#50 – BUILDING RESILIENCE INTO YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN – STUART ROSENBERG

Stuart Rosenber pixThe supply chains of most companies, large and small, exploit a world of opportunities.  But increasing global exposure comes with an increasing range of risks.  These companies’ complex networks of suppliers and customers are as diverse as the goods and resources they manage.  Within the same supply chain, giant multinational companies can sit side-by side with small to medium enterprises (SMEs). Yet among companies large and small there is growing awareness that extreme weather and a changing climate pose new risks and opportunities to old ways of doing business. Continue reading

#44 – OIL PRICES SHAKE THE SUPPLY CHAIN – STUART ROSENBERG

Stuart Rosenber pixFrom the 1990’s through today many firms attempted to lessen production costs while building a sinewy supply chain. This was accomplished through manufacturing downsizing, offshoring, outsourcing, redesigning of plants and consolidation of duplicate facilities. Continue reading

#38 – SUPPLY CHAIN COUNTERFEITING – STUART ROSENBERG

Stuart Rosenber pixOver the last few decades there have been drastic upheavals in the manufacturing industry as a whole.  But now the alarming increase of counterfeiting has surfaced to threaten the global supply chain.  Is the criminal underground solely to blame?  Or has the manufacturing industry unknowingly but directly contributed to this growing gray business?

This growth of counterfeiting can be attributed to the following forces: Continue reading

#33 – HOW TO MANAGE TRANSPORTATION RISKS – STUART ROSENBERG

Stuart Rosenber pixMany companies whether they be manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers or service providers are continually failing to grasp an important aspect of their supply chain – transportation and the liabilities / risks involved.  It no longer matters if you are shipping domestically or internationally one should not ignore the risk of not managing the transportation aspect of your organization.   To paraphrase an old football adage; “the defensive opponent may know what’s coming, but with correct offensive execution they can’t stop the play”.

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#30 – JIT VS. JIC INVENTORY DILEMMA – STUART ROSENBERG

Stuart Rosenber pixAs manufacturers are reaping the benefits of Lean and Lean Six Sigma or other continuous improvement processes within their facilities the importance of eliminating waste still hold sway.  So the question now facing these manufacturers is this:

Has the time come where Just-in-Time inventory levels need to be changed to Just-in-Case levels?  With the present and at least near future volatility of the economy this may prove to be the case.  The answer lies within each company’s own supply chain and decided upon based on each company’s individual requirements. Continue reading