SCM Insights Supply chain vs. supply chain – does the paradigm of competing supply chains really apply? “Supply Chain vs. Supply Chain – The Hype and the Reality”. One of my colleagues recently found an article with this title in the internet, and for a number of reasons it struck me as highly interesting and also relevant. (more…)
SCM Insights Digitalization is not an end in itself. A commentary Wherever you look, “digital” is THE overriding theme. Digitalization is not particularly new and by no means simply a future scenario for the years 2020 to 2030.No, the digitalization of tasks and processes has been around for quite some time now. And there is still some homework left to be done. Because, unfortunately, the business world is not yet as digital as it could – or should – be. (more…)
Industry News Railway Forum 2017: Digital transformation is shaping the innovation agenda of the railway industry The fifth Railway Forum was held in Berlin on August 30/31. Once again, the focus was on the digital transformation that is taking place at all levels. (more…)
Industry News Supply Chain Days: About digital disruption and ambition EY’s conference “Supply Chain Days” was held on June 21 and 22 in Heidelberg. More than 150 experts discussed the next step: the digitalization of the supply chain.The intense interest in this topic was reflected not only by the large number of attendees, but also by the caliber of the participants and speakers: They included representatives of BMW, Siemens, Adidas, Uber and Drägerwerk. Villa Bosch was bursting at the seams. The organizer is now considering moving the conference to another site or partially digitalizing it. And that brings us to the topic at hand.The key revelation: The supply chain is evolving from an Internet-based, company-owned world and becoming a new cloud-based eco-system designed to serve a global network of all members. (more…)
SCM Insights · Use Cases Automated goods receipt – part 2: How to avoid relabeling There is definitely a lot of “beeping” going on at my customer’s first plant goods receipt area, where the goods are now being processed – in a considerably more relaxed manner - with scanners.In the first part of my post on goods receipt optimization, I described how to automate goods logging with electronic notifications.Now merely the tedious and elaborate relabeling of the packages for internal quality or production processes remains to be solved. A solution for this issue was also developed jointly with my customer. (more…)
SCM Insights · Use Cases Automated goods receipt – part 1: Recording deliveries The electronic ordering process had just been successfully introduced. As I walk through my customer’s plant grounds after our final meeting, I think to myself “there sure are a lot of trucks in front of the gates,” and get into my car.As soon as I get on the highway, I call my customer once more, “Mr. XXX, let’s talk about electronic delivery notification and automatic goods logging....” (more…)
Industry News · Inside Siemens–SupplyOn Suppliers Day: Collectively driving digitalization “Help shape the future with us”. This call to action greeted over 60 participants at the first Siemens and SupplyOn Suppliers Day. Together with the German Federal Logistics Association (BVL), the two companies invited participants to share their experience of supply chain digitalization in Freising on May 4th. (more…)
Industry News Industry 4.0 generates excitement at Aeromart Montréal With Montréal emerging as a global networking platform for organizations in the aerospace industry, the 5th Aeromart Montréal exceeded critical mass with 1,300 participants representing 800 companies from 28 countries, including growth markets in the US, Asia, India, Africa and Europe. Part of a series of aerospace conferences produced internationally by BCI Aerospace, the 3-day event was a hybrid of informational sessions and business-to-business meetings connecting manufacturers, suppliers, contractors and service providers. (more…)
Industry News · Inside SupplyOn Rail Industry Council: The railway community SupplyOn has always made collaboration a top priority. But this includes much more than partnerships between companies and their suppliers. The concept of community is also a key element for these alliances. We develop solutions not just for an industry, but also together with the industry.As part of this commitment, we created the Rail Industry Council last year. Its main objective is (more…)
SCM Insights · Technology Operational analytics: What does this new trend offer? Up to now, analytics has been used primarily in customer and sales analysis. But its range is expanding: Companies are now increasingly applying analytics to operative processes as well.Why? (more…)
