Published November 21, 2014 I just left an executive SIOP (sales, inventory & operations planning) meeting with a client. We are rejuvenating the process to gain alignment and to spur a rapid improvement in on-time delivery (which will be followed by a reduction in lead times). I've been working [...]
Projects often have a way of going from exciting ideas to abandoned ventures. Successful project management feeds off a culture of innovation to sustain projects all the way to the finish line. In today’s new normal business environment, innovation is a must for project success! Often, I hear my [...]
Published November 15, 2014 I just finished a birthday celebration for my niece (in essence). My parents, my mom's sisters, my uncles, my cousin, my brother and I got together for some great pizza (Spinato's pizza in Scottsdale is my favorite!) to celebrate Mia's birthday. She loved her American [...]
Published in tED Magazine on November 2014 According to a survey performed by the LMA Consulting Group (lmaconsultinggroup.com) in conjunction with the APICS Inland Empire Chapter (apics-ie.org), 87% of manufacturers and distributors are experiencing a skills gap—that is, they have lost qualified people to retirement, job transfers, etc. The [...]
Completing a physical inventory is a necessary part of inventory management because accuracy doesn’t just happen, it needs to be achieved. Inventory accuracy is cornerstone to success. It is a bedrock topic to improving service levels, reducing lead times, increasing margins, improving efficiencies, reducing inventory levels….and the list goes [...]
Published November 10, 2014 On Saturday, my APICS (#1 trade association for supply chain management) chapter hosted our 2nd annual fall executive panel & networking symposium. I've heard feedback that it was our best one yet (as we've also held 3 spring symposiums to date). The panelists held engaging [...]
Published November 2, 2014 It just so happens that I've been on several trips this month for work and tourist stops/ getting together with good friends. Seattle is the latest in a series of enjoyable long weekends. It certainly has a different feel from New York and New Orleans [...]
We tend to think of the additional stress that the holiday season brings but wouldn’t it be better to flip it by focusing on the positive and spreading some cheer? As we head into the holiday season, I thought a few reminders might be in order: Remember your relationships: [...]
Are you prepared for success? We worry so much about failure that I find most clients are not prepared for success. You know what the lawyers say, “never go into a situation without knowing the answer and being prepared for anything that might come up”. It is proven that [...]
Published October 24, 2014 According to today's Wall Street Journal, UPS had robust growth in the third quarter, which was strongly influenced by the e-commerce boom. E-commerce now accounts for about 45% of U.S. packages. Is e-commerce on your radar? I'm on the flight back from Phoenix as I [...]
