Although the fundamentals of the supply chain industry remain constant, massive shifts in the demands of the marketplace and powerful new technologies have changed the way supply chain and transportation companies must engage with and deliver solutions to their clients.
In the newly revised Third Edition of Supply Chain Management Best Practices, noted journalist and supply chain expert David Blanchard delivers a compelling and comprehensive overview of the new technologies shaping the transportation and supply chain industries today and the processes that will transform them tomorrow.
You’ll discover a thorough introduction to supply chain management, along with examples of best-in-class supply chains in a variety of industries. You’ll also find proven methods and KPIs for measuring the performance of a supply chain. The author presents the traditional core processes of supply chain management and discusses the techniques used by individual and trendsetting companies from around the world. Finally, you’ll learn about the strategies, solutions, and technologies used by leading companies to design their global organizations.
From drones and the Internet of Things to same-day delivery, omni-channel distribution, artificial intelligence, Uber-style freight transportation apps, blockchain, and robotics, the book discusses how the transfer of computing power from central mainframes into smartphones and cloud-based services has enabled game-changing technologies to reach companies of all shapes and sizes.
Perfect for supply chain managers and professionals, chief financial officers, chief information officers, and controllers, Supply Chain Management Best Practices will also earn a place in the libraries of manufacturing, warehouse, and purchasing managers who seek a one-stop resource to help them understand the latest trends and the enduring foundations of the supply chain industry.
BUILD BEST-IN-CLASS SUPPLY CHAIN CAPABILITIES IN YOUR ORGANIZATION WITH THIS NEWLY UPDATED RESOURCE FROM AN INDUSTRY LEADER
The revised and updated Third Edition of Supply Chain Management Best Practices offers readers an insightful and comprehensive take on the concepts, processes, and technologies that define today’s supply chain and transportation industries. You’ll discover must-know information about traditional and core processes, as well as new technologies like drones, the Internet of Things, same-day delivery, and artificial intelligence that are transforming the industry.
The book contains valuable case studies, stories, and recent examples from real organizations implementing exciting new supply chain initiatives that are changing the way professionals think about their field. You’ll find proven methods for measuring the performance of supply chains and insights into the strategies, solutions, and technologies used by trendsetting companies across the world. Finally, you’ll learn why the transfer of computing power from central mainframes to the cloud and handheld devices has fundamentally changed the supply chain industry.
Ideal for executives, controllers, supply chain managers and professionals, as well as manufacturing, warehouse, and purchasing managers, the Third Edition of Supply Chain Management Best Practices remains an indispensable resource for anyone seeking to maintain and optimize a supply chain that functions as a competitive advantage.
Table of Contents
Preface xv
Acknowledgments xix
Part 1 Introduction to Supply Chain Management 1
Chapter 1 If Supply Chain Is the Answer, Then What’s the Question? 3
You Knew This Job Was Dangerous When You Took It 3
The Big Picture 5
The Supply Chain’s Back Story 7
Roadblocks on the Supply Chain Path 9
Separating the Good from the Best 10
Notes 13
Chapter 2 Anatomy of a Supply Chain 15
Aerospace: Changing the Game, for Better or Worse 17
Consumer-Packaged Goods: The Moment of Truth 18
Food and Beverage: Cutting Out the Middleman 20
Healthcare: Driving Out Waste 21
Industrial Products: Diversity in the Supply Chain 23
Oil and Gas: Managing the Managers 24
Pharmaceuticals: Innovation in Real Time 24
Retail: It’s Amazon’s World - We’re Just Shopping in It 26
Notes 27
Chapter 3 Supply Chain Metrics: Measuring Up to High Standards 29
How to Prevent a Supply Chain Heart Attack 30
What Makes a Supply Chain Leader? 31
Measure Satisfaction 33
Everybody’s Talking About Benchmarking 34
Do the Right Things 35
Setting Your Sights High 36
Supply Chain Checkup 37
Learn the SCOR 38
SCM for Dummies 39
Follow the Roadmap 40
Make It All Meaningful 41
Focusing on the Customer 42
Notes 43
Part 2 Traditional Core Processes of Supply Chain Management 45
Chapter 4 Planning and Forecasting: Headed for the Future 47
A Bias Against Good Plans 49
From Soup to S&OP 50
No Time Like the Real Time 51
End-to-End Integration 53
Analyze This 54
A Happy Ending 56
