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SUPPLY CHAIN UPPLY HAIN MANAGEMENT ANAGEMENT Report produced for the EC funded project INNOREGIO: dissemination of innovation and knowledge management techniques Sotiris Zigiaris, MSc, BPR engineer by BPR HELLAS SA J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 0 SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 1 Contents 1 1. 1 1. 1. 1 1. 1. 2 1. 1. 3 1. 1. 4 1. 2 Description What is the Supply Chain Management (SCM) What is the importance of Supply Chain Management Supply Chain Management Today Supply Chain Management Tomorrow The Supply Chain Management Pipeline Objectives of the Supply Chain Management 1. 3 Supply Chain principles/ Methodology and Solutions 1. 3. Supply Chain Principles 1. 3. 2 Methodology of a Supply Chain Management project-solutions 1. 4 Expected results/ benefits 1. 4. 1 Opportunity areas (examples) 1. 4. 2 There for the Taking 1. 5 Characteristics of firms/ organisations and service providers 2 Application 2. 1 Where the technique has been applied 2. 1. 1 How can Supply Chain Management (SCM) be applied to an organisation? 2. 2 2. 3 2. 4 2. 5 Types of firms/ organisations where SCM can be applied Duration and implementation cost of Supply Chain Management Conditions for implementation European organisations supporting the implementation of the method 3
Implementation procedure 3. 1 Steps-actions/ phases 3. 1. 1 Implementing a competitive approach to Warehousing and Distribution 3. 2 3. 3 Partial techniques and tools included in each step Related software 4 Bibliographic References Annex INNOREGIO project S. Zygiaris, Msc, BPR Engineer BPR Hellas SA SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 2 1 1. 1 DESCRIPTION What is the Supply Chain Management (SCM) The best companies around the world are discovering a powerful new source of competitive advantage. It’s called supply-chain management and it encompasses all of those integrated activities that bring product to market and create satisfied customers.
The Supply Chain Management Program integrates topics from manufacturing operations, purchasing, transportation, and physical distribution into a unified program. Successful supplychain management, then, coordinates and integrates all of these activities into a seamless process. It embraces and links all of the partners in the chain. In addition to the departments within the organization, these partners include vendors, carriers, thirdparty companies, and information systems providers. Within the organisation, the supply chain refers to a wide range of functional areas.
These include Supply Chain Management-related activities such as inbound and outbound transportation, warehousing, and inventory control. Sourcing, procurement, and supply management fall under the supply-chain umbrella, too. Forecasting, production planning and scheduling, order processing, and customer service all are part of the process as well. Importantly, it also embodies the information systems so necessary to monitor all of these activities. Simply stated, “the supply chain encompasses all of those activities associated with moving goods from the raw-materials stage through to the end user. Advocates for this business process realised that significant productivity increases could only come from managing relationships, information, and material flow across enterprise borders. One of the best definitions of supply-chain management offered to date comes from Bernard J. (Bud) LaLonde, professor emeritus of Supply Chain Management at Ohio State University. LaLonde defines supply-chain management as follows: “The delivery of enhanced customer and economic value through synchronised management of the flow of physical goods and associated information from sourcing to consumption. As the “from sourcing to consumption” part of our last definition suggests, though, achieving the real potential of supply-chain management requires integration–not only of these entities within the organisation, but also of the external partners. The latter include the suppliers, distributors, carriers, customers, and even the ultimate consumers. All are central players in what James E. Morehouse of A. T. Kearney calls the extended supply chain. “The goal of the extended enterprise is to do a better job of serving the ultimate consumer,”. Superior service, he continues, leads to increased market share.
Increased share, in turn, brings with it competitive advantages such as lower warehousing and transportation costs, reduced inventory levels, less waste, and lower transaction costs. The customer is the key to both quantifying and communicating the supply chain’s value, confirms Shrawan Singh, vice president of integrated supply-chain management at Xerox. “If you can start measuring customer satisfaction associated with what a supply chain can do for a customer and also link customer satisfaction in terms of profit or revenue growth,” Singh explains, “then you can attach customer values to profit & loss and to the balance sheet. INNOREGIO project S. Zygiaris, Msc, BPR Engineer BPR Hellas SA SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 3 1. 1. 1 What is the importance of Supply Chain Management In the ancient Greek fable about the tortoise and the hare, the speedy and overconfident rabbit fell asleep on the job, while the “slow and steady” turtle won the race. That may have been true in Aesop’s time, but in today’s demanding business environment, “slow and steady” won’t get you out of the starting gate, let alone win any races. Managers these days recognise that getting products to customers faster than the competition will improve a company’s competitive position.
To remain competitive, companies must seek new solutions to important Supply Chain Management issues such as modal analysis, supply chain management, load planning, route planning and distribution network design. Companies must face corporate challenges that impact Supply Chain Management such as reengineering globalisation and outsourcing. Why is it so important for companies to get products to their customers quickly? Faster product availability is key to increasing sales, says R. Michael Donovan of Natick, Mass. , a management consultant specialising in manufacturing and information systems. There’s a substantial profit advantage for the extra time that you are in the market and your competitor is not,” he says. “If you can be there first, you are likely to get more orders and more market share. ” The ability to deliver a product faster also can make or break a sale. “If two alternative [products] appear to be equal and one is immediately available and the other will be available in a week, which would you choose? Clearly, “Supply Chain Management has an important role to play in moving goods more quickly to their destination. An example of a Supply Chain Management application: To Reduce Cycle Time, Kick Those Bad Habits .. One of the chief causes of excessive order-to-delivery cycle times is the existence of longstanding “bad habits” that result when companies fail to revise internal processes to reflect market changes. The existence of separate, independent departments tends to perpetuate these inefficient practices. Taking the supply-chain management view, on the other hand, helps companies identify the cumulative effects of those individual procedures.
Eliminating such bottlenecks improves product availability and speeds delivery to customers–both of which can increase sales and profits. The case Consultant R. Michael Donovan illustrates the point with the tale of a client that manufactures a made-to-order machine part. Average order-to-delivery time varied between six and nine weeks. As a result, the manufacturer was losing business to “replicators” that could produce low-quality “knockoff” versions in just three weeks. Donovan and his colleagues analyzed the manufacturer’s entire supply chain, from order entry and raw-materials supply all the way to final delivery.
