Forecasting in Flux: Importance of Supply Chain Flexibility
Lisa Anderson of LMA Consulting Group was quoted in a Harvard Business Review report about supply chain volatility and uncertainty that are part of the new normal.
Lisa Anderson of LMA Consulting Group was quoted in a Harvard Business Review report about supply chain volatility and uncertainty that are part of the new normal.
In working across company sizes, industries, and geographies, in almost 20 years of business consulting, every single client without exception needed to better utilize data to improve customer service and bottom line results. Smart clients are turning data into insights so that they can pinpoint where to focus quickly.
Manufacturing is in a state of flux. After seven straight months of contraction in manufacturing, it is not surprising manufacturers are thinking about cutting back. On the other hand, in many industries, manufacturers continue to have a robust backlog and are growing faster than their capacity.
Manufacturing is on a downward trend after eight months of PMI (purchasing manager's index) below 50. It dropped to 46 in June. China's manufacturing also shrank for a third month in a row to a PMI of 49. Yet manufacturers backlogs remain relatively robust in many industries, leading executives perplexed on what to do about capacity shortfalls.
If you want to serve your key customers successfully (with high on-time-in-full (OTIF), short lead times, and proactive service) so that you can take advantage of the opportunities coming down the pike while addressing the hard realities of the current business environment (potential recessions, high interest rates, and less access to capital), you MUST balance sales, operations and inventory.
In an environment defined by volatility and rising expectations, predictability has become a competitive advantage. Companies that consistently deliver on revenue, service, and profitability don’t rely on reactive decision-making; instead, they operate with a disciplined, forward-looking planning process. A well-designed SIOP (Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning) playbook provides the [...]
In a business environment marked by inflation, rising interest rates, and economic uncertainty, inventory decisions have never carried more weight. The challenge is no longer simply managing inventory—it is right-sizing it to align with demand, service expectations, and financial goals.
During times of volatility it is of paramount importance to stay in tune with your customers. Otherwise, you could set and execute strategies that are a waste of limited time, money, and resources as conditions evolve. We are seeing a great reset occur. Baby boomer owners of closely-held companies are selling.
Lisa Anderson, manufacturing and supply chain expert and president of LMA Consulting Group discusses practical insights on how to unlock operating capital and fuel growth.
During times of volatility including inflation and recession, forecasting future sales becomes even more vital than it is during regular business cycles. Emerging from the pandemic, the global markets have experienced rising costs and significant demand. In the U.S. [...]