Archive for the ‘SCM’ Category:
Role of Risk Managers in the Supply Chain
Over the years, it has been proved beyond doubt that lean manufacturing and global outsourcing can generate significant cost-savings for companies. Now it is being acknowledged that lean manufacturing and global outsourcing can also expose the companies to a greater risk of supply chain disruption. Hence, risk management becomes very important for the supply chain of the companies.
The old perception says that the responsibility for managing supply chain risk should go to the purchasing department, as they are the experts in supply chain processes. However, another point is coming into fore, which says that factory managers should be responsible for property and casualty risk. They should have responsibility for helping to prevent risk exposures. Ultimately, the responsibility should be held with the risk managers. The purchasing department manages the supply chain from suppliers to the company. However, it does not cover the most important area that goes from the company to the customers. Only the risk management department has a broad view to address risks from one end of the supply chain to the other.
Subscribe to the comments for this postGrowth of Supply Chain Management Market
According to reports, the supply chain management market will grow at a rate of 8.6% over the next five years. The supply chain management includes warehouse and production management. According to the Market Analysis and Forecast through 2010, released by Dedham-based ARC Advisory group, the SCM market was $5,507 million in 2005. It is expected to reach $8,304 million in 2010. The report also said that growth in manufacturing applications is higher than that of logistics applications. It has been noticed that the role of manufacturing plant has become the driving factor in a supply chain network and is often determines its overall performance. Industry Week has published an article on the Same Topic.
Factors such as time-to-volume, determining the correct product mix, and having the flexibility, adaptability, and responsiveness to exploit market opportunities are increasingly becoming important to success.
Brooks Software won Million-dollar Contracts
Brooks Software has won several multi-million dollar contracts for its CLASS MCS 5 material control system (MCS) from Taiwan’s two leading flat panel display manufacturers. Brooks Software is a leading provider of real-time applications for discrete manufacturing environments. With the inclusion of new orders, there are now 14 Taiwanese FPD production facilities ranging from earlier generation production such as Gen 3.25 to the latest Gen 7.5 that use Brooks’ MCS software.
CLASS MCS is used to control and manage the automated material handling system that transports the glass panels throughout the manufacturing facility. It has been gained acceptance in the marketplace. Brooks Software continues to strengthen its market position in the flat panel industry. It has succeeded in acquiring new business because its real-time solutions deliver out-of-the-box functionality that allows flat panel manufacturers to operate at highest level of productivity. PR Newswire has published an article on the Same Topic.
Brooks has also installed its WIP-tracking and workflow management solutions in a number of LCD manufacturing facilities. Brooks is actively engaged with its FPD/LCD customers in helping them plan for the move to even larger substrate manufacturing such as Gen 8 and operational improvements such as glass-level tracking.
Supply Chain Management for Multinational Food and Beverage Companies
Food and Beverage companies are the most well known and largest companies in the world. Several food companies such as McDonald’s , Burger King , Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut have expanded their business to different parts of the world. These companies have systematic structure that seamlessly spans the length and breadth of the worldwide operation. At the same time, they maintain the same quality and a consistent line of supply chain competence. They are adding new countries into their supply chain network.
Supply chain management is very important for these companies, as they need to maintain all their perishable items fresh and germ free. The value chain in the production of a multinational food company includes suppliers, packers, processors, brokers, distributors, retailers, stores, and outlets. The multinational food companies have their own growing and packaging operations that are supervised by their own staff. The food giants have approved vendors who buy from their own certified ones and suppliers. The vendors are also required to be compliant to the required standard of internationally approved hygiene and cleanliness and quality control.
The Evolution of Supply Chain Management
In the early days, the supply chain management was referred to the functions of logistics, transportation, purchasing and supplies. However, the evolution of the supply chain management has moved to focus on integration, visibility, cycle time reduction and streamlined channels. The new integration has a variety of activities that include:
• Integrated Purchasing Strategy
• Supplier Integration
• Supply Base Management
• Supply Chain Management
Logistics activities exist since the early 1900s. These activities were first associated with the military as a branch of war that pertains to the movement and the supply for armies. Military forces always used to make use of logistics models to ensure the availability of the required material at the right place and on right time. Logistics is being used by the military even today.
