Although the Supreme Court ruling changed how tariffs are implemented, it did not eliminate them. With new trade agreements taking shape and additional negotiations underway, manufacturers and distributors should focus on strengthening supply chain resilience, profitability, and flexibility to navigate the evolving trade environment.
In this Supply Chain Byte, Lisa Anderson discusses why manufacturers must align demand and supply at each step of the supply chain, using California’s oil and gas and refinery capacity challenges as an example of how reduced capacity can create ongoing pressure and an operational bottleneck.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a powerful tool in the supply chain leader's toolkit. Although there is no shortage of hype surrounding AI, the most successful organizations are finding practical ways to leverage its capabilities to improve decision-making, accelerate analysis, and uncover opportunities hidden within their data.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and digitization are fundamentally changing sustainability from a reporting exercise into an engineered outcome. AI and digital transformation can tie directly into how products are designed, how factories operate, and how supply chains are managed, not only creating customer and EBITDA value but also supporting sustainability and the triple bottom line.
Advanced Planning Systems (APS) are no longer optional - they are becoming critical to smarter, faster and more profitable supply chain decisions. In this Supply Chain Byte, Lisa Anderson explains why manufacturers should be looking closely at APS. Recent client situations highlighted three key needs: scenario planning, constraint-based planning and end-to-end visibility & predictive insights.
LMA Consulting Group partnered with two aerospace manufacturers to improve inventory performance, strengthen business processes, and increase enterprise value. Through inventory optimization, operational improvements, ERP assessments, and post-acquisition support, the companies improved cash flow, enhanced operational performance, strengthened compliance, and positioned themselves for long-term success.
When inventory accuracy fell to 85% and confidence in cost accounting declined, the company partnered with LMA Consulting Group to assess and optimize its ERP system. By improving data integrity, redesigning processes, and enhancing system utilization, inventory accuracy increased to 99.8%, profitability visibility improved, and leadership gained the insights needed to make better business decisions.
When a custom manufacturer questioned whether it needed a new ERP system, LMA Consulting Group conducted an assessment that revealed a better path forward. By improving Sage ERP utilization, strengthening business processes, enhancing quoting translation capabilities, and providing strategic advisory support, the company improved performance, avoided a costly ERP replacement, and positioned itself for a successful sale.
Planning is becoming more complex, but smarter planning makes the difference. In this Supply Chain Byte, Lisa Anderson outlines three key planning challenges manufacturers are facing today - and three ways to address them.
In this Supply Chain Byte, Lisa Anderson explains what defines smart warehousing today: optimizing pick velocity; leveraging automation, robotics and advanced technologies; and managing energy and electricity demands. These factors are critical to improving efficiency, controlling costs and supporting customer service as volumes grow.