They found problems at every step of the way: Handwritten orders were being rekeyed into the materials-planning system on weekends, which meant that some orders were sitting around unprocessed for an entire week. On Monday mornings, production control would be overwhelmed with a week’s worth of orders. It often took them several days to plow through the backlog and issue manufacturing orders. Once those orders had been cut, the engineering department required one week to produce technical drawings. They needed several more days to match up drawings with orders and other documentation.
Those information packets then would go to the manufacturing line, where the scheduling system allowed three weeks’ time for production. “Orders could be sitting there for almost three weeks before going into production, even though the actual time required to produce an item ranged from a few hours to one full day,” Donovan recalls. The solution Supply Chain experts were able to slash order-processing time, including the generation of engineering drawings, from about two and a half weeks to one day. They made some alterations to the manufacturing process to speed up production.
While they were cutting waste out of physical processes, the consultants also were finding ways to speed up the flow of information and to improve the accuracy of production orders. Today, materials flow is closely correlated with information flow, and leadtimes have been cut from an average of six to nine weeks down to fewer than three weeks. The payoff! The payoff has been enormous. Instead of steadily losing market share to the INNOREGIO project S. Zygiaris, Msc, BPR Engineer BPR Hellas SA SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 4 eplicators, the manufacturer has doubled sales volumes. It has reaped an added benefit as well: Because quality remains very high, the manufacturer has been able to charge more for its products, generating even greater profits. Donovan proudly notes that this radical change was achieved with technologies the manufacturer already had. “We didn’t change the technology, we just changed how it was applied,” he says. “The magic is not in the software. Information technology should not be the driver of re-engineering the order-to-delivery process,” he concludes. It should enable you to achieve your objectives. ” Source: SUPPLY-CHAIN MANAGEMENT REPORT “It’s about time- Supply-chain management and time-based logistics together can give companies an unbeatable opportunity to increase profits ” by Toby B. Gooley -Senior Editor 1. 1. 2 Supply Chain Management Today If we take the view that Supply Chain Management is what Supply Chain Management people do, then in 1997 Supply Chain Management has a firm hand on all aspects of physical distribution and materials management.
Seventy-five percent or more of respondents included the following activities as part of their company’s Supply Chain Management department functions: • Inventory management • Transportation service procurement • Materials handling • Inbound transportation • Transportation operations management • Warehousing management Moreover, the Supply Chain Management department is expected to increase its range of responsibilities, most often in line with the thinking that sees the order fulfilment process as one co-ordinated set of activities.
Thus the functions most often cited as planning to formally include in the Supply Chain Management department are: • Customer service performance monitoring • Order processing/customer service • Supply Chain Management budget forecasting On the other hand, there are certain functions which some of us might feel logically belong to Supply Chain Management which companies feel are the proper domain of other departments.
Most difficult to bring under the umbrella of Supply Chain Management are: • Third party invoice payment/audit • Sales forecasting • Master production planning Today Supply Chain Management includes services such as: • • • • • • • • Operational Analysis and Design Materials Handling Distribution Strategy Operational Improvements, Distribution Management Computer Systems Warehouse Design Project Management Operational Commissioning Computer Simulation Technical seminars
Write-in responses reveal the leading edge of what some Supply Chain Management departments are doing. These include engineering change control for packaging; custom INNOREGIO project S. Zygiaris, Msc, BPR Engineer BPR Hellas SA SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 5 design packaging; drafting national Supply Chain Management standards; and implementing SCM software 1. 1. 3 Supply Chain Management Tomorrow The future for Supply Chain Management looks very bright. This year, as well as last year, two major trends are benefiting Supply Chain Management operations.
These are • Customer service focus • Information technology Successful organisations must be excellent in both of these areas, so the importance of Supply Chain Management and the tools available to do the job right will continue to expand. 1. 1. 4 The Supply Chain Management Pipeline The freight transportation industry has undergone a revolutionary change during the last decade. As deregulation spread to all modes of transport, the number of surviving companies declined. Carriers unprotected by regulation discovered they could not differentiate themselves from the competition on price alone.
Successful transportation companies must provide prompt pickup, excellent customer service, and swift, complete and damage-free delivery. The motor carrier industry forges a critical link in a multimodal Supply Chain Management system and must compete against time and service to stay in business. Shippers move cargo over whatever mode provides the best service. Less-than-truckload (LTL) motor carriers find their competition particularly stiff. Parcel carriers constantly increase their maximum shipment weight while truck load carriers now accept partial trailer loads as small as 10,000 pounds. Shorter cycle times means better service.
Customers’ needs have also changed. The growth of Just-in-Time and Quick Response inventory management and third-party Supply Chain Management requires all participants in the Supply Chain Management chain to consider shorter cycle time a competitive advantage. Manufacturers, distributors, and some carriers effectively use information technology to reduce cycle times and improve the quality of freight handling. Package handlers use the technology to great competitive advantage. LTL? carriers are beginning to adapt their information systems to provide on-line, realtime data on the movement of freight through their systems.
To successfully use information technology to speed the movement of freight, these carriers must have lowcost methods to accurately gather and disseminate data. Bar code and radio frequency technologies provide the tools for LTL carriers to survive and thrive. Traditional bar codes uniquely identify every package in the pipeline. Scanning the packages positively confirms custody transfer from shipper to carrier to consignee. Twodimensional bar codes on shipping documents record the entire bill of lading (BOL). Scanners in drivers’ hands provide error-free entry of the BOL in less than a second.
Radio communication from the truck cab to central operations immediately informs dispatchers of incoming freight. Similar scanning during delivery shortens the billing cycle and provides positive confirmation of delivery. Information technology speeds cargo through every phase of LTL operations. ? Less-than-truckload INNOREGIO project S. Zygiaris, Msc, BPR Engineer BPR Hellas SA SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 6 Dock management systems speed cross docking operations. A combination of radio communication and bar code scanning immediately delivers control information to people who need it.
From dispatchers to fork operators, every member of the dock team receives immediate information where they work. The system efficiently tracks all packages from inbound docks through staging to outbound docks. No package waits for information. Yard management systems ensure the delivery of the right equipment to the right location at the right time. Radio communication to yard tractors keeps shuttle drivers working on the highest priority tasks. Real-time communication between yard drivers, hub managers, and information support systems provides positive control of all moving stock.
