Optimising strategies for SCM
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The document discusses strategies for optimizing supply chain management (SCM) costs. It argues that the most effective strategy combines process design, analytics, and technology. First, organizations should analyze their logistics processes in detail to identify cost leakages and opportunities for improvement. Second, analytics tools can help analyze network design, routes, and costs to simulate different scenarios. Third, technology should be selected based on its ability to simplify processes and expedite exception handling. The document contends that only an integrated approach combining process redesign, analytics, and technology can consistently reduce costs and risks for complex global supply chains.
Optimising strategies for SCM
- 1. 1 Optimising strategies for SCM By Zubin Poonawalla The increasing complexity of global supply chains means businesses need to understand where their costs are occurring & institute intelligent strategies for controlling them—but what constitutes a "smart" strategy? