The Power of SIOP / S&OP in Fueling Profitable Growth
In the last month, clients have been proving the critical importance of SIOP (Sales Inventory Operations Planning), also known as S&OP or IBP (Integrated Business Planning) time and again.
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.
Inflation & Disruption Increasing Again
Inflation and disruption are increasing again. Wholesale inflation as measured by the producer price index increased by .5% since last month which was more than expected. Core inflation (excluding food and energy) went up by .3% which was also more than expected.
Business Value of Data Analysis & Predictive Analytics
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.
Predictable Revenue & Resilient Operations for Manufacturing Success
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.
Does Customer Service Matter: Uber vs Taxis?
Prior to Uber, a medallion (a transferable permit that allows a taxi driver to operate) cost $1 million dollars in New York city. It was a powerful permit with substantial value. After Uber started up, the low point for a medallion was around $25,000. That is a 40-fold [...]
Using Capacity Planning to Increase Revenue & Profitability
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.
How Smart Manufacturers Are Navigating Interest Rate Hikes
Interest rates have increased by a historic amount within the last year. Increases of almost 5 points on such an aggressive timeline is already having a significant impact on manufacturers and distributor’s ability to fund and support their business growth.
Supply Chain: Innovate to Thrive in the Next Decade
Innovation allows companies to achieve higher levels of growth, profitability, employee engagement, and success. According to the Global Innovation Index (GII), Switzerland ranks first in the world with the US edging out Sweden for the second position. China continues to ascend and is in the eleventh position, and the [...]
Balance Customer Orders, Inventory, & Profitability
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.