Browsing: Supply Chain Analysis

Increasing product complexity, a desire for make-to-order and the race to source from low cost economies is creating a heady mix for automotive manufacturers. Can the sector rise to the challenge of complexity?

‘I want the best answer quickly,’ says the strategy manager, global supply chain at tobacco giant BAT

How do successful retailers manage their supply chains? A new McKinsey study takes a behind-the-scenes look at European retailers with excellent supply chains – here we reveal the key factors for success. By Klaus Behrenbeck, Jörn Küpper, Karl-Hendrik Mag

The presence of low-cost economies on the eastern fringe has concentrated minds in Germany. But good infrastructure and a shift in the geographic centre for pan-European logistics creates a fine balance. By Chris Lewis

Lift truck makers are having to get creative with their service offerings in order to win business, but innovation in design still has a big part to play. By Nick Allen

A significant investment into a sophisticated automated national distribution centre for Unilever UK Foods has upped the productivity stakes for the company’s customer service offering. Now both customers and margins can be well served. By Nick Allen

Three prominent firms have recently overhauled their planning systems and are reaping the benefits. IKEA has improved forecast accuracy by between 25 and 80 per cent by using a single database and plan. By John Lamb

There was a time when it was enough to be either different or cheaper. Now, a more complex and challenging environment is driving companies to leverage aspects such as innovation and product portfolio management as value levers for growth. By Jerker Funne

‘On demand’ IT services have come of age and may be considered more than just an interim solution. By Sam Tulip