Optimising personnel and rolling stock results in shortened stripping and loading time at the doors. Consistent application of appropriate information technology throughout the Supply Chain Management pipeline results in shortened cycle times and lowered effort. Immediate, reliable information allows managers to optimise their physical and human resources. While maximum benefit comes to those carriers who implement a consistent information strategy throughout their operations, segmentation of the problem allows carriers to phase in their transformation.
Each phase provides immediate economic benefits, while improving the strategic position of the carrier. Co-ordinating Multiple Initiatives through IT The Supply Chain Management model of LTL carriers offers the greatest advantage and the fundamental vulnerability of the mode. City terminals, break bulk consolidation, and other cargo transfer techniques allow LTL carriers to sell economies of scale to shippers with small cargo consignments. However, the same process requires multiple handling and offers frequent opportunities for delays, misshipments, and cargo damage.
Effective use of information technology maximises the advantages and minimises the risks inherent in LTL transportation. Each package must be positively identified every time it is handled. Information about every destination must be checked and double checked to maximise cargo speed while minimising empty trailer miles. Implementation of competitive information technologies begins wherever carriers feel they need the most assistance. For many, dock management represents a logical starting point. Positive tracking of every package in and out of every hub drastically reduces the possibility of cargo delays and damage.
Automatic optimisation techniques simultaneously reduce handling expenses and allow some trailers to bypass consolidation hubs entirely. When carriers augment a dock management system with yard management support, the two projects amplify each other’s advantages. Yard management initiatives closely control the movement of trailers and drivers based on information provided by the dock management system. The dock management system, in turn, profits from data provided by pickup and delivery automation. When shipment information from city drivers immediately flows to the hubs, support systems and supervisors can anticipate requirements.
Incoming cargo stays in motion because dock managers already know what is on each inbound truck. If pickup and delivery systems are not immediately automated, carriers can implement intermediate systems to efficiently feed information to hub management support projects. Dockside data collection allows operators to enter all data about an inbound truck’s cargo at the dock even as operators strip the cargo for consolidation. Dockside data collection becomes more efficient when carriers encourage their shippers to produce scannable bills of lading. These documents can be produced on existing INNOREGIO project S.
Zygiaris, Msc, BPR Engineer BPR Hellas SA SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 7 printers with specialised software. A two-dimensional bar code encodes all necessary shipment information. In less than one second, a dockside scanner captures an entire bill of lading. The same scannable documents can be used when the carrier later implements a pickup and delivery management system. Effective supply-chain management may be the best way to achieve reduced order-todelivery cycle time. Instead of treating each function as consisting of discrete activities, supply-chain management considers all functions to be linked and interdependent.
As a result, supply-chain management can reveal the cumulative effect of problems anywhere in the chain, not just within Supply Chain Management’ areas of responsibility. 1. 2 Objectives of Supply Chain Management The fundamental objective is to “add value”. That brings us to the example of the fish fingers. During the Supply Chain Management ’98 conference in the United Kingdom this fall, a participant in a supply chain management seminar said that total time from fishing dock through manufacturing, distribution, and final sale of frozen fish fingers for his European grocery-products company was 150 days.
Manufacturing took a mere 43 minutes. That suggests an enormous target for supply chain managers. During all that time, company capital is-almost literally in this case–frozen. What is true for fish fingers is true of most products. Examine any extended supply chain, and it is likely to be a long one. James Morehouse, a vice president of consulting firm A. T. Kearney, reports that the total cycle time for corn flakes, for example, is close to a year and that the cycle times in the pharmaceutical industry average 465 days.
In fact, Morehouse argues that if the supply chain, of what he calls an “extended enterprise,” is encompassing everything from initial supplier to final customer fulfilment, could be cut to 30 days, that would provide not only more inventory turns, but fresher product, an ability to customise better, and improved customer responsiveness. “All that add value,” he says. And it provides a clear competitive advantage. Supply Chain Management becomes a tool to help accomplish corporate strategic objectives: ! ” reducing working capital, ! ” taking assets off the balance sheet, ! accelerating cash-to-cash cycles, ! ” increasing inventory turns, and so on. 1. 3 Supply-Chain Principles/ Methodology & Solutions 1. 3. 1 Supply-Chain Principles If supply-chain management has become top management’s new “religion,” then it needs a doctrine. Andersen Consulting has stepped forward to provide the needed guidance, espousing what it calls the “Seven Principles” of supply-chain management. When consistently and comprehensively followed, the consulting firm says, these seven principles bring a host of competitive advantages.
The seven principles as articulated by Andersen Consulting are as follows: INNOREGIO project S. Zygiaris, Msc, BPR Engineer BPR Hellas SA SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 8 1. Segment customers based on service needs. Companies traditionally have grouped customers by industry, product, or trade channel and then provided the same level of service to everyone within a segment. Effective supply-chain management, by contrast, groups customers by distinct service needs–regardless of industry–and then tailors services to those particular segments. 2.
Customise the Supply Chain Management network. In designing their Supply Chain Management network, companies need to focus intensely on the service requirements and profitability of the customer segments identified. The conventional approach of creating a “monolithic” Supply Chain Management network runs counter to successful supply-chain management. 3. Listen to signals of market demand and plan accordingly. Sales and operations planning must span the entire chain to detect early warning signals of changing demand in ordering patterns, customer promotions, and so forth.
This demand-intensive approach leads to more consistent forecasts and optimal resource allocation. 4. Differentiate product closer to the customer. Companies today no longer can afford to stockpile inventory to compensate for possible forecasting errors. Instead, they need to postpone product differentiation in the manufacturing process closer to actual consumer demand. 5. Strategically manage the sources of supply. By working closely with their key suppliers to reduce the overall costs of owning materials and services, supply-chain management leaders enhance margins both for themselves and their suppliers.
Beating multiple suppliers over the head for the lowest price is out, Andersen advises. “Gain sharing” is in. 6. Develop a supply-chain-wide technology strategy. As one of the cornerstones of successful supply-chain management, information technology must support multiple levels of decision making. It also should afford a clear view of the flow of products, services, and information. 7. Adopt channel-spanning performance measures. Excellent supply-chain measurement systems do more than just monitor internal functions. They adopt measures that apply to every link in the supply chain.
