Session 8
Asset Management and Supply Chain Visibility

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Session Objective: Product identification and visibility in the supply chain

In this session we will consider 1) issues in management of innovation and 2) the movement of atoms - distribution and supply chain visibility

Segment 1
IT Governance and Offshoring

We will discuss some issues and trends in outsourcing and offshoring

READ (challenges for the near term) -
Ready or Not, Here it Comes High-Tech 2005

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Segment 2


Supply Chain Visibility

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SUPPLY CHAIN COMPLEXITY


Segment Objective: Visibility for application and human assessment and decision making

Across industries, companies that buy, make, store, distribute, or move products are seeing their supply chains become increasingly complex, dynamic, and difficult to manage. The number of distribution channels and customers is expanding, partners are geographically dispersed and must be managed by tier level, and dependence on contract manufacturing and third-party logistics is increasing. In this environment, even small disruptions in the flow of products across the supply chain and out to customers can generate a wave of anxious phone calls, faxes, and emails merely to determine the status of an order, a shipment, or inventory availability.

To achieve transparency, a system must provide the architecture that allows an enterprise to deliver visibility to key information to internal and external parties. This key information covers orders, shipments, inventory, and plans within your supply chain. In order to provide a complete view across that critical supply chain information, the system should also be able to blend information from multiple transaction and planning systems. And the system must provide visibility instantaneously as new information about an order, shipment, inventory item, or plan becomes available. Further, the system should allow for self-service access by your trading partners so that they can find the information they need when they need it. - Manugistics

Supply Chain Visibility

One key to commerce is thriving in the complexity of the supply chain.




Basic - READ Manugistics view - Transforming Supply Chain Complexity into Competitive Advantage

VISIT - Supply chain enabler - SPS Commerce

Optional Basic Overview - READ - Best Practices for Extending the Breadth and Depth of Supply Chain Integration

Optional Overview - READ - The Five Immutable Laws of Universal Supply Chain Connectivity

Optional READ - SPS Commerce View on Integration - Integrating Across Multiple Channels


General Readings on Supply Chain Visibility




Optional READ - Economic challenges raises importance - Supply-chain visibility boosts bottom line


Accenture on Supply Chain Visibility

Optional READ - Accenture Overview - Creating and Sustaining the High-Performance Business: Research and Insights on the Role of Supply Chain Mastery

Optional READ - Event Management - Supply Chain Event Management: Value Through Automation




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Segment 3


Carriers in the New Supply Chain: History and Future


PREPARE: United Parcel Service's IPO (see study.net)

PREPARE: United Parcel Services: Business Transformation through Information Technology


SKIM the following whitepaper: Potential Energy and the Retail Supply Chain

SKIM the following whitepaper: Digital Lessons for the Consumer Goods Supply Chain

REVIEW the timeline: highlights of UPS's innovation over the course of almost a century

Synchronized Commerce

In the early 17th century, the Greeks coined the word, "synchronize." At its root, it means "to operate in unison," and for the past 96 years, the UPS brand has become synonymous with this same precise, efficient execution for moving goods around the world. UPS's commitment to provide reliable package delivery does not waver.

But today, customers come in all sizes and with vastly varying needs. UPS recognizes that efficiency is equally as valuable to the at-home-entrepreneur as it is to the multi-national corporation.

To meet these growing demands, UPS now offers a broad portfolio of innovative services its customers can access from a single source to achieve many goals. These solutions can be as complicated as creating global cross-border visibility and clearance of international goods movements, or as simple as providing a signed proof of delivery - and thus, necessary proof for a receivables payment.

In the early 17th century, the Greeks coined the word, "synchronize." At its root, it means "to operate in unison," and for the past 96 years, the UPS brand has become synonymous with this same precise, efficient execution for moving goods around the world. UPS's commitment to provide reliable package delivery does not waver. But today, customers come in all sizes and with vastly varying needs. UPS recognizes that efficiency is equally as valuable to the at-home-entrepreneur as it is to the multi-national corporation. To meet these growing demands, UPS now offers a broad portfolio of innovative services its customers can access from a single source to achieve many goals. These solutions can be as complicated as creating global cross-border visibility and clearance of international goods movements, or as simple as providing a signed proof of delivery - and thus, necessary proof for a receivables payment.

Goods, Information and Funds

At either end of the spectrum, UPS is helping to "Synchronize the World of Commerce" through the movement of the three primary elements: Goods, Information and Funds. Although assembling capabilities across these core areas is quite complicated, the basic concept of synchronized commerce is simple:

• The reliable movement of goods helps businesses avoid production delays, inadequate inventories and dissatisfied customers.

• The flow of information allows both buyers and sellers to know which goods are going where, and at what price.

• The efficient movement of funds which pay for those goods increases cash flow - and working capital - allowing companies to focus on growing their business.

  Optional READ speeches: speeches by UPS Executives on synchronization

  Optional READ Synchronizing the World of Commerce: profile of UPS capabilities

  Optional READ how UPS synchronizes commerce for its customers: case studies

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  Segment 4
  

  Read - Chapter 11 - IT Governance - (pages 292 - 326)
  in the Managing the Information Technology Resource book

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  Copyright Notice - This material was authored by Benn Konsynski to support the course. All rights are reserved. © Benn Konsynski, 2004

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  Please send questions, or comments to Benn