Route to Market & Supply Chain Blog

Recently, I introduced you to the Enchange Supply Chain House; the one stop shop for all of the elements you need to allow your supply chain to operate effectively. The all-encompassing Planning function was the focus of the most recent article and…

Last week I introduced you to the Enchange Supply Chain House; a one stop shop/house for the elements you need to allow your supply chain to operate effectively. The Enchange Supply Chain House is a simple and easy to understand reference model…

I recently started a blog series on indirect distribution. I began by examining the 10 biggest challenges Route to Market (RtM) leaders face in managing FMCG Distributors. Then in response to this in my last post I shared our step-by-step approach…

I mentioned in a recent article that my educational background is in chemistry but I stumbled into supply chain in the undulating sands of the Saudi Arabian desert. Later, I remember talking to former R&D colleagues about my new vocation and was met…

On 23 April we celebrate St George's Day and the birthday of William Shakespeare (also the date he died!). William wrote on many diverse subjects but here is one piece you will not find in a collection of his greatest works. I wonder what would the…

I know, I know. I know I am prone to rattle on about Sales & Operational Planning (S&OP) but seeing the benefits being delivered to previously struggling businesses is extremely motivating for a confirmed “techy” like myself. Not permitted…

Despite what you may wish to believe the answer is almost certainly, yes. You have invested heavily in brand new ERP software and a similar investment in some smart, young consultancy people to run the implementation. You will have spent some…

In my last post we discussed the biggest challenges that a Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) company could face when managing the ‘last mile’ of the Route to Market (RtM). Once we have examined the challenges and the pitfalls in managing distributors or…

The last few months have been remarkably busy on both the business and domestic fronts. COVID 19 and other challenges have ensured there was little time to rest over the Christmas season and 2021 has started off in the same vein. What does the rest…

I cannot reveal the name of this specific organisation for obvious reasons but their Supply Chain is one very impressive, slick machine. Across the Source, Plan, Make and Deliver SCOR Supply Chain disciplines we see excellence, leading edge systems…

Once upon a time I worked in a well-known detergent powder factory in the north of England which has now sadly closed. The factory manager at the time must remain nameless but he had a habit of dragging people from the R&D Laboratory to show off his…

After the viral trials and tribulations of 2020, is the market going to get any better any time soon? Many big-name companies predicted/reported indifferent Q4 results and all offer caution about the continuing "difficult market conditions”. Ok, so…

If you ask any sports person who has played a contact sport, how to avoid getting hurt, very often you will be told to try your best not to get hit. In order to avoid the hits, you need to understand more about them including when they are likely to…

I think we all agree that life will never be the same again after COVID-19 has dealt a stunning blow to humanity. While the horrendous death toll is a modern day calamity, the pandemic provides an unavoidable opportunity to do things differently…

Fingers, toes and eyes crossed but it looks like there is some light at the end of the COVID 19 tunnel and it is not a train, hopefully. Getting back to normal is a top of mind desire for everyone but that normal will not be how we operated in 2019.…