Thursday, July 21, 2016

Five Top Tips On Supply Chain Optimization

By Deborah Bell


Optimization of supply chains means being responsive and efficient at the lowest cost. This approach enables a business to increase profit margins or reduce expenditure. Supply chain optimization must focus on comprehensive changes since one production function will affect the operations of the others. However, an increase in the cost of one function can be overlooked if there is a general reduction.

Top among the best proposals is to think globally yet act locally. This is a strategy to tap into profitable and efficient tactics elsewhere yet retain the advantage of local incentives, materials, infrastructure, etc. This integration allows you to take advantage of both worlds so that goods and services can be accepted locally yet bear the hallmark of international standards. Localized materials, incentives and infrastructure are always cheaper thus advantageous to use.

Consider the possibility of outsourcing repetitive non-core functions to concentrate on your areas of strength. Some of the tasks that can be performed by professionals include IT, distribution, freighting, accounting, etc. They are considered unnecessary bother that only take up time and resources. By concentrating on your core business, you can develop the products and necessary manpower to create a competitive product.

Collaboration between players within the channel enables optimized operations. Players like retailers, distributors, suppliers, manufacturers, etc must be ready to work together. This involves sharing information and data to enable better inventory management and forecasting. The availability of data simplifies production and makes it easier to predict the market. This will reduce waste and increase certainty when projecting profits. This is the best strategy for long term planning.

The use of mobile based technology is having a revolutionary impact on efficiency of supply chains. This technology is especially helpful in marketing, field management and monitoring. It also enables brands to serve customers directly and customize the products on offer. This direct link to customers builds loyalty and sustains the relationship longer than using conventional methods. The manufacturer gets unfiltered information about a product or service directly from a customer.

It helps to have an open channel that is more responsive. To build such a system, social media will play a significant role. It enables instant and quick communication such that gathering feedback is quick as well as unfiltered. Besides being cost effective, it necessitates wide coverage and easily boosts sales volumes. Clients also gain confidence in your services because you offer direct feedback.

Change in strategy will bear more fruits where one plan fails. The idea is to find new channels of reaching to customers, delivering your goods, producing cheaply, etc. Your target when shifting gears should be long term efficiency. It is likely that the initial cost will be high but it will be covered by long term gains. This is especially a call to innovate and be creative around all your operations as well as customer interactions.

Each product or service is unique. This makes supply chains different. Such differences must be captured and appreciated in the strategies you adapt. Identify the unique features of your channel as shaped by the products you are offering. All opportunities that lie within this channel must be maximized. The idea is to find customized ways to achieve efficiency and reduce cost.




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