Supply chains are facing broader and deeper challenges than ever before. Traditional supply chain business models are giving way to the emergence of new horizontally integrated, high-performance, on demand value chain networks.
Our supply chain strategies open up competitive advantage opportunities to those able to execute with partners at a high level of performance. Companies that will not energise their supply chain through implementing new and innovative business models may face significant obstacles to delivering expected profitability on a long-term basis.
Supply chains increasingly include outsourcing and partnerships, presenting ever greater challenges in managing demand and supply and controlling. Real-time and accurate access to relevant customer and supply chain operational data -- such as inventory, orders and shipments -- is essential to meet customer service level requirements.
Pure product innovation is lessening in importance as focus moves toward the product time to market and lifecycle management to support higher sales and profitability objectives. There is also increased importance being placed on product 'afterlife' management.
Optimising supply chain performance, productivity and responsiveness is increasingly important to achieve cost- and service-level objectives.
Technology components with proven and rapid return on investment are favored to support critical supply chain processes, such as leaner manufacturing processes, demand-driven supply chains and customer responsiveness. New technologies, such as RFID are changing the game in SCM.
