Enjoying the summer? While you’ve got a quiet moment to relax and catch up on your reading, check out these editor’s picks from the DELMIA Quintiq Blog.
It can be difficult to resist the holy grail of the all-encompassing ERP system. But that’s just what companies need to do if they’re to embrace the opportunities of the new era of postmodern ERP – an era where companies are saying ‘No’ to monolithic ERP systems that monopolize IT resources and restrict innovation. Intrigued? Read the rest of the story.
Key takeaway: Postmodern ERP buyers are different. Like Tesla Motors, they’re demanding the ERP systems they need, and saying ‘No’ to the bloated offerings that vendors think they should have.
Labor disputes, bad weather, and IT outages are just some examples of disruptions that could affect an otherwise well-designed supply chain. They are unpredictable, inevitable, and can cause substantial damage to business operations and financial performance. What do you do when a wrench is thrown in the works? Read the blog post to find out.
Key takeaway: While contingency plans can save you from total disaster, your supply chain needs flexibility and speed to adapt to changes.
Overwhelmed by the dark forces of supply chain planning? The best supply chain planners share a common trait with Jedi knights: No matter how tough things get, they never give up. So how do they overcome a supply chain’s darkest force: complexity? Read the rest of the story.
Key takeaway: If the Rebellion had followed common planning rules, they may never have won the war against the Republic. What sounds good in theory may in fact be costing you time and money.
You’re already halfway through 2015, but has your supply chain improved from last year? Are you any closer to achieving your business goals this year? These 12 actionable tips can help you revitalize your supply chain. Read the 12 tips.
Key takeaway: There’s rarely a plan that optimizes all your KPIs. In situations where there is no clear winner, your planner knows better than the system. Opt for optimization solutions that enable your planners to stay in control.
It’s easy enough to confuse automation with optimization. In both cases, you press a button, wait a few seconds, and whoops… there’s your result. But while the external actions look alike, the results are very different. Read the rest of the story.
Key takeaway: The real world isn’t simple. Automation ignores a whole host of constraints, rules and regulations, customers’ preferences – and the list goes on.
Fully optimized planning across the strategic, tactical and operational horizons is something many manufacturers can only dream of. They’re busy spinning plates and fighting fires, often losing focus on the bigger picture as they struggle to keep things moving in the right direction. So why do some organizations seem better equipped to achieve their goals than others? Read the blog post.
Key takeaway: The ability to overcome strategic, tactical and operational planning challenges is vital to any business. Being able to nimbly sidestep problems is also a major competitive advantage if your rivals have a tendency to panic when their plans go up in smoke.
The CIO is showing DELMIA Quintiq COO Arjen Heeres the system he’s spent a couple of years implementing. It’s certainly impressive. There on the screen in front of them is a supply chain director’s dream come true: end-to-end visibility. “So what now?” Arjen asks him. Read what happens next.
Key takeaway: In complex situations (such as supply chains), visibility provides a wonderful bird’s eye view of the chaos. It doesn’t help resolve it.
If your supply chain organization feels largely relegated to basements and backrooms, out of sight from the rest of the business, you likely find it impossible to collaborate and strategize with key leaders. How do you get your business partners to recognize that you can do more than just buy stuff and move trucks around? Read the blog post to find out.
Key takeaway: Customer centricity needs to be a weapon in every supply chain executive’s utility belt. Turning customer focus from an idea to something practical is often achieved with metrics.
What are you reading this summer? Let me know in your comment below.
