The sales order is one of the most critical signals in demand and supply management because it represents committed customer demand. It isn't a projection but an order the company must fulfill. In a well-run supply chain, the sales order becomes the anchor that aligns demand with supply decisions as it ties customer needs with planning, inventory, and operations.
Companies are showing increasing interest in supply chain transformation as they want to create predictability, scalability, agility, and sustainable, profitable growth. We’ll talk through supply chain transformation, what’s included, how it relates to SIOP, ERP, and AI, and review a case study example.
In this Supply Chain Byte, Lisa Anderson shares practical insights on how manufacturers should think about performance metrics to make critical operational and strategic decisions that drive supply chain success.
Although there are plenty of issues related to the War in Iran, from a supply chain perspective, the key issue is that the Strait of Hormuz has been blocked. This supply chain chokepoint is limiting the movement of energy. We discuss take aways related to demand, supply, flow and location.
While the personnel who show up at your door might not be wearing actual white gloves, the term “white glove delivery” conveys the impression of a premium service delivered with concierge-like professionalism and attention to detail. It is defined less by speed and more by service depth, especially for high-value, bulky, or complex products.
In this Supply Chain Byte, Lisa Anderson explains how the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach broke volume records in 2025 while reducing dwell times from three days to two and a half. These improvements relate to strategic investments and collaborative partnerships in the supply chain.
There are significant opportunities for companies to grow as they expand manufacturing in the U.S. to mitigate risk in the global supply chain, support the significant rise in mining and commodity businesses to fuel electronics and artificial intelligence and take advantage of rising consumer sentiment, reduced tax rates, and the improving economy.
In this Supply Chain Byte, Lisa Anderson explains why sales forecasting must start with customers. By talking directly with customers, reviewing their forecasts, evaluating quotes, watching trends and incorporating demand plans into their SIOP process, manufacturers can plan to support growth and reliably meet customer expectations.
The storm that blanketed the U.S. had impacts that reverberated throughout the supply chain. Artificial intelligence and advanced technologies can refocus efforts from reactive to proactive and improve the outcome for people and mitigate further supply chain disruptions.
In this Supply Chain Byte, Lisa Anderson explores why regional supply chain alignment is the key to responsiveness, growth, and competitiveness.
