Logistics costs have been staggering. According to the 33rd Annual State of Logistics report produced by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals by the global consulting firm Kearney and presented by Penske Logistics, U.S. business logistics costs rose by 22.4% last year.
As executives continue to navigate these volatile economic conditions, the focus on inventory management increases. It is especially tough to determine what to do if you don't know if sales opportunities will dramatically increase as the competition falters and consumers drive demand or if sales will tank as recession fears increase and business optimism falters.
Lisa Anderson, a supply-chain management expert and the president of LMA Consulting Group, says if you’ve got the cash on hand now,"it’s not a bad idea to start your holiday shopping early this year."
"The minority of clients that are proactive were using just-in-time principles, but in a way that works during the pandemic," said Lisa Anderson, President of the LMA Consulting Group. "As a decision-maker, I need to have a certain amount of safety stock, but I will replenish that as we take orders, and we'll replenish those reserves [...]
Several clients are wondering, “Is JIT Dead?”. Definitely not. Just-in-time inventory planning is a best practice inventory management process. If you are literally ordering just-in-time from China and expecting to not experience disruptions without strategic stockpiles, capacity or agility built into the picture is not smart. On the other [...]
Just-in-time might not be what it is cracked up to be! Certainly, the coronavirus impacts should give us reason to question this rule at face value. Are you running so tight that you only have one bin, pallet or small supermarket to keep your facility running? If so, the [...]
“Inventory accuracy is cornerstone to success” says Lisa Anderson, The Manufacturing ConnectorSM and president of LMA Consulting Group, Inc., Claremont, CA. 51 Expert Tips on Inventory Control Methods Inventory control is a critical function for businesses spanning every industry. Without effective inventory control methods, the supply chain suffers, you’re not [...]
Great inventory management techniques are critical as supply chain complexity grows. Here's a look at the top techniques to help your company succeed. Whether you're an SMB or a large enterprise, solid inventory management techniques are critical for success. Inventory management, a component of supply chain management (SCM), controls [...]
Inventory has emerged as a hot topic lately. In today’s Amazon-impacted business environment, customers expect rapid, customized deliveries, the ability to change their mind anytime and easy interactions.
Clients and colleagues have demonstrated a heightened interest in inventory reduction recently; however, they are not yet seeing the full value! Certainly, with everyone worried about a potential recession in 2020, they are starting to think about not tying as much cash up in wasted inventory but that is not the 100-pound gorilla. The real question is why we are thinking about corporate mandates and full warehouses instead of seeing the big picture that we should reevaluate our supply chain.
