chain Top 25 report. The report identifies the top 25 manufacturers and retailers that exhibit superior supply chain capabilities and performance. The companies in this report demonstrate excellence across basic metrics related to execution – return on assets, revenue growth, and inventory turns – and are recognized by their peers and AMR Research as supply chain leaders.

Read the rest of this eLog »