5G - The game-changer for Industry 4 and supply chain companies.
Industry 4.0 brings us exciting technologies, designed to improve business efficiencies by automating processes. For Industry 4.0 technologies to be beneficial, they need fast and reliable networks, and this is where we will see a fundamental... Read More
Trade wars - opportunity or threat to your supply chain?
The trade negotiations between the USA and China seem to be moving in the right direction, and although it looks like they are close to a formalized agreement, there is still a lack of clarity on a few issues. Until they put pen to paper, all... Read More
Who’s playing leapfrog in your supply chain?
It is predicted that global cybercrime damages will cost up to $6 trillion annually by 2021. Cybercrime is replacing traditional crime – why? First and foremost, a cybercriminal can target vastly more “victims” at one time, AND it's far more... Read More
Monthly versus weekly inventory forecasting, and delusions of accuracy
Businesses often insist on forecasting weekly, based on considerable demand variation from week to week. The belief is that weekly forecasting will be more accurate, will improve their replenishment planning, and will lead to a better managed... Read More
Natural disasters and the risk to your business
From hurricane Dorian in the Bahama's to the fires in the Amazon basin to cyclone Idai in Mozambique, natural disasters are on the increase. While governments and industries struggle to align on the short term and long-term effects of climate... Read More
How job roles will change as a result of 4IR
Some form of energy fuelled the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd industrial revolutions. The 1st revolution used steam, the 2nd – electricity; the 3rd saw the emergence of nuclear energy and the rise of electronics with the microprocessor as well as the rise of... Read More
How to mitigate the effects of the Bullwhip phenomenon
A common phenomenon in all supply chains is the amplification and distortion of demand fluctuations. These start off small at the retail level and amplify further up the chain. When cracking a bullwhip, the handle of the whip moves 60 degrees yet... Read More
If a recession comes, is your supply chain ready?
It’s easy to look at stock market volatility and begin to wonder about the health of the economy. While it’s always worth remembering that indexes like the Dow Jones or the FTSE aren’t truly representative of the whole economy, there are some other... Read More
How Your Sales and Ops Teams Affect Your Inventory
The styles of the Sales Manager and the Inventory Planner are usually total opposites. And when you throw the Finance and Marketing people into the mix, well, things can get interesting when trying to reach consensus. It’s a balancing act with these... Read More
Brexit’s effect on supply chains
The issue of Brexit has taken over the airwaves and is very much top of mind — especially for leaders of companies within the UK and companies that provide products or services to the UK. The 31st of October is D-day, and the UK will be leaving the... Read More