So, what is the best way to be the most competitive in the market? Should you shop your vendors and make them compete to get the last penny out of your cost? Or, should you stay loyal to your vendors to the end?
The NFL is currently studying in infinite detail each prospect for new employment. The rookie combine is taking place this week. Each prospective draft choice (i.e., new employee) is being weighed and measured. Their 40 yard dash times and their bench press reps are being counted. They are taking an intelligence test and even having the size of their hands measured. What would an Operations combine measure?
This is an easy question to answer, but many companies answer it incorrectly. Often, the forecast could be more effective. In some instances, the forecast even impedes a company’s efforts to manage their inventory better.
Seems like anything that begins with the letter i is super hot right now, but this has nothing to do with any Electronics company named for fruit. This article is more about a famous story written about giving control to the machines.
The key to success is for your entire Supply Chain to be able to compete in the market. Being a winner in the business game can, therefore, require that you “BE THE CHAMPION …”
One of the most critical factors in Operations Success is the ability to be fast. Throughout history, the ability to be faster than the competition has been a huge advantage. Today is no different; speeding up the time to get your product can be the difference between surviving or thriving in the market.
So, you are bringing in your product direct from China. You went online and found a good product to sell and the price is good, at least half of what you could buy it for in the US. Factory direct is the way to go, or is it?
If yours is one of the many companies that purchases the forecast each month, I would bet that you have too much inventory and customer service issues. This is a common practice that highlights the lack of focus and understanding of Operations that many companies have.