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by Hallie Forcinio, Contributing Editor Posted on Friday, November 03, 2006 3:10:08 PM   | Abstract: | The successful supply chain is one that requires constant market feedback and creates the flexibility needed to answer its shifts. |
Supply chain mastery is a bit like hosting a Thanksgiving dinner: Success lies in attention to the overall result as well as the details. "You have to bring all of the elements together to make sure the executive team has the information it needs to make the decisions [it needs] to make," says Karin Bursa, vice president of marketing at Logility, Inc. (Atlanta, GA). The best decisions stem from a broad perspective -- one based on numerous analyses. Specifically, manufacturers need to understand whether a customer is profitable for them and how much profit that customer generates, Bursa says. Supply chain mastery is "not so much technology, but process change," says John Clark, manager of marketing at Provia Software (Grand Rapids, MI). "It's important to step back and look at the process and ask, 'Is there a better way?'" He warns against the mentality that says, "This is the way it's always been done." "A lot of companies don't look at change as a positive thing," Clark says. But if you look at it negatively, he says, you won't enjoy its benefits. [Click to continue] |