By Andrew Hall on 5/29/2008 8:46 AM

During a Supply Chain workshop with a client this past week, the subject of Firming requirements on a Supplier Schedule became a hot topic of discussion, and I thought it would be worthwhile to discuss this in general terms in this week's blog. In this client’s environment, the supplier is an intercompany supplier that is based in Asia and is supplying its US-based sister company. This particular client is a Tier 1 automotive supplier and they are using Supplier Schedules and Customer Schedules to communicate demand and execute shipments between the companies. Historically, the Asia-based supplying company required a 3-week Firm period (not inclusive of shipping lead time), as this ensured 100% compliance to schedule. The main driver for this requirement was the fact that responsibility for premium freight charges between Asia and the US was historically a very parochial issue. During ... Read More »

By Andrew Hall on 3/31/2008 11:25 AM

I could think of no better way to begin a new blog on Business Process Design than to quickly preach the importance of Process, especially in light of the fact that software functionality and gee-whiz technology seems to get people's attention. The true measure of a world-class company is its Processes, whether they are supported and enabled through the latest and greatest software functionality or through simple manual constructs (e.g. kanban loops with visual signals). Too often, Companies want to automate or enable a bad Process through software in the hopes of improving business results. Though there may be some overhead elimination in such an approach, the true result is that the Company is simply executing a bad Process quickly. Instead, all Companies should focus their efforts on first designing best-in-class business Processes and only then begin attempts at automation. Without a doubt, the functionality afforded to us today by modern software applications is amazing and should be ... Read More »