Route to Market & Supply Chain Blog

“Dashing through the snow In a one horse open sleigh…” How many of you actually started to sing then? Yes, the festive period is fast approaching and the biggest and best Supply Chain in the world is almost ready to activate. There is no way Santa…

Having met the protagonists, let’s see if S&OP is really necessary. First, let’s remind ourselves of the players: REGINALD is CEO of a multinational FMCG company.He does not believe that S&OP is necessary for his business and expressed his views in…

From Monty Python to S&OP and integrated supply chain planning in one blog. The next instalment .... Dear Mike I thought that you were joking when you said my email would make a great series of articles about integrated supply chain planning.…

This week we take a tongue-in-cheek look at the Supply Chain charts. I Want My ERP – Sting is at number 10 with his classic need for a decent ERP system to support your business. Avoid off the shelf solutions as they rarely work in the long run.…

Inspired by Monty Python’s film “Life of Brian” ... What have the Romans ever done for us? And one of our consultants ..... "What has S&OP ever done for us? ...said Reginald the (very frustrated) CEO at the annual operational review meeting. Silence…

No, honestly this is a blog about Supply Chain! Those seeking advice on leather and chains should return to Google now. Within an FMCG business are there any people lacking more in structure, discipline and planning as Sales and Marketing…

Yes, it is difficult. You have already "sold" the stock and paid out and received sales bonuses based on sales targets. The fact is that although the stock may have left your books it has not really been sold. The ownership of the goods has changed…

“We’ve been doing S&OP in our African Operating Companies for 5 or 6 years .... & it’s still not working properly....” This was one of several discussions we have had with clients over the last couple of weeks and something of a recurring theme.…

I have been thinking about Africa this year & its particular needs regarding supply chain. We have been working there since 1993 & it came back into consciousness during the World Cup. Many African countries are growing rapidly. However, I have been…

As we slowly (but surely?) emerge out of recession you can expect the number of M&A deals to rise. Many companies have tightened their belts and tried to ride out the economic storm but many have already gone to the wall and even more will follow.…

What a week it’s been. Plenty of S&OP tracks moving up the charts this week and some old favourites still hanging on – but only just. At number 10 it’s We Don’t Talk Anymore from Cliff Richard – A sign you need an S&OP process. When did you last…

Research and experience has shown that where companies view Sales & Operational Planning (S&OP) as a supply chain process and planning system it invariably fails to deliver the expected results and benefits. Conversely where S&OP is seen as the…

Before you ask, no there is nothing wrong with Pennsylvania. I found it to be a great place with the most helpful tourist office I have ever visited. Bear with me and I will get back to this later and also introduce Polly. “We have always done it…

"Yes, I know what you said you could sell but this is my target!" An all too familiar "demand discussion" between Producer Sales Rep and Distributor Manager. The Producer may operate a tight S&OP process but this commonly falls flat on its face with…

While third-party logistics outsourcing is accepted business practice (though not without risk), corporations are now looking to outsource to a single partner who will assess, design, build, run and measure integrated comprehensive supply chain…