Blog
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Supply Chain Visibility and the Bottom-line
Visibility Matters. Rick Morris, a Certified Supply Chain Professional wrote in Supply House Times that while improving fill rates, improved forecast accuracy also lowers inventory levels measured in days of sales; and simultaneously, improved forecast accuracy improves fill rates and lowers inventory. He suggested this translates into increased profitability. When analysts have studied companies that
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Creating Trust Throughout the Supply Chain Using Demand-Driven Methods
How reducing forecasting errors and disruption risks create better supplier relationships. Building trust in the supply chain is essential to driving flow; and when there are forecast errors, there is an inherent mistrust throughout the supply chain. Lack of collaboration is often the cornerstone of conflict, blame, and mistrust between a manufacturer and suppliers. Missed
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Lean Manufacturing Driven by Rapid Return on eKanban Technology Investment
Lean Manufacturing relies heavily on trusted relationships with suppliers and pre-negotiated terms of engagement. Through the use of supplier quality certifications and blanket (long-term) purchase orders, a manufacturer can accurately and effectively calculate the optimal level of inventory needed to fulfill demand requirements through the duration of replenishment lead time. Ensuring supplier performance When a
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Moving From Manual to eKanban Creates Right-Sized Inventory
Moving From Manual to eKanban Creates Right-Sized Inventory Manufacturers’ waste-reduction initiatives are rarely as effective as they could be. When reducing waste, inventory is often the main target. But how do you right-size inventory in an environment of constant variability? In a word: kanban…MORE
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Discrete Manufacturers: Special Considerations for Robotics and Demand-Driven Supply Chain Solutions
Discrete Manufacturers: Special Considerations for Robotics and Demand-Driven Supply Chain Solutions The manufacturing sector is well-served when considering whether a replenishment solution can enhance flow and enable continuous improvements; often best practice robotic solutions follow…MORE
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Demand Driven Manufacturing in the Engineer-to-Order Space
Aligning Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement Practices Demand-driven manufacturing (DDM) is an approach to manufacturing where production is based on actual demand rather than forecasts. DDM enables a synchronized, closed loop between customer orders, production scheduling and manufacturing execution – all while simultaneously coordinating the flow of materials and resources across the supply chain. The