The Supply Chain Management Blog

Moving forward, sustainability within the supply chain will evolve from “greenwashing” to become the foundation of great business. I feel these five conversations must occur within supply chain leadership for sustainability to become synonymous with reduced cost, risk mitigation and a socially-responsible business.

Green, ecologically-minded warehouse retrofits can reduce a facility’s carbon footprint, increase its value and lower energy costs. But how can a warehouse be renovated to become greener with only a modest investment? Here are nine great warehouse retrofit suggestions that won’t break the bank.

According to Wanted Analytics, over 49,000 supply chain jobs were posted online in the last three months alone, up 24 percent from the same period last year. Additionally, these positions have become increasingly strategic. In this article, I look at which jobs are in high demand and the skills necessary for success.

In a recent conversation with Sherry Gordon, President at Value Chain Group, I asked her what it would take to make scorecarding a more beneficial practice. These best practices can help guide effective performance management initiatives that benefit sourcing experts, purchasers and other supply chain leaders.

A May 2011 study by Capgemini found that improving supply chain visibility was the top initiative for executives, with 45 percent of respondents putting it at the top of their lists. By creating more transparency throughout the supply chain, managers can prioritize where to invest in network improvements.

Due to workforce talent shifts and the apparently unbreakable mantra that “supply chains aren’t sexy,” Apple’s new CEO Tim Cook represents a metaphorical coup for a logistics field in a high-level talent crisis. What’s most surprising about Cook’s ascension up the ladder is his origin in the supply chain.

Many will not forget the sights of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. However, fast-forward four months after the destruction of the March tsunami began, and select Japanese manufactures have not only begun to rebuild, but emphatically rally back. So, who are these all-stars, and how did they do it?

Many of the issues in modern supply chains aren’t actually due to globalization. Rather, they’re a result of a de-emphasis in the importance of managing the relationships that “turn the wheel.” While software systems are great at managing transactions, they don’t remove the need for buyer and supplier relationships.

Businesses executives around the world are experiencing lighter wallets, higher blood pressure, and more logistical nightmares. The cause? Rising gas prices. As consumers, we feel it at the pump. But businesses also rely on efficient (read: cheap) transportation to survive and be profitable.

If social media is powerful enough to tighten the bonds between brands and consumers, is it powerful enough to tighten your supply chain? From the perspective of the supply chain professional, the Connected Experience puts us one step closer to answering the question: what do my customers want to buy?