Supply Chain Secrets Blog
Logistics and Supply Chain news, articles, tips and insights
10 Freight Management Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Is your company one of the many that take a minimalist approach to freight management? Yes… I did say minimalist, not lean.
When I say minimalist, I’m talking about the many companies which, while reliant on freight to keep supplies coming in and products going out, don’t see freight management as a core competency. In many cases, quite rightly so…
Logistics Outsourcing is Like Dating
Outsourcing isn’t about a quick fix. The goal is to find a partner who can support your business for years to come. If you make the right choice, the relationship can last a decade or more with annual reviews to keep things running smoothly…
Top 3 Logistics Outsourcing Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make
Logistics outsourcing is a topic I discuss frequently because I’ve seen so many companies make costly mistakes during the process. Whether it’s the customers or the logistics providers themselves, mistakes can happen at any stage. When you approach a 3PL for a quote, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is not providing enough detailed data…
Supplier Performance Management with Trent
Performance management is a topic we often discuss, especially in the context of KPIs. But is performance management really all about KPIs? Trent explained that while many organizations set KPIs at targets like 98%, what they’re really paying for—and should aim for—is 100%.
The Power of Outsourcing for Supply Chain Improvement
If you’re a decision-maker with accountability for your organisation’s entire supply chain, and you’re just starting to think about outsourcing, perhaps to reduce costs or improve service…
Logistics Outsourcing Tender – How Many Suppliers to Invite?
How many suppliers should you involve in your logistics outsourcing tender? Logistics outsourcing requires a structured process to ensure success. One common question is how many suppliers to involve in the tender process. Whether it’s called a Request for Tender (RFT), Request for Proposal (RFP), or Request for Quotation (RFQ), the goal is the same: to gather qualified bids for services like warehousing and distribution…
Supplier Relationship Management Tips
Supplier Relationship Management is vital, but many organizations still fall short in getting it right. What are the common pitfalls in SRM? Without proper attention relationships can falter after the initial stages. Many businesses only focus on meeting KPIs, but this approach limits potential. Suppliers often have expertise and innovation to offer, and SRM provides the framework to tap into these advantages…
Logistics Outsourcing: Finding Suitable 3PLs
Finding the right 3PL provider is often a struggle for businesses, especially when outsourcing warehousing or transportation services. Companies frequently make mistakes during this process, which can lead to poor decisions and costly outcomes. To ensure success, it’s important to approach this process as an informed buyer and avoid relying on outdated methods, like using Yellow Pages…
Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) – The Greatest Success Factor
The success of Sales & Operation Planning (S&OP) often depends on one critical factor: the active involvement of the Managing Director (MD). While many focus on processes, data, and cross-functional collaboration, the real difference-maker is the MD’s leadership. Without an engaged and committed MD, even the best S&OP frameworks can quickly lose their impact and fail to deliver the expected results…
S&OP: Why It Fails
The key to effective S&OP is shifting from discussion-based meetings to decision-based ones. This requires thorough preparation ahead of time. Participants need to come to the table with all the necessary data, insights, and recommendations already in hand. When everyone is well-prepared, meetings can focus on evaluating options and making decisions, rather than wasting time on unnecessary discussions…