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In last week’s post, we introduced some of the lessons we’ve learned about implementing new supply chain technology. This week, we’ll take a look at some case studies from companies in Russia to the countries of the Central Asian region. Case #3: The Disappearing Team Lead As we mentioned last week, the project teams that … Read more

Every manufacturer is faced with change sooner or later. In the 21st century, there have been many such changes, from innovative supply chain technologies to new methods to improve the quality of products, or even the entire supply chain management system. Before you embark on such a time-consuming change, you may have some fear: what … Read more

Even without demand variability, production schedules cannot be executed. Any planner with shop floor experience knows that demand variability is not the only source of distortion. Suppliers, employees, and equipment can also let you down. Usually, this type of variation is known as operational variability. Below is a chart that shows the BOM and Routings … Read more

Before MRP, the most popular approach to inventory management was Order Point, where each point is independent. Yet the more complex an operational environment becomes — thanks to a broader SKU list or changes to assortment and demand — the more likely you are to see bimodal inventory distribution, when too little of the right … Read more

The Origins of Order Point What was inventory management like before MRP? Before MRP was introduced, the most popular inventory management approach was called Order Point. The main limitations were within companies — that is, the market often wanted more than a company could build. Everything that was produced could and would be sold. Therefore, … Read more

There are a number of reasons executives give when they say they’re not ready to undertake a supply chain transformation. Before we consider implementing Demand Driven, we must: Clean up our ERP system Implement a new version of our ERP system Strengthen our supply chain management basics Implement or strengthen our S&OP / MPS Deploy … Read more

The role of the supply chain manager is by nature very transverse. It is to orchestrate the collaboration of disparate functions — sales, production, marketing, product development, and more — and deliver a flawless service to the company’s customers, while ensuring profitability. Supply chain leaders must therefore be able to speak multiple languages with their … Read more

Our management systems are based on technical data, often maintained by dedicated teams. Rigor and discipline are required to maintain this data on an ongoing basis. If you have participated in an ERP implementation, you know how much attention is paid to the subject — which sometimes drifts a bit afterwards. But what is sometimes … Read more

In our first article on the 4.0 shop floor, we looked at how to start production orders at the right time. Then, we discussed how to optimize production batch size, synchronize manufacturing flows, and accelerate production flows. In this article, we’ll outline how to eliminate floating bottlenecks. Trying to Catch up on Backlogs? We were running behind … Read more

Even today, we encounter companies that have difficulty differentiating their stocking strategies according to demand profiles. Have you ever been instructed to put a month’s worth of stock on hand to secure sales? In several industrial and distribution sectors, this policy is simply based on ensuring a certain number of days of coverage, and it’s … Read more

In our series on the 4.0 shop floor, we’ve examined how to start production orders at the right time, optimize production batch size, synchronize manufacturing flows, and accelerate production flows. In this article, we’ll discuss how to automate finite capacity scheduling according to DDMRP principles. Combining Pull Flow and Capacity Constraints It’s important to pull manufacturing flows … Read more

In our first article on the 4.0 shop floor, we looked at how to start production orders at the right time. Then, we discussed how to optimize production batch size and synchronize manufacturing flows. In this article, we’ll outline how to use queues to accelerate production flows. Managing Production Flow If you have ever participated in value … Read more