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 S&OP navigation with cheese and wine.......
Dave Jordan Mon, May 28, 2012
Thursday evening and heading out to an organic bread, cheese and wine evening. Oh yes, very sophisticated these days! After temperatures in the 30’s recently the torrential rain and the “end of the world” sky literally dampened spirits as we joined…
Sales & Operational Planning needs communication not technology
Dave Jordan Tue, May 22, 2012
In a recent post I took a look at how technology has changed over a relatively short time and how it is used in supply chains. For example, the cutting edge fax machine of the 1970’s is now joining the VHS and cassette tape players in the sad and…
Who is the stooge in your S&OP process?
Dave Jordan Fri, May 04, 2012
Laurel and Hardy, Morecambe and Wise, Abbott and Costello, Little and Large, Cameron and Clegg. These are examples of double acts where one party plays the straight/stooge and apparently serious man while the other plays the fool/jester. I admit I…
FMCG Supply Chain - how green and environmentally friendly is yours?
Dave Jordan Wed, Apr 25, 2012
I have always thought it a little strange. The “green “ movement is all about saving the Earth yet the same colour is used for “green” house gases (GHG) that are far from green and moving us towards unavoidable planetary oblivion, apparently. Now,…
Who is the Weakest Link in your Supply Chain
Dave Jordan Thu, Apr 12, 2012
Not since Margaret Thatcher has a woman been so feared. Steely cold eyes and a grin that makes the Mona Lisa look like she is having a good old guffaw. Jet black clothes contribute to her oozing superiority complex and an image of someone certainly…
FMCG, Brewing and Pharma : Famous Last Supply Chain Words
Dave Jordan Fri, Mar 23, 2012
The “Famous Last words” of people can be intriguing, rude and frequently very, very funny just as much as they can be complete nonsense. In the context of Supply Chain, “Famous Last Words” are usually uttered just before something disastrous or…
Balanced Scorecard: Keeping Track of Supply Chain Performance
Dave Jordan Wed, Mar 07, 2012
How do you keep track of Supply Chain performance within your FMCG, Brewing or Pharmaceutical business? You do, don’t you? If you are not measuring KPIs then perhaps you should stop here, read this KPI piece and then pop back and carry. You can…
Global Supply Chains: Reliance on ERP data quality & accuracy
Dave Jordan Tue, Feb 28, 2012
Everyone in multi-national companies will have experienced the “data request from head office”. Usually arriving at the most inconvenient time, with unclear instructions and no clear reason-why! These data collection campaigns are often managed by…
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…
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…
Top 10 Recession Busting Supply Chain Resolutions for 2013
Dave Jordan Mon, Jan 23, 2012
This seems like déjà-vue all over again! Only a handful of working days into the New Year and I am hearing the same old complaints about the economy and business in general being poor. Of course this is true and does not look like changing any time…
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…
