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.
Supply Chain Visibility; Planning for IKA Customers
Dave Jordan Thu, Feb 02, 2012
I came across an interesting problem on FMCG planning this week. The company in question was a blue- chip multi-national with well developed supply chain and business processes, e.g. a suite of relevant and stretching KPIs in place plus a living…
FMCG Planning: a short history of technology advancement
Dave Jordan Wed, Jan 25, 2012
All major companies run some sort of ERP to support their business whether they are FMCG, pharma, brewing or indeed anyone who “makes stuff”. Many blue-chips have invested in big name software packages while others have gone for a cheap and cheerful…
Trying to run an FMCG company without a Supply Chain department?
Dave Jordan Mon, Jan 16, 2012
Ok, now back on line after the holidays and some demanding project work. One of the first catch-up meetings I have had this year was with an FMCG MD. No name of course, but this is a medium sized player with a broad European base and I have…
3 Steps to Address Q4 FMCG, Drinks Supply Chain Challenges
Dave Jordan Mon, Sep 26, 2011
How on earth did it get around to the end of September so quickly? One minute I was sniffling at our daughter’s school leaving speech and the next I see Christmas goods in shops. Who is in the mood to buy Christmas goods in September? Who plans for…
Sales & Operational Planning (S&OP) Village People Style
Dave Jordan Tue, Sep 13, 2011
You can, there's no need to feel down I said you can, pick your sales off the ground I said you can, stop running around There's no time to be unhappy You can, there's a process you know I said you can, when your sales don’t grow You know, you are…
Successful S&OP - Can Jack Bauer save the plan?
Dave Jordan Mon, Jul 25, 2011
Previously on S&OP. The Demand Review has taken place. The Supply Review followed on time and a mutual understanding reached. Despite considerable challenges in securing a date in the diary for all the key players the Pre-S&OP happened without…
Learn the 10 Steps to Make S&OP Work in Mobile Telecoms
Michael Thompson Fri, Jul 22, 2011
In my blog post Reasons for establishing S&OP in Mobile Telecoms, I recounted a success story of S&OP in a mobile telecoms company. I then went on to discuss the principles of S&OP design in the post Learn the 8 Basic Principles of S&OP in Mobile…
Learn the 8 Basic Principles of S&OP in Mobile Telecoms
Michael Thompson Fri, Jul 15, 2011
In an earlier blog Reasons for establishing S&OP in Mobile Telecoms, I recounted a success story of S&OP in a mobile telecoms company. Reasons for establishing S&OP in Mobile Telecoms. I continued my dialogue with the Senior Telecoms Executive –…
Shock, horror, probe - Use the same RTM Distributor as a Competitor?
Dave Jordan Mon, Jul 11, 2011
Impossible, over my dead body, not in a million years - the usual knee-jerk objections to any suggestion of getting too close to a competitive operation. Such comments are usually spouted by Marketing colleagues who are frankly living on agency…
Reasons for establishing S&OP in Mobile Telecoms
Michael Thompson Fri, Jun 17, 2011
I have two recent stories to tell. Story 1 Recently I was chatting to a Senior Executive in a mobile telecommunications company. We first met about a decade ago when he was the Supply Chain Director for an FMCG multinational in Kenya. The…
S&OP Compliance – 3 Steps to Success
Michael Thompson Mon, Jun 13, 2011
I have had several further discussions with our Supply Chain Executive from a recent blog on the subject of supply chain and S&OP compliance and its relationship to supply chain assessment. Let me reiterate the key issue. Many organisations…
FMCG, Brewing, Pharma Champions League Supply Chains
Dave Jordan Tue, Jun 07, 2011
Barcelona won the Champions League finally quite easily and to actually hear Sir Alex say something like “they gave us a good hiding” was refreshing. Messi was far from untidy and several Barcelona players looked head and shoulders above their…
Sales & Operational Planning (S&OP) in FMCG, Brewing, Pharma
Dave Jordan Tue, May 31, 2011
Did anyone hear the loud clanging noise on Tuesday around 14.30? The sound was similar to a very large church bell being struck by a huge iron bar and that bar was in the hands of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Arnie was also in a very bad mood! The noise…
Supply Chain and S&OP Compliance & Assessment
Michael Thompson Wed, May 18, 2011
My earlier blogs about supply chain and S&OP compliance have prompted a number of further discussions. One particular issue that has emerged is an area of potential confusion. It came to light during a recent discussion with a Supply Chain Executive…
Supply chain and S&OP Compliance – 5 Steps to Making it Happen
Michael Thompson Tue, May 03, 2011
I have had several discussions in response to my last blog on the subject of supply chain and S&OP compliance. A common theme was the practicalities of measuring compliance. So here are 5 steps to make it happen. Supply Chain & S&OP Operating Model.…
