Get Better Results Than What Your Imagined By Focusing on Execution
I was talking to the three senior executives of a fairly large business. They were very happy with the business situation. Their business was operating in a comfortable oligopoly, with comfortable competitive pressures. The business strategy was noted to be very sound. But, they lamented, that the comfortable position never translated into equivalent profits. Every […]
What is the Most Effective Strategy to Massively Slash Shipping Freight Costs?
Freight costs reduction is almost always the last frontier in the cost reduction landscape. At the board level, most companies do not pay much attention to their external freight costs. These costs never get the attention they deserve because they are scattered all over the place, and generally out of sight. What if I told […]
How Organizational Silos Can Ruin Your Supply Chain
Organizational silos are based on the division of labor, on organizing the labor in such a way that each individual specialized in what he/she knows best, so that it can all be integrated in such a manner that a cohesive whole which is created in the result is much better in quality and much cheaper […]
From NASA space suit to Lego Toys – Why crowdsourcing should be part of every supply chain strategy
Supply Chain Strategy Gets a Boost from Crowdsourcing We are starting to hear about the need for innovation in supply chain strategy. Crowdsourcing is proving its value in boosting innovation. The magic of this idea is that it ties new product launches with customer wants and needs. NASA recently turned to the public for the design […]
What Causes Supply Chain Confusion
My last post “Supply Chain Confusion could kill your business“ generated several great comments from highly qualified professionals around the world, and in this post I want to explore the reasons for the confusion. Obviously, the confusion is debilitating, and unprofitable. I am sure readers will have their own experiences with the confusion in supply […]
Learning – A Company Case Study
By – Stuart Emmett Executive Summary A questionnaire was used to explore feelings and experiences of students undertaking a company management development qualification programme. The questionnaire examined four areas Why Learn? Learning experiences Reflections on learning Learning styles The questionnaire results are detailed in this report (shown as the strengths and weaknesses) The message for […]
How to Prepare Simple, Effective Cost Management Reports (part 1)
By Doug Hudgeon The Cost Reduction Tip Effective management accounts are critical to a cost reduction initiative. Without it, your stakeholders can’t see that their pain is justified. It’s like the difference between running on a treadmill (without a watch or odometer) and running through the countryside. If you have a destination and can track […]
Use Monte Carlo Simulations to Quickly Model Costs and Influence Stakeholders
By Doug Hudgeon The Cost Reduction Tip Taking your business down to its lowest possible operating cost typically involves changing (usually simplifying) processes. When preparing a business case for changing your current processes, it is usually easy to nail down system costs but people costs are almost always problematic. Even if you believe you can […]
Supply Chain Relationships- Partnerships or Partnershaft?
By Stuart Emmett Business & Relationships Business and supply chain management maybe technically simple, but it is usually managerially difficult. In supply chains for example, there are many technically simple solutions which give better business performance. There are also many “hard” technical systems approaches such as, MRP and SAP, which are most useful and can […]
E- Learning; a philosophy not a manifesto
Stuart Emmett takes a look at E-learning Wherever we turn these days all kinds of “e” are quickly growing and developing around us. Now as my surname begins with an “e”, then I better be careful what I say. But this does mean that I do appreciate that “e” is only the fifth letter in […]