Supply Chain bloggers
Alex Parfenov (1)
Alonzo Bright (1)
Cal Petty (1)
Doug Zopfi (1)
Jill Hays (2)
Mike Krabbe (2)
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Is a SaaS WMS Solution Right for Your warehouse?
Mike Krabbe, Senior Manager : 25 August 2010 / 10:25 AM : 0 
We’ve all heard and read the buzz over the past year about SaaS WMS software solutions. There are several vendors in the marketplace touting a lower cost of ownership as compared to a Best of Breed or traditional WMS software installs. Is this true? Well I’ll get to that, but first what other factors should be considered besides costs when choosing the right WMS solution for you? I’ve spoken to many SaaS providers and seen demos of their products. After reviewing these solutions first hand, I thought it would be good help our readers differentiate between SaaS and traditional WMS solutions and review some factors to consider when determining if a SaaS solution is right for you.
Access and Install
SaaS WMS software accessed over the internet through ...
Tagged: CIO IT Strategy Supply Chain WMS
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40-something and Infatuated with Aéropostale Supply Chain Strategy
Alonzo Bright, Senior Supply Chain Consultant : 11 August 2010 / 12:34 PM : 0
I’m a forty something year old man overflowing with curiosity to the point that I have been planning a trip to the local mall for the last five days. I’ll tell my buddy’s that I’m headed to Best Buy, but in reality I’m infatuated with teen fashion retailer Aéropostale. Before you alert authorities, let me explain.
I confessed a long time ago to a group of people sitting in a circle, “My name is Alonzo, and I am a Supply Chain Nut!” So, since I found out about Aéropostale’s business supply chain strategy that they will be using as a weapon in the battle for 2010 holiday sales, I’ve been planning my stealthy trip.
So let me tell you about this strategy that makes my palms sweat and heart pound. A...
Tagged: Supply Chain WMS
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A Benefit of Supply Chain Network Design and Analysis to Consider
Jill Hays, Senior Supply Chain Consultant : 28 July 2010 / 10:25 AM : 0
The complexity of a network design and optimization study significantly increases when components such as multinational business units and third-party logistics/services are added. But then, so do the opportunities for increasing operational efficiencies and gaining a more in-depth knowledge and understanding of the respective supply chain.
One often overlooked, often intangible benefit of completing a Supply Chain Network Analysis Project is the key learning's. The data collection and project development process are great opportunities for organizations to collaborate and learn.
Take for example, a project where a major corporation’s existing supply chain network evolved over the last several decades, with the last major change made in the 199...
Tagged: Business Impact Analysis Business Modeling Business Value CPG Retail Supply Chain
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Scripted Demonstrations in a WMS Selection: The Moment of Clarity
Cal Petty, Supply Chain Solutions Director – WMS/TMS : 14 July 2010 / 7:12 AM : 0
Your company has performed all the necessary due diligence and determined there is sufficient payback to proceed with acquiring a warehouse management system (WMS). Now what? How do you select the best product for your needs?
For some this is the beginning of a lengthy journey involving internet research, possible trade show attendance, purchasing analyst reports, contacting vendors, and on and on and on. When I talk with companies about their selection process, inevitably the process leads to a few software vendors coming in to do product presentations. Might I be so bold as to suggest we abolish all standard product presentations in the WMS market? My associates in the software sales space will surely protest. However, I believe it will not only save wasted c...
Tagged: Supply Chain WMS
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Mergers & Acquisitions: Impact on Supply Chain Management
Doug Zopfi, Principal Consultant, Supply Chain Services : 30 June 2010 / 9:11 AM : 0
In today’s highly competitive, global economy corporate mergers and acquisitions have become commonplace. Although the pace of M&A activity has slowed during the current economic downturn, companies with sufficient cash reserves or secure financing will still take advantage of opportunistic acquisitions at bargain prices. Business drivers for these actions will vary from company to company, but some of the most common drivers include:
Tagged: Business Value Change Management Consolidation IT Strategy IT to Business Alignment Organizational Change Management Supply Chain
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Was your WMS Implementation Successful? 5 Key Indicators
Alex Parfenov, Principle Consultant : 16 June 2010 / 9:15 AM : 0
Today, many companies have acknowledged the necessity of state-of-the-art warehousing automation and inventory control by investing in warehouse management systems. Some companies invested in an off-the-self, standalone WMS; others in a WM module of an ERP package; and finally some chose to develop a system in-house. While some could argue the merits of one approach versus another, they all can lead to success if tackled properly.
Unfortunately, the market is full of examples of poor or incomplete implementations where the full potential of a WMS is not realized. Often, the small subtleties of the customer’s business that were poorly understood by the implementation team escalate into significant obstacles in order to operate the system and the warehouse. In other cas...
Tagged: Supply Chain WMS
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Benefits of a Network Optimization and Design Study
Jill Hays, Senior Supply Chain Consultant : 02 June 2010 / 11:56 AM : 0
A network optimization and design study is essentially the modeling of multiple “what if” scenarios, enabling a greater understanding of the current network resiliency and resource utilization, as well as understanding the potential for improvement. With the increasing pressure to lower supply chain operating costs, while simultaneously increasing customer service levels—coupled with the increasing complexities of today’s dynamic supply chains—many organizations are turning to network optimization as a key strategy to achieve these objectives and create a robust supply chain of the future.
Tagged: Supply Chain
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Improve Slotting to Improve Productivity
Mike Krabbe, Senior Manager : 12 May 2010 / 9:12 AM : 0
As Supply Chain consultants, we often preach to Directors of Operations and Warehouse Managers about maintaining slotting in forward pick areas because it improves productivity. The reality is management often overlooks or struggles to re-slot their warehouse effectively. However, regular management of slotting is one of the most effective ways to improve productivity within your warehouse because it reduces travel time. And, let’s face it folks, warehouse workers spend a lot more time traveling from one location to another than they do performing a picking task at a location. Reducing travel time not only improves productivity, but it reduces wear and tear on material handling equipment. Here are few steps for putting together a plan to regularly re-slot your warehous...
Tagged: ERP Supply Chain WMS
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