Brushware Magazine: Inflation Busters: Protecting Profits as Costs Rise
"Proactively managing cash flow is critical right now," says Lisa Anderson, president of LMA Consulting Group, Claremont, Calif. This can be done by running periodic forecasts.
"Proactively managing cash flow is critical right now," says Lisa Anderson, president of LMA Consulting Group, Claremont, Calif. This can be done by running periodic forecasts.
Manufacturing has struggled to produce what customers want on-time without spending a fortune and tying up excess cash unnecessarily in the wrong, "just-in-case" inventory. It is a tough environment spiraling out of control with supply chain chaos.
As executives continue to navigate these volatile economic conditions, the focus on inventory management increases. It is especially tough to determine what to do if you don't know if sales opportunities will dramatically increase as the competition falters and consumers drive demand or if sales will tank as recession fears increase and business optimism falters.
Because we live in a global, supply chain disrupted world amidst record-breaking prices for food, commodities and oil (and all products dependent on these industries), not only are businesses looking to navigate inflationary pressures, but also deflationary pressures. Inflation can lead to deflation as consumers panic and demand softens.
Lisa Anderson, Manufacturing and Supply Chain Expert and President of LMA Consulting Group, talks about the coming months and keeping an eye on cash balance."Proactively managing cashflow is critical right now".
Inflation has taken root. Businesses everywhere are dealing with annualized cost increases of nearly seven percent--the fastest pace in 40 years and significantly higher than the 1.8 percent average of the past decade. The resulting upticks in operating costs can cause serious damage to the bottom line.
Every client wants to support growth goals while improving service levels (OTIF, on-time-in-full), operational efficiencies and inventory turns. These are timeless objectives for every planner. During the pandemic, the priorities shifted to service levels because clients struggled to keep up with dramatic increases in demand and extreme volatility.
Innovation is more than solving problems—it is about creating new levels of performance. In this interview, Lisa Anderson discusses how manufacturers can leverage innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement to drive growth and strengthen competitive advantage.
Accurate systems transactions improve inventory accuracy, customer service, and operational efficiency in business
Of all the overlapping metrics available to executives the best ones enhance SIOP (Sales Inventory Operations Planning), also known as S&OP, and offer the most vital information for running a business.