After 1950, supply chain management got a boost with the production and manufacturing sector getting highest attention. The inventory became the responsibility of the marketing, accounting and production areas. Order processing was part of accounting and sales. Supply chain management became one of the most powerful engines of business transformation. It is the one area where operational efficiency can be gained. It reduces organizations costs and enhances customer service. The evolution led to an Internet-based application for Supply Chain Management.
Supply Chain Management Review - A Storehouse of Resources on the Industry
The Supply Chain Management Review is a publication exclusively for professionals and those working in this field of moving goods to the market. It focuses on the art and science both of how best to do this. It is published by Reed business Information, 8 times in a year. Every issue of SCMR focuses on a wide range of supply chain activities. Also discussed are the technologies that integrate related supply chains activities. World class columnists contribute towards the articles and features. Articles cover such topics as innovative supply chain practices, emerging trends and technological developments. The editorial advisory board of this publication comprises of experts, professionals and educators of high repute - a dedicated magazine can prove to be a storehouse of valuable resources for those of you - in this industry segment. manufacturing.net reports:
We define supply chain management as the science of integrating the flow of goods and information from initial sourcing all the way through to delivery to the end user. Key activities within this end-to-end process include purchasing, production planning, order processing and fulfillment, inventory management, transportation, distribution, and customer service.
Read More: Supply Chain Management Review
mySAP SCM Empowers You - Being the Only Supply Chain Solution that Integrates, Collaborates, Plans, Executes and Coordinates the Entire Supply Chain Network
Distell is a leading distributor of beverage in South Africa. Using mySAP SCM, it has achieved hundred percent on-time delivery, has increased exports in the global market by 37% and has been able to increase the accuracy of local market forecasts by 20%. Sap.com reports:
In an age of intense competition, supply chain efficiency and adaptability are not just requirements for success. They are necessities for survival. mySAP Supply Chain Management (mySAP SCM) can help your organization transform a linear supply chain into an adaptive supply chain network, in which communities of customer-centric, demand-driven companies share knowledge, intelligently adapt to changing market conditions, and proactively respond to shorter, less predictable life cycles.
Read More: mySAP: Collaboration, Planning, Execution and Coordination Across the Adaptive Supply Chain Network
RFID May be the Solution For Many a Pharmaceutical Companies Facing the Problem of Counterfeit Drugs in Their Supply Chain
There has been an increased spurt of counterfeit medications drugs in the market, of late. Not only this, a number of drugs are being mispriced. Gray market wholesales scour the market, looking out for low-priced drugs which they sell back to big wholesalers, making a sizable profit. Prescription drugs get sold at discounts, to subsidized groups like nursing homes and also go out into the export market. As a result of these miscellaneous steps whereby a drug bounces back and forth from distributor to distributor, leads to the creation of a complex and convoluted supply chain. Not only does this scenario pose a high risk to patients but also costs the industry a whopping loss in profit of $46 billion, annually. In such a scenario, Pharmaceutical companies are making an attempt to incorporate RFID for better tracking in a convoluted supply chain. Firms are now beginning to tag their medicine cases with RFID chips to circumvent the problem at hand.
Characteristics of a Good Supply Chain Management Solution
Supply chain management is extremely critical to product availability. Besides it is imperative for product sale. It is more than just about delivering products where they need to be. The products are to be delivered where they need to be, when they need to be and for all this a careful management of all the intricacies and details of the supply chain have to be efficiently handled. A good logistics solution provider not only uses sophisticated integrated technology systems but also design the most efficient method of delivery and storage. Besides, it configures all parts of the supply chain process. This includes warehouse management and ensuring proper rotation of products. A quality logistics solution provider, also integrates the different supply chain elements efficiently.
World’s Largest Online Resource on Configuration Management
CM Crossroads is the world’s largest online resource site for configuration management. It hosts a variety of interactive discussion forums, has a book store, publishes a monthly newsletter and provides facilities for career search. Cmcrossroads.com reports:
CmWiki.Cm web is the home webpage for information and open collaboration about general configuration management topics. Everyone is welcome to contribute ideas on any CM topic.
Read More: Welcome to CM Crossroads