Route to Market & Supply Chain Blog
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We are passionate about Route to Market and supply chain management and we are delighted to share our thoughts with you. We would like to hear from you too, so please comment on our posts or contact us.
FMCG Stock Shrinkage happens in the best run operations, even yours!
Dave Jordan Wed, Aug 13, 2014
My colleague Stefan Cucu recently wrote on the subject of stock shrinkage in coolers located in HORECA outlets in Romania. One of the points he made warned Supply Chain professionals about the likelihood of stock shrinkage anywhere along the chain.…
Is this the most perfect FMCG or Pharma or Drinks Supply Chain ever?
Dave Jordan Tue, Apr 01, 2014
I will not reveal the name of the organisation for obvious reasons but their Supply Chain is one very impressive, slick machine. Across the Source, Plan, Make and Deliver Supply Chain disciplines we can see excellence and leading edge systems and…
FMCG Drinks and disastrous extended Supply Chain overstocking
Dave Jordan Wed, Jan 29, 2014
I don’t know why I looked this up now but I did. Do you remember the Icelandic volcano that erupted in 2010 and caused so much havoc to supply chains in and around Europe? Most people do as they were affected in some way either in professional or…
FMCG/Pharma European Supply Chain Quality challenges
Dave Jordan Thu, Sep 12, 2013
We took a weekend break in Prague recently. I have been there before but only saw the inside of a taxi, a hotel and a soap factory that also makes margarine so this was a real tourism opportunity with the family. These days I do actually relax on…
FMCG Customer Service & Complaints: Why do you plan for failure?
Dave Jordan Wed, Aug 28, 2013
Do you remember those long running TV advertising campaigns for probably/possibly the best lager/beer in the world? The specific advert from the UK that sticks in my mind is the one where Mr. Middle Manager is leaving the office for the evening when…
Another telecoms customer service calamity results in lost customer
Dave Jordan Tue, Jul 23, 2013
Another telecommunications related tale rounds off my current trilogy of customer service mishaps. I really do hope this is the last one I experience as I have been on a run of really bad luck lately. However, I suspect a long, hot and sunny UK…
Telecoms Customer Service reputation ruined in seconds
Dave Jordan Wed, Jul 17, 2013
I recently wrote about how an airline dented its reputation with an overly fussy interpretation of on board baggage storage rules. In my poor customer service trilogy I now turn my attention to a well known global telecoms company. I will keep the…
Airline Customer Service reputation ruined in seconds
Dave Jordan Wed, Jul 10, 2013
This has not been a great week for customer service and from some very well known companies. People say things happen in threes and this week I have had 3 unexpectedly poor customer service experiences. Disappointment and irritation is always…
FMCG/Pharma Customer Service: Ensuring Producer Value For Money
Dave Jordan Tue, May 21, 2013
You have completed your weekly shop at one of the well-known International Key Accounts (IKA). Pushing your trolley around the well stocked aisles you selected what you needed and piled up the goodies. A full trolley this week as there were several…
Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) KPI Scorecard Improvement
Dave Jordan Thu, Apr 18, 2013
I like S&OP. You have probably gathered as much from previous blogs but I genuinely do. I see the value in its implementation and more importantly, maintenance in numerous FMCG, brewing and pharmaceutical companies. Once you have taken the plunge…
FMCG CEO, GM & MD’s: How good is your S&OP? Take this test.
Dave Jordan Thu, Mar 14, 2013
While you are tackling your day to day routine of crises, meetings, strategy and more while fending off the results pressure from global HQ you often lose a grip on the reality of how your company is operating. Creeping inefficiency can become the…
FMCG Drinks : The Downton Abbey Supply Chain Drama
Dave Jordan Wed, Nov 21, 2012
The ancient Rolls Royce slowly chugged up the lane toward the big house. The thin wheels crunched at the white gravel as the car came to a halt opposite the imposing doors of the Abbey House. A full squad of staff in white and black livery was…
FMCG Supply Chain Challenges: International Rugby Union.......
Dave Jordan Thu, Mar 15, 2012
Sacred blue, mon petite pois, bonjour as Del Boy would say. Against all odds, a very young and experimental England rugby team defeated France in the 2012 6 Nations. Add in the fact that this match was in France and the home team had not lost there…
Call Centers & Service Desks in FMCG, Brewing & Pharma
Dave Jordan Mon, Mar 05, 2012
If you are a CEO or MD of an FMCG, Brewing, Pharmaceutical company with a perceived good reputation for service and you operate a Call Centre or Customer Service Desk then you should personally try calling it from time to time. I don’t know about…
FMCG Regional Supply Chains ; Swiss Legal Entities & Local Op-Cos
Dave Jordan Tue, Feb 14, 2012
In Europe at least, there is a fashion for creating a new supply chain legal entity and housing it in a friendly canton in Switzerland. The prime benefit is tax although operational and efficiency savings are often claimed to offset the nasty…