SCM Insights Seven success factors of supplier onboarding There is much more behind the connection of suppliers to the SupplyOn platform than just the technical rollout, which involves sending registration links for logging onto the SupplyOn portal. Rather, onboarding is an overall process consisting of various components. (more…)
SCM Insights How to ensure a supply chain’s mid- and long-term resilience—including practical examples In the last two posts of my blog series, I focused on taking the first steps in dealing with an acute crisis. So far, I have emphasized the importance of integrating supply chain management and risk management, as well as taking ad-hoc measures to counter the impacts of Covid-19. Now, the next step is to take medium and long-term measures to make supply chains resilient in the long run. (more…)
SCM Insights · Technology How to automate transport logistics with multi cloud and RPA Integrated transport management thrives on real-time data exchange between all logistics partners. Once this basis has been established, logistics and transport processes can be automated by intelligent mechanisms. Multi-cloud platforms in combination with automation methods such as RPA (Robotic Process Automation) play a key role in this. (more…)
SCM Insights Four reasons to accelerate your digital transformation in times of Covid-19 The Covid-19 pandemic has put supply chains under pressure. From Fortune 500 companies to SMEs, through all kinds of industries, the impact on operations and planning activities was and remains real. Supply and demand forces have been tremendously shaken by the accentuation of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) driven by the pandemic.As for digital transformation, the question is not if or what, but when. (more…)
SCM Insights How to successfully steer your supply chain through a crisis: Quick response measures Recently, in the first part of my blog article series "Supply Chain Risk Management - far more than just a way out of the current crisis", I highlighted the importance of linking the two disciplines of Risk Management and Supply Chain Management when managing crises. There is another important aspect to not just surviving times of crisis, but to come out of these strengthened. And that is the time factor.For this reason, the second part of this blog article series is dedicated to the following questions: Where do I start? What ad-hoc measures can I implement to mitigate impact? What can I quickly do to protect my supply chain? (more…)
SCM Insights How to better cope with demand volatility The coronavirus crisis has revealed a long-standing challenge for suppliers even more clearly: How reliable are the demand forecasts they receive from their customers? High volatility and uncertainties in demand forecasting are not limited to pandemic times. Even in the "normal state", the originally reported requirements can differ considerably from the materials actually called off. The decisive question is therefore: How can you improve forecasting and thus also achieve a higher level of planning accuracy? (more…)
SCM Insights · Use Cases Collaboration made easy: feasibility studies with Technical Review Continental and ZF Friedrichshafen's customers include numerous automotive manufacturers (so-called OEM). In this industry, the demands on logistics, feasibility, quality, quantities and compliance are particularly high. Both companies therefore need absolutely reliable partners.Until recently, however, they were faced with a challenge: How can they check with both known and, in particular, new suppliers to see whether they can produce newly developed parts in the required quality and quantity, deliver them on time and on the right terms and conditions? (more…)
SCM Insights Supply Chain Risk Management – far more than just getting out of the current crisis The current coronavirus crisis clearly shows how vulnerable and susceptible to disruption supply chains are today. It also shows how important it is to anticipate disruptions of any kind in order to minimize their impact. In this context, supply chain risk management plays a major role. Essentially, it is a matter of finding answers to the following questions:What risks is my supply chain exposed to?How can I identify problems in my supply chain as quickly as possible, catchword early warning system?What do I need to do to minimize loss and to be even stronger in the end?As well as the lessons learnt: Which measures should I implement to ensure that I can effectively respond to any future risks? (more…)
SCM Insights Is your supply chain ready to navigate towards the new normal? Covid-19 has kept big and small players across all industries in check. Given the high levels of interdependence among customers, suppliers and other value-adding partners throughout the supply chain, the domino effect is not yet over. And recovery will be even harder. (more…)
SCM Insights How you benefit from a central procurement solution when having various ERP systems in place Many companies operate historically grown multi-backend system landscapes. Mergers and acquisitions, international expansions, new sites and plants, different update cycles, etc. have multiplied the number of ERP systems within the organization over time. This in itself is not a problem. However, if you wish to use a central procurement system for all your plants and locations at the same time, things become tricky. Today's Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) systems often support only a single ERP as a backend system. So, what to do? (more…)