Notes 57
Chapter 5 Procurement: Go Right to the Source 59
A Formula for Success 60
Managing the Changes 62
Keep Your Friends Close and Your Suppliers Closer 62
Looking Backward to See Forward 63
Ensuring a Healthy Supply Chain 64
It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time 67
An Online Car Wreck 68
A Rating Service for Buyers and Sellers 69
Sustainable Sourcing Pays Off 70
Closing the Loop 71
Notes 72
Chapter 6 Manufacturing: Supply Chain on the Make 75
The Toyota Way 77
Nearly Perfect 79
Leaning into Quality 80
Don’t Settle for Occasional Improvement 81
The Value of Teamwork 83
Leaning in the Right Direction 84
Smart Manufacturing, Smarter Suppy Chains 85
Supply Chain in 3D 87
Collaborating on Product Designs 88
The Future of Manufacturing 90
Notes 92
Chapter 7 Transportation: Logistics à la Mode 95
Riding the Roads 96
Regulations and Deregulation 97
Fuel for Thought 98
A Capacity for Change 99
Know Thyself, and Thy Carrier, Too 100
Collaboration Is a Two-Way Street 101
A Carrier by Any Other Name 102
Automate to Consolidate 103
Autonomous Vehicles on Land, Sea, and Air 105
Do-It-Yourself Logistics 108
The Last Mile 109
Get It There on Time 110
Notes 111
Chapter 8 Distribution and Warehousing: Going with the Flow 113
Omni-Channel Surfing 114
A Great Idea in Theory 116
Virtual Inventory 117
Cross-Docking, Compliance, and Collaboration 119
Handle with Care 120
Saving on Labor 121
How to Better Manage Your Warehouse 122
Design for Supply Chain 124
Striking the Proper Balance 125
A Site for Sore Eyes 126
How Much Is Too Much? 127
A Quick Guide to Site Selection 128
The Three Deadly Sins of Warehousing 129
Notes 130
Chapter 9 Globalization: It’s a Not-So-Small World 133
Playing by Somebody Else’s Rules 134
Develop a Global Vision 135
Following the Plan 136
Friendly Nations 137
“Low Cost” Sometimes Means “Poor Service” 139
Total Cost of Supply Chain 140
Take a Look for Yourself 141
Finding the Next Global Hot Spot 143
The Need for Supply Chain Visibility 144
Shoring Up the Supply Chain 145
There’s No Place Like Home 146
Notes 147
Chapter 10 Customer Service: Keeping the Customer Satisfied 151
The Perfect Order 153
The High Cost of Imperfection 155
Every Day Is a Holiday 155
One Good Return Deserves Another 156
Supply Chain in Reverse 158
Money in the Bank 159
A Better Way to Sell Mouthwash 160
A Nine-Step Program for CPFR 162
Don’t Expect Collaboration to Be Easy 162
Respecting Your Partners 163
A Culture of Customer Satisfaction 164
How to Get the Most Out of a Relationship 166
Notes 167
Part 3 Supply Chain Strategies 169
Chapter 11 3PLs: When You’d Rather Not Do It Yourself 171
A Shift to the Supply Chain Side 172
Letting Somebody Else Do It 173
Supply Chain Essentials and Nonessentials 174
Finding Your Core Competency 175
The Same Set of Eyes 177
The Financial Impact of Outsourcing 178
Staying in Touch 179
Going Beyond the 3PL Model 179
Outpacing the Competition 181
Higher Demands, Higher Expectations 182
Notes 182
Chapter 12 Risk Management: What to Do When Absolutely Nothing Goes According to Plan 185
Reducing Your Vulnerability 186
Don’t Let Their Problems Become Your Problems 187
Shelter from Supply Chain Storms 188
Cybersecurity Blanket 189
Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism 191
Getting Countries to Talk to Each Other 192
“It’ll Never Happen Here” 193
Taking Responsibility for Your Supply Chain 196
Securing the Supply Chain 197
Taking Steps Toward Effective Compliance 198
An Investment Worth Making 200
Business as Unusual 200
Notes 202
Chapter 13 Supply Chain Technology: If You’ve Got the Money, Somebody’s Got the Solution 205
Getting the Job Done with AI 207
The ABCs of RFID 209
Proactive Replenishment 211
In Search of Payback 213
Work the Bugs Out 215
A Block Off the Ol’ Chain 216
An Interconnected Collection of Technologies 218
Reinvent, Rethink, Reimagine 220
Notes 221
Chapter 14 Corporate Social Responsibility: Doing the Right Things for the Right Reasons 223
Champions of CSR 224
Corporate Irresponsibility 225
Who’s Minding the Supply Chain? 227
The Black Elephant in the Room 228
The Carbon Footprint of a Banana 230
Don’t Reinvent the Wheel 231
Bridge Over Muddled Waters 232
Eco-Friendly Strategies 234
Notes 236
Chapter 15 The Financial Supply Chain: Cash Is King 239
A Convergence of Talent 240
Zero Hour for Budgeting 241
Roll with the Changes 242
Supply Chain Finance: Part Strategy, Part Technology 243
Financials on the Rocks 245
Show Me the Money 247
Notes 248
Chapter 16 The Supply Chain Profession: What Keeps You Up at Night? 251
People Management 252
Talent Search 254
Hiring Problem Solvers 255
Training the Next Generation 257
Toy Stories 258
Gray Matters 259
How Diverse Is Your Supply Chain? 260
What Keeps You Up at Night? 263
The Secret to Supply Chain Success 265
Notes 266
About the Author 269
Index 271