Importantly, these measurement systems embrace both service and financial metrics, such as each account’s true profitability. The principles are not easy to implement, the Andersen consultants say, because they run counter to ingrained functionally oriented thinking about how companies organise, operate, and serve customers. The organisations that do persevere and build a successful supply chain have proved convincingly that you can please customers and enjoy growth by doing so. 1. 3. 2 The Methodology of a Supply chain Management project- solutions The best supply-chain management programs display certain common characteristics.
For one, they focus intensely on actual customer demand. Instead of forcing into the market product that may or may not sell quickly (and thereby inviting high warehousing costs), they react to actual customer demand. And by doing so, these supply-chain leaders minimise the flow of raw materials, finished product, and packaging materials at every point in the pipeline. To respond more accurately to actual customer demand and keep inventory to a minimum, leading companies have adopted a number of speed-to-market management techniques.
The names by now have become part of the Supply Chain Management vernacular JIT manufacturing and distribution, quick response (QR), efficient consumer INNOREGIO project S. Zygiaris, Msc, BPR Engineer BPR Hellas SA SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 9 response (ECR), vendor managed inventory (VMI), and more. These are the tools that help build a comprehensive supply-chain structure. A Four Step integrated Approach In view of the importance of Supply Chain Management to commercial success, making the right decision about which system is best is vital.
Before deciding how to develop new service Supply Chain Management chains and economical distribution centres, many factors must be considered, such as, the required customer service levels, optimum location, stock holding policies and EDP systems. To help organisations make the best decisions, the Miebach Supply Chain Management Group employs an integrated planning approach, consisting of four steps from planning to realisation: “The integrated planning process helps to find solutions that best atch clients requirements and the technical demands of the problem”, states Dr Joachim Miebach, Chairman of the Miebach Supply Chain Management Group. “The only way to manage the growing complexity in international Supply Chain Management chains is through the integration of strategy, engineering and IT systems and methods. ” • • • • Potential analysis Concept study Detailed planning Project or change management The main feature of Miebachs integrated approach is the simultaneous consideration of strategy, engineering and IT at every step to arrive at an optimum Supply Chain Management solution, the problem”. . 4 Expected Results / Benefits Where the Supply Chain Creates Value Supply chain management’s ability to affect profitability and shareholder value should come as no surprise. As Richard Thompson, a partner in Ernst & Young’s supply chain practice, points out, supply chain management affects virtually every aspect of a company’s business. “Everything is involved,” he says. “Supply chain management [influences] plan-buy-make-move-and-sell. ” Enhanced revenues, tighter cost control, more effective asset utilisation, and better customer service are just the beginning.
Thompson and his colleagues have identified five areas in which supply chain management can have a direct effect on corporate value. They include: * Profitable growth. Supply chain management contributes to profitable growth by allowing assembly of “perfect orders,” supporting after-sales service, and getting involved in new product development. The bottom-line numbers give the answer. According to A. T. Kearney’s research, inefficiencies in the supply chain can waste up to 25 percent of a company’s operating costs. With profit margins of only 3 to 4 percent, the consultants point out, even a 5-percent reduction in upply-chain waste can double a company’s profitability. INNOREGIO project S. Zygiaris, Msc, BPR Engineer BPR Hellas SA SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 10 * Working-capital reductions. Increasing inventory turns, managing receivables and payables, minimising days of supply in inventory, and accelerating the cash-to-cash cycle all are affected by supply chain execution. Thompson cites the case of a consumerproducts company that took 20 minutes to make a product and five and a half months to collect payment for it. “If you can cut the cash cycle down, there are millions of dollars there,” he says. Fixed-capital efficiency. This refers to network optimisation–for instance, assuring that the company has the right number of warehouses in the right places, or outsourcing functions where it makes more economic sense. * Global tax minimisation. “There’s a ton of money here,” Thompson says, if companies look at assets and sales locations, transfer pricing, customs duties, and taxes. * Cost minimisation. This largely focuses on day-to-day operations, but it also may involve making strategic choices about such issues as outsourcing and process design.
Based on experience with companies participating in MIT’s Integrated Supply Chain Management Program, there has been found that the most commonly reported bottomline benefits are centred on reduced costs in such areas as inventory management, transportation and warehousing, and packaging; improved service through techniques like time-based delivery and make-to-order; and enhanced revenues, which result from such supply-chain-related achievements as higher product availability and more customised products.
The companies studied by Metz have recorded a number of impressive supply-chain accomplishments, including: • a 50-percent inventory reduction. • a 40-percent increase in on-time deliveries. • a 27-percent decrease in cumulative cycle time. • a doubling of inventory turns coupled with a nine-fold reduction in out-of-stock rates. • a 17-percent revenue increase. On a broader scale, research conducted by Mercer Management Consulting reveals that organisations with the best supply chains typically excel in certain pivotal performance areas.
Specifically, they outperform their counterparts along such key metrics as reducing operating costs, improving asset productivity, and compressing order-cycle time. In a separate study, Mercer found that close to half of all senior executives surveyed had specific supply-chain improvement projects among their top 10 corporate initiatives. This is a resounding affirmation at the highest levels of supply-chain management’s competitive potential. A study by the management consulting firm of A. T. Kearney has come at the supplychain payback from another angle–the costs of not paying careful attention to the supplychain process.
The Kearney consultants found that supply-chain inefficiencies could waste as much as 25 percent of a company’s operating costs. Thus, assuming even a relatively low profit margin of 3 to 4 percent, a 5-percent reduction in supply-chain waste could double a company’s profitability. Finally, the PRTM study cited earlier documented the powerful advantages of supplychain management across a range of critical measures. The leading companies, for example, enjoyed a cash-to-order cycle time that was fully one-half of the median INNOREGIO project S. Zygiaris, Msc, BPR Engineer BPR Hellas SA
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 11 companies’. Similarly, their inventory days of supply turned out to be 50 percent less than the median. The best-in-class companies, moreover, met their promised delivery dates 17 percent more often than the rest of the pack. 1. 4. 1 Opportunity Areas (examples) These are some of the big-picture numbers. Most companies, though, find it more meaningful to focus on the payback potential of specific activities within the total supplychain process. The following examples illustrate the kinds of benefits that can be realised.
