Customer communication is always a good idea; however, leveraging customer communications during the new normal business environment is vital to success. Pick up the phone - some of the largest successes I've seen result from simple yet critical conversations. It can be as simple as calling a customer to [...]
Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) can give your business an edge over the competition - minimal investment in resources to yield substantial results! Although S&OP which balances demand with supply has been around for a long time, I've seen interest in this concept increase as businesses are looking for [...]
I've yet to meet a manufacturer or distributor that didn't want to improve customer service and operational performance - and preferably yesterday. In today's new normal business environment, it is a tough competitive environment - you must be ahead of your competition in understanding your customers' desires and provide [...]
As I continually find, fundamentals are often overlooked yet critical to success; thus, it seems this is a great topic to take a look at.... What matters in your operation? - Forget about Lean, Six Sigma, TQM and the rest for now. In my experience, it is a distraction [...]
Resurgence of manufacturing is occurring if we choose to take hold of it! As I recently attended the Manufacturing Summit in the Inland Empire and have been preparing for my Association of Operations Management Inland Empire Chapter's 2nd Annual Executive Panel & Networking Symposium entitled "The Resurgence of Manufacturing [...]
As the cost advantages for outsourcing dry up more companies are bringing manufacturing back to North America. Re-shoring may increasingly be your best bet for improving customer service levels without going broke.GE has started to rev up Appliance Park again - and is starting to bring manufacturing back to [...]
Expand customer communication strategies to continually explore partnership opportunities for win-win situations.Improving customer communication is always a good idea; however, making these communications a key focus area is pivotal in today’s new normal business environment. I am consistently hearing about top priorities of business growth and improving business performance. [...]
I just finished speaking at 6 Packed Supply Chain Conference in Dallas, Texas, and it was obvious that supply chain fundamentals remain in style. I presented on two topics – “Best Practices of Inventory Management” and “Leveraging Social Networks to Improve Operations”. There was standing room only for “Best [...]
According to Supply Chain Management World, although social media is playing little role in supply chain strategies in the recent past, it will be of an increasing importance in 2013. Many see opportunities to leverage social media for customer feedback, product innovation and supply disruption. These are 3 vital [...]
I’ve been thinking a lot about this subject recently as I realized that the 80/20 of what I do for clients can fit into this category. Also, as my consulting strategy/ accountability partner says, it is an interesting paradox of strategy and execution which sums up what is essential [...]
