GDP and the Manufacturing Sector

Manufacturing Sector- The Growth Engine of the Economy

GDP dynamics - An important factor for developing supply chain strategies Manufacturing sector has been the growth engine of the global economy for the better part of the last two centuries. The transition from an agrarian to manufacturing economy is still an important indicator of growth, prosperity and rise in living standards for a country. For developing nations, improving and investing in the manufacturing sector continue to be a strategic focus area. Even for a country like India, which has a...

February 21, 2017By Compliance (Technical, Regulatory & Social), Component Pricing, Corporate, Cost, Government Regulations, Other, Overhead Costs, Product, Product Cost, Security of Supply, Sourcing, Stakeholder Expectations, Strategy, Uncatagorized1 CommentRead more...

Supply Chain Crash Test

Automobile manufacturers are constantly driving their cars into crash structures to see how they stand up. When was the last time that you crash tested your supply chain? What would have happened to your supply chain if Apple had experienced the Samsung battery problem? A year ago no one could have predicted that the number 2 smartphone company would be in disaster recovery mode due to safety issues with their phones. Obviously their sales will be impacted from a loss...

October 31, 2016By Compliance (Technical, Regulatory & Social), Corporate, Other, Product, Stakeholder Expectations, Stakeholder Expectations (2), Uncatagorized1 CommentRead more...
Professor Rosling

Professor Rosling is an interesting fellow

Professor Hans Rosling is an interesting fellow. In his documentary Don't Panic: How to End Poverty in 15 Years, which details the United Nations’ plan to end poverty in 15 years, he describes two paths to economic prosperity while improving the human condition. These paths have great importance to the supply chains of the future. The first path he describes is one that, historically, has been taken by the USA, Great Britain and many countries guided by the World Bank....

September 19, 2016By Compliance (Technical, Regulatory & Social), Corporate, Government Regulations, Other, Product, Stakeholder Expectations, Stakeholder Expectations (2)0 CommentsRead more...

Quickening of Change Stresses Manufacturing

While Nicolas Chauvin struggled alone following the Napoleonic wars, he would have had more company if he lived today. His single-minded devotion to his cause - a dying cause - would have fit well in today’s political and economic climate. Too many leaders and people of influence think the future will somehow resemble the past; they are stuck on simple rules of thumb that used to guide their decisions believing that they remain valid in the future. Nicholas would...

February 14, 2014By Compliance (Technical, Regulatory & Social), Corporate, Product, Stakeholder Expectations, Strategy0 CommentsRead more...
Supply Chain Accounting 101

Supply Chain Accounting 101

Most supply chain professionals would benefit from some training in accounting. I am surprised by the number of times I encounter people holding positions of responsibility who just don't understand the numbers well enough. I must admit that accountants don't make it particularly easy. Take cashflow calculations as an example. There are two ways of doing it: the accounting way and the way that makes sense, which is how everybody else does it. Everybody else looks at the cash in...

March 11, 2013By Compliance (Technical, Regulatory & Social), Corporate, Financial, Risk, Security of Supply, Stakeholder Expectations0 CommentsRead more...

Is Your Company Reinventing Itself?

I have just figured out what my company does! It may sound strange that a CEO of seven years has this epiphany, but it's true. Lytica Inc. makes knowledge power tools for supply management. Freebenchmarking.comwas our first tool and Component Cost Estimator is our second. Oh, and by the way, this is what we do and will be doing going forward -- not looking back at what we have done. Reinvention is critical for business success. Many successful companies have...

November 16, 2012By Compliance (Technical, Regulatory & Social), Corporate, Stakeholder Expectations, Stakeholder Expectations (2), Strategy0 CommentsRead more...

The Myth vs. Reality of Worker Productivity

I am disturbed by how many of my friends are unprepared for retirement. I shouldn't be surprised, however -- walk through Wal-Mart or stay at any North American hotel, and you see too many older people, who should be enjoying their golden years, working. I'm also disturbed by the high levels of unemployment; skilled people who should have jobs don't, and many jobless people don't appear in statistics because they have just given up. With older people trying to get...

June 22, 2011By Compliance (Technical, Regulatory & Social), Component Pricing, Corporate, Cost, Stakeholder Expectations, Stakeholder Expectations (2), Strategy0 CommentsRead more...