Individually, these improvements can bring important cost savings and service enhancements. Collectively, they can lead to dramatic breakthroughs in profitability and market share. Morehouse believes that Supply Chain Management and supply chain management also can play key roles in increasing a company’s market share–“… not by cutting price, but by doing such a superb job that you attract profitable market share,” he says. In other words, a company needs to have not only the right product, but also the right processes for the market. Distribution network optimisation.
Optimising the distribution network–that is determining the best location for each facility, setting the proper system configuration, and selecting the right carriers–brings immediate cost advantages of 20 to 30 percent. That’s the figure determined by IBM’s Wholesale Distribution Industry Segment, based on consulting engagements in a wide range of industries. “This typically breaks down into transportation savings of 15 to 25 percent and improvements in inventory-carrying costs of 10 to 15 percent,” says Mark Wheeler, national solutions manager for the IBM consulting unit.
Shipment consolidation. A proven, though often overlooked, supply-chain lever lies in shipment consolidation. Nabisco offers an instructive example. For one retail customer, the company had been delivering product from multiple plants via six different LTL deliveries. Through the use of a third-party SCM provider, it was able to consolidate these multi-vendor loads into two truckloads. By strategically consolidating the shipments, reports Rick D. Blasgen, senior director of product supply, Nabisco cut its transportation costs by half.
On top of that, it reduced inventory levels, increased inventory turns, cut lead-times, improved on-time delivery, and enhanced case-fill rates. Cross docking. Another supply-chain technique with proven payback potential is cross docking. This is the practice of receiving and processing goods for reshipping in the shortest time possible and with minimum handling and no storage. According to Maurice Trebuchon of Coopers & Lybrand’s SysteCon Division, cross docking can yield savings of 25 percent or more over conventional warehousing.
Speaking at this year’s annual CLM meeting, Trebuchon cited one manufacturer that used cross docking to achieve a net savings of $0. 84 per ton of freight processed. The savings came from the elimination of costs related to putaway and picking and storage. Supplier management. Research from McKinsey & Co. demonstrates the substantial improvements possible through aggressive supply management. An article by McKinsey consultants in the Winter 1998 issue of SCM Review mentions a client in the automotive industry that had successfully integrated vendors into its product-development process.
On one particular team, the integration paid dividends in triplicate: the parts count dropped by 30 percent, the number of assembly steps and material specifications was reduced by half, and development time shrank from years to months. INNOREGIO project S. Zygiaris, Msc, BPR Engineer BPR Hellas SA SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 12 Supplier integration. The abundant advantages of supplier integration were again evident in a two-year study conducted by the Global Procurement and Supply Chain Initiative at Michigan State University.
Drawing on responses received from around the globe, the study showed that companies that involved suppliers earlier on in the productdesign and -development process consistently outperformed those that did not. This was true across a range of supply-management metrics. The comparative improvement in purchased material costs alone was 15 percent. Industry experts say most of those barriers fall into one of three broad categories: • information sharing, • integration, • or the people themselves.
Until these barriers are dismantled, products will not flow swiftly to customers and companies will not achieve the benefits promised by supply chain management. Given the extensive time, effort, and commitment of resources involved, is design and execution of a comprehensive supply-chain strategy really worth it all? 1. 4. 2 There for the Taking The examples given above merely illustrate the kinds of competitive advantages that can be captured through aggressive supply-chain management. In actuality, opportunities for cost savings and nhanced service abound at all points in the chain–from initial sourcing all the way to the point-of-sale business transaction. For those companies that act quickly and decisively to capitalise on supply-chain opportunities, the long-term, bottom-line benefits are there for the taking. Just look at the acknowledged supply-chain leaders–from Wal-Mart on down. As for those organisations that choose the business-as-usual approach to moving goods to market…well, OK. But keep in mind this admonition from Damon Runyon: The race does not always go to the swiftest or the strongest, but that’s the way to bet. . 5 Characteristics of firms/ organisations and service providers The most important characteristic of firms that could apply SMC is the will to accept innovations and new methods of working. Of course there should be a physical movement of goods. From raw material to the final consumer, firms should also have an adequate managerial and organisational depth to capitalise the benefits that SCM brings to a business. Service providers should have a profound experience in organising the supply chain using a sound methodology in applying organisational change.
Service providers should also have to adapt into their solutions SCM software systems in order to facilitate the installation of the system into the organisational structure of a firm. 2 2. 1 APPLICATION Where the technique has being applied Do it right first time makes you think about the Toyota principles, Kaizen and other strategies that have been deployed to improve manufacturing processes and enable production lot sizes of one unit. Japanese companies have been forerunners to implement quality check procedures directly into the manufacturing and assembly process.
The objective was to finish each single process step without defects thereby ensuring that following processes are not disturbed. What have they done to achieve this? Toyota pioneered the Total Quality Methods and provided every single employee with the INNOREGIO project S. Zygiaris, Msc, BPR Engineer BPR Hellas SA SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 13 responsibility for his process. If an error occurred he had the power to stop the production or assembly line, even if many fellow workers would be impacted. This responsibility sharpened the operators sense for quality.
Quality was measured at every single process step and depicted in process charts. Quality deviations could be spotted easily. Mistakes were allowed, but only once. Any occurrence was investigated to the root and actions have been taken to rectify the mistake such that it does not happen again. Teams have been put in place to continuously develop ideas for improvement. Performance feedback was given instantly to show the workers what they have achieved. Why the intense, widespread interest in this emerging management technique?
The answer is simple: Companies increasingly recognise the tremendous payoff potential in successful supply-chain management. They read about Wal-Mart’s leveraging of the chain to achieve a dominant position in the retail marketplace. They hear of companies like Dell Computer reconfiguring the supply chain to respond almost immediately to customised orders. They’re intrigued by the bold measures taken by M Mars to virtually eliminate standing inventory from the pipeline. The supply-chain payoff can come in many forms. It might be a reduction in transaction costs through eliminating unnecessary steps in moving product to market.
It could be enhanced customer service that comes from closer co-ordination among sources and vendors upstream–and carriers, distributors, and customers downstream. Or maybe it’s the improved market share that flows from better customer service or lower costs. In any case, successful supply-chain management brings compelling bottom-line benefits. All you have to do is look at supply-chain leaders like Xerox, IBM, Chrysler, Nabisco, Procter & Gamble, and Becton-Dickinson, says David M. Bovet, a vice president of Mercer Management Consulting. There is definitely a strong correlation between companies that are paying attention to the integrated supply chain and business success,” Bovet observes. The research and consulting firm of Pittiglio Rabin Todd & McGrath (PRTM) has attempted to quantify this correlation. Through its comprehensive Integrated Supply Chain Benchmarking Study, PRTM found that best-practice SCM companies enjoyed a 45-percent total supply-chain cost advantage over their median competitors. Specifically, their supply-chain costs as a percentage of revenues were anywhere from 3 to 7 percent less than the median, depending on the industry.
Applied to manufacturing environments those methods have proven to deliver results. What can we learn from that and transfer to warehouse processes: 1. Total Quality Management 2. People are the key to success 3. Tight process control and review 4. Simplify, Omit and Integrate These are some typical examples of SCM application to Greek enterprises: ! ” ASTRA HELLAS S. A – using the SEN Enterprise resource planning software ! ” PAPOUTSANIS S. A. – using the “BAAN & SFI” Enterprise resource planning software ! ” ELVO – using the “BAAN” Enterprise resource planning software ! ATTIKO METRO – using the “BAAN”Enterprise resource planning software ! ” ISOBAU HELLAS S. A. (aluminium panel production) – using the SEN Enterprise resource planning software INNOREGIO project S. Zygiaris, Msc, BPR Engineer BPR Hellas SA SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 14 2. 1. 1 How can Supply Chain Management (SCM) be applied to an organisation? Domino Effect The most important thing is to first understand the customer’s true needs. Companies that want to improve their competitive position by reducing their order-todelivery cycle are looking to supply-chain management to help them achieve that goal.
Because SCM encompasses all processes involved in producing and delivering a product to the customer, it offers the opportunity to identify bottlenecks that can slow down activities along the entire supply chain. Youngberg gives the example of an automaker that wants to build individual cars to order for delivery within one week. A supply-chain analysis might discover that the seat supplier doesn’t have the capability to produce and deliver seats in a variable colour sequence–jeopardising the car manufacturer’s ability to offer its customers the kind of service it envisions.
Inevitably, such problems will affect delivery to the final customer, much as a domino falling at the front of a line eventually causes the one at the end to topple, too. To obtain the greatest possible improvement in the total product cycle, it may be helpful to think of the supply-chain dominoes falling backward. In other words, under a supplychain management philosophy, customer demand is what drives the activities required to fulfil that customer’s demand, all the way back to raw-materials suppliers at the beginning of the production process.
That is why it is important to first understand the customer’s true needs, then work back from that, Morehouse says: Once the correct information is in hand, companies can design their supply-chain processes to provide what the customer really needs. Without that information, says Youngberg, companies risk falling into the “wasted excellence” trap, providing a higher service level or faster cycle time than is necessary. “It doesn’t provide you with a competitive advantage, but it saddles you with costs that may not [yield] you anything,” he explains.
Here is an example of a company that uses chemicals stored in tanks to manufacture its products. The chemical supplier discovered–to its surprise–that the most important thing to the manufacturer was not how quickly it delivered the raw material, but rather how well the vendor monitored the supply of the chemical to ensure that it never ran out. For the customer, reliability outweighed all other considerations. How can it be accomplished? Ideally, product is received and put away to a location from where you will pick it. While picking the product it should be placed directly in the shipping carton.
A weigh scale checks each picked orderline. As errors are found they are corrected immediately. The last step in the process would be to insert the invoice, seal the carton and apply a shipping label. During this process product has been handled only for put away (only cross-docking can eliminate that) and for picking. No other product handling. Handling steps are reduced to the most basic needs. Such processes are possible and they don’t require a lot of automation. They need a WMS, RF terminals for put away and picking and well maintained product information.
The process delivers an error free shipment, completed in one handling step, provides a direct quality feedback to the operator and allows you to manage each worker based on his or her individual performance = quality + output. 2. 2 Types of firms /organisations Supply Chain Management can be applied Supply Chain Management could by implemented to all firms (manufacturing firms, retailers, services, etc. ) and public organisations that satisfy the following criteria: INNOREGIO project S. Zygiaris, Msc, BPR Engineer BPR Hellas SA SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 15 • •
Minimum Number of employees: 20 (at least 4 in management positions). Strong management commitment to new ways of working and innovation. 2. 3 Duration and implementation cost of Supply Chain Management Looked at from a cost standpoint, SCM’s true potential becomes evident. One recent study found that total supply-chain costs represent the majority share of operating expenses for most companies. In some industries, in fact, these costs can approach 75 percent of the operating budget. Given the dollars on the table, it’s not surprising that top management has become keenly interested in supply-chain management.
A Mercer Management Consulting study conducted among senior corporate executives confirms the high-level interest. Close to one-half of the executives surveyed reported that the programs to improve the supply chain were among the top 10 percent of all companywide initiatives. The implementation of a SCM consulting project costs 15. 000 Euro approximately and its duration is 8 months. The implementation of CSM software, which is based in the outcomes of the consulting work varies from 70. 000 Euro (SMEs) to 1 million Euro (corporations) depending on the business size and complexity. 2. 4
Conditions for implementation (infrastructures required etc. ) Achieving gains of the magnitude explained above, requires much more than efficient operations. It requires changing the process. It demands both executivemanagement-level commitment and superb execution at the operational level. On the other hand, today’s Supply Chain Management professionals must become conversant with information technology. IT is not a functional adjunct to supply-chain management. Rather, it is the enabler, the facilitator, the linkage that connects the various components and partners of the supply chain into an integrated whole.
Electronic data interchange, on-board computers, satellite and cellular communications systems, warehouse-management software, enterprise-wide systems solutions, and now the Internet…these are among the information enablers of successful supply-chain management. In developing its seven principles, Andersen Consulting stressed the importance of information technology, grouping IT requirements into three distinct categories. • First, there are the short-term systems that can handle routine day-to-day transactions like order processing and shipment scheduling. Then, from a longer-term perspective, the technology must facilitate planning and decision making. These systems support such activities as demand planning and master production scheduling to optimally allocate resources. • Finally, longer-range information systems must enable strategic analysis by providing modelling and other tools that synthesise data for use in high-level “whatif” scenario planning. These forward-looking systems help managers evaluate distribution centers, suppliers, and third-party service options. Regardless of their current knowledge level, Supply Chain
Management managers widely recognise the need to become even more conversant with information technology if they are to assume a future leadership position. An important finding from the 1996 Ohio State University Survey of Career Patterns in Supply Chain Management underscores the point. The researchers asked the Supply Chain Management professionals surveyed what they INNOREGIO project S. Zygiaris, Msc, BPR Engineer BPR Hellas SA SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 16 would study if they could return to college for 90 days. Topping the list of more than a dozen subjects mentioned was information technology.
Miebach Supply Chain Management experienced through numerous warehouse optimisation projects: ideally, warehouse processes should be defined on those principles. • Total Quality Management requires a review of all processes, provided equipment and the management of the operation. • Human performance in picking is and will be unmatched for most products in most warehouse operations. (however, there are exceptions) • Design the picking process with care and use automation where it supports people or helps to eliminate simple but unergonomic tasks. Create processes that immediately alert operators about mistakes and don’t carry such mistakes through to a final quality check. Have errors corrected immediately. This provides feedback regarding performance not only on speed, but also on quality. • Eliminate unnecessary handling steps. Handling product is the costly part in the warehouse. Do not try to use one warehouse process for all order types whatever size and service requirements they might have. Segmentation and integration of processes are keywords. 2. 5
European Organisations Supporting the Implementation of the method CLASP (Central Logistics Association for Supply-Chain Partnerships) http://www. clasp. org. uk/ CLASP is the Regional Supply Network Group supporting best practice in supply chain management. The principles of the Supply Chain Management. concern “the whole manufacturing and service provision, from strategic planning to operations on the shop floor. Supply Chain Management involves ways of thinking about technology and people in organisations”. (ISCAN 1995) Society of Logistics Engineers SOLE http://www. ole. org/ The International Society of Logistics is a non-profit international professional society composed of individuals organised to enhance the art and science of logistics technology, education and management. Commercial Products — The purpose of the Commercial Division is to focus attention on the application of logistics disciplines in the commercial sector. We will set forth a clear vision of the SOLE logistics philosophy and to create a symbiosis between commercial and government logistics communities with SOLE acting as the bonding link.
As we enter the new century, everyone is talking about finding new ways to do business. One reason they seek out these new ways is to increase profits. Yet another is to just stay in business. But from the logistics standpoint, we need to be on top of the changes in order to ensure that the end product is supportable throughout its life cycle and even beyond. • Director: Ioannis C. Georgiadis -Optimum Ltd. • Phone: 30-1-8670234 (Greece) • Fax: 30-1-8677747 (Greece) • Email: igeorgiadis@optimum. gr INNOREGIO project S. Zygiaris, Msc, BPR Engineer BPR Hellas SA
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 17 3 3. 1 IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURE Steps-actions/Phases Subsequent actions to implement the supply-chain agenda, which Kearney says should be carried out by individual project teams, typically fall into these broad categories: • Designing the long-term supply-chain structure to position the company in the right roles in the right supply chains with the right customers and suppliers. • Re-engineering supply-chain processes to streamline product, information, and funds flow internally and externally. Reinforcing the supply chain’s functional foundation by improving quality and productivity within operational areas such as warehousing, transportation, and fleet management. A Flexible Approach specialises in the design, development and implementation of solutions to Supply Chain Management problems. Consultancy approach is tailored to suit the particular requirements of a client’s project. This ensures the provision of the most appropriate form of assistance, from a full traditional consultancy assignment, to a placement working within a client’s team. ” Strategic Analysis ! ” Specification ! ” Implementation Strategic Analysis It’s the study of the current and future needs of business and development of such solutions to meet these requirements. This normally involves the use of computer models to gain a full understanding of the key issues and to examine the practical alternatives. A recommendation follows with the most appropriate and cost effective solution. This approach: ! ” gives confidence in the recommended solution. !” identifies a clear way forward. ” determines the associated cost and timescales. !” enables the next stage of the project to be planned. Specification In this stage, any recommendations have to include operational detail, enabling systems, equipment or buildings to be procured to meet the exact requirements of the solution. This provides: ! ” correct logical emphasis on each aspect of the solution. !” a clear specification of proposals, minimising the risk of unforeseen cost. !” finalised project cost budgets. !” competitive equipment procurement. !” agreed implementation timescales.
Implementation Refers to responsibility for the tendering of equipment and supplier selection, contract negotiation and placement. Contract Management through to completion to ensure that the project is progressed in accordance with the requirements of time, cost and quality. Work with the client on preparing any organisational changes and training to ensure a smooth start to the new operation. INNOREGIO project S. Zygiaris, Msc, BPR Engineer BPR Hellas SA SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 18 There has been found that many companies have not thought comprehensively about the design of their supply chains.
Often, their attempts to achieve excellence have been focused on perhaps one or two supply chain building blocks–and not, as they should be, on all of the dimensions required for world-class performance. The framework below outlines the five key dimensions of supply chain management through the implementation procedure that are required to achieve superior performance. These areas must be addressed iteratively and, generally, in a hierarchical fashion: 1. Strategy–specifically, the alignment of supply chain strategies with the overall business direction.
Key decision points for managers here include: • What is required to align the supply chain with the business strategy? • What level of customer service must we provide to each customer segment to compete effectively? • Which channels of distribution best meet our goals and our customers’ needs? 2. Infrastructure, which affects cost-service performance and establishes the boundaries within which the supply chain must operate. Pertinent questions include: • How must the physical network of plants and distribution be structured? • Can we rationalise our current network? Can we use contract manufacturing or third-party logistics capabilities? • What transportation services can best link together the network of facilities? • Which activities should we outsource? 3. Process–the drive to achieve functional excellence and integration across all major processes. Managers must ask themselves the following: • What are the core supply chain processes driving the business? • How can we adapt best-in-class approaches to our core processes (e. g. , manufacturing, integrated demand planning, procurement, cycle-time compression, dynamic deployment)? How can we build linkages with our suppliers and customers? 4. Organisation–providing the critical success factors of cohesion, harmony, and integration across organisation entities. Questions to consider include: • What level of cross-functional integration is required to manage core processes effectively? • How can we leverage cross-company skills and abilities? • What performance-measurement and reporting structure can help us achieve our objectives? 5. Technology, which empowers the supply chain to operate on a new level of performance and is creating clear competitive advantages for those companies able to harness it.
