As companies navigate tariffs, geopolitical risks and high interest rates, there is an emphasis on reducing costs and inventory levels to free up cash and maintain profit levels while successfully serving customers’ ever-changing needs. The most successful companies are upgrading their planning processes and rolling out automation and advanced technologies.
I was interviewed by the Intelligent Enterprise Leaders Alliance for their latest publication recently. Industry 4.0 is the next frontier of smart manufacturing. In the interview we discussed the smart way to embrace industry 4.0 with targeted, tactical, and transformative projects.
"SIOP" stands for Sales, Inventory, Operations Planning (SIOP). Depending on the industry or organization, you may also hear it referred to as “S&OP” or Sales and Operations Planning. Sometimes, it is even referred to as “IBP” or Integrated Business Planning. Typically, they mean the same thing. The most important words to emphasize are planning and alignment.
As companies reconfigure supply chains and expand domestic manufacturing capabilities, it is an ideal opportunity to embrace technology and automation to help metal fabricators and machinists offset increased costs associated with tariffs.
Supply chain visibility allows companies to track and access real-time data across every tier of the supply chain, from raw materials at your suppliers' supplier to delivery of finished goods to your end customer. Supply chain visibility has become of paramount importance to ensure customer satisfaction and to profitable growth.
The Strait of Hormuz is a geopolitical chokepoint — and a critical reminder of why advanced supply chain planning is non-negotiable. In this Supply Chain Byte, Lisa Anderson highlights the ripple effects that disruptions in this narrow strait can cause and how strategic planning, risk assessment and scenario modeling help companies stay ahead.
The world is VUCA-laden (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity) and trending to greater volatility as risk heightens, supply chains unravel and short-term priorities remain intact.
The announcement of reciprocal tariffs has created extreme volatility in the stock markets and nervousness among executives. Geopolitical, supply chain, and cyber risks plague the end-to-end supply chain and have stimulated additional debates about control in the Panama Canal, Greenland, and global supply chains.
In the latest evidence of the heightened concerns related to geopolitical risk, Biden has cracked down on most Chinese cars and trucks with a rule that software and hardware cannot come from China. There is concern about having millions of cars on the road with a potential threat to national security.
Thriving in 2025 explores three critical strategies to navigate the rapidly evolving business landscape. Lisa Anderson dives into the essential actions leaders must take to stay competitive, resilient and ahead of the curve in the years to come.