Companies should address the following points: • Do our IT platform and core applications software support world-class SCM? • Where will advanced decision-support capabilities have the greatest impact on business performance? • What data are required to manage the core business processes outlined above? • How can we capitalise on advanced communications (e. g. , intranets and the Internet) in managing the supply chain? • How can we leverage enhanced visibility of customer demand and other key operating parameters? INNOREGIO project S. Zygiaris, Msc, BPR Engineer BPR Hellas SA SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 9 From a different point of view the consulting firm of A. T. Kearney has developed an instructive framework for establishing a strategic supply-chain agenda and then implementing it To spearhead the effort, Kearney recommends creation of a supply-chain assessment team that works under the aegis of a companywide steering committee. The agenda-setting process proceeds along 4 key steps. • The team’s first task is to assess the supply-chain competitiveness of the organisation. The evaluation begins with a comparison of business objectives against existing capabilities and performance.
This exercise typically reveals where the existing supply chain can achieve immediate competitive advantage (Kearney calls these the “early wins”) and where inefficiencies may be leaving the company vulnerable to the competition. • Step two in the agenda-setting process is to create a vision of the desired supply chain. Through a series of “visioneering” sessions that might also include key customers and suppliers, the team considers how such trends as globalisation, channel shifts, and new technology will affect the desired supply-chain configuration.
That exercise addresses such questions as, What supply-chain factors and performance levels drive customer buying decisions? What would make one supply chain a winner over others? • Step three in the A. T. Kearney approach defines those actions required to close the gap between tomorrow’s supply-chain vision and today’s reality. The team identifies possible re-engineering, restructuring, or other actions that could help narrow any gaps.
At this stage, the team also works closely with management to assess the organisation’s readiness to pursue needed changes. • Finally, step four prioritises the action items identified in the preceding step and then commits the appropriate resources. The end result of this task is a unified commitment to a supply-chain strategy and a clear agenda to achieve that strategy. 3. 1. 1 Implementing a competitive approach to Warehousing and Distribution An organised approach to warehousing and distribution is crucial to the continued growth of any business.
With emerging technologies and the pressure to deliver a high level of customer service and turnaround of stock, tradition methods of warehousing and distribution are being replaced by those that are more sophisticated, aimed at reducing costs and maintaining that all important competitive factor. Implementing a carefully structured, cost-effective approach to warehousing and distribution issues now, will inevitably see an organisation through to its long term business objectives and provide tangible financial pay backs. Developing the best strategy required is a complex issue.
A wide range of parameters needs to be considered; business growth, purchasing, stock levels, customer requirements. The impact of changes over the next 5 to 10 years must be understood in order to assess the available options and develop appropriate solutions. Is it possible to take advantage of high technology to guarantee the future cost base, without sacrificing flexibility? Making the right decisions, with so many issues to take into account, is not an easy undertaking. 3. 2 Partial techniques and tools included in each step The tools and techniques are explained in each step in the ANNEX 3. 3
Related software (existing or being prepared) The tools and techniques are explained in each step in the ANNEX INNOREGIO project S. Zygiaris, Msc, BPR Engineer BPR Hellas SA SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 20 4 BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Logistics and Supply Chain Management : Strategies for Reducing Cost and Improving Service (Financial Times Management) — Christopher Martin; Introduction to Supply Chain Management — Robert B. Handfield, Ernest L. Jr. Nichols Advanced Supply Chain Management : How to Build a Sustained Competition — Charles C. Poirier Supply Chain Management : The Basics and Beyond (The St.
Lucie Press/Apics Series on Resource Management) ~ William C. Copacino / Published 1997 Basics of Supply Chain Management James E. Hill,/ Published 1999 Introduction to Supply Chain Management ~ Robert B. Handfield, Ernest L. Jr. Nichols / Published 1998 Quick Response in the Supply Chain Eleni Hadjiconstantinou(Editor), Eleni Hadjiconstaninou (Editor/Published 1999) Partnership Sourcing : An Integrated Supply Chain Management Approach (Financial Times) Douglas K. MacBeth, Neil Ferguson / Published 1994 Global Cases in Logistics & Supply Chain Management David H. Taylor (Editor / Published 1997
Designing and Managing the Supply Chain: Concepts, Strategies and Case Studies David Simchi-Levi, / Published 1999 Strategic Alliances : Managing the Supply Chain Tim Underhill / Published 1996 Quick Response : Managing the Supply Chain to Meet Consumer Demand Bobn Lowson, / Published 1999 Logistical Management: The Integrated Supply Chain Process Donald J. Bowersox, David J. Closs / Published 1996 Keeping Score: Measuring the Business Value of Logistics in the Supply Chain James S. Keebler, The Executive’s Guide to Supply Management Strategies : Building Supply Chain Thinking into All Business Processes David A.
Riggs, Sharon L. Robbins (Contributor) / Published 1998 16 Erp : Tools, Techniques, and Applications for Integrating the Supply Chain (St. Lucie Press/Apics Series on Resource Management) Carol A. Ptak, Eli Schragenheim (Editor / Published 1999 INNOREGIO project S. Zygiaris, Msc, BPR Engineer BPR Hellas SA SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 21 Annex Software Types Though some companies are content with data-capture and communication systems, other companies rely heavily on the third category of supply chain technology–business software.
Computer software makes it possible to manage thousands of transactions and make intelligent decisions required to match distribution flow to demand. Software developers have devised a host of solutions to handle specific supply chain tasks. For instance, there are warehouse management systems (WMS), which oversee the use of labour and equipment in a distribution centre. This type of software first emerged at the United States in the mid-1970s, as an alternative to the construction of mechanised and automated warehouses. Today, it’s become the cornerstone of many supply chain initiatives.
Another type of software commonly used in SCM is transportation management software (TMS). This application co-ordinates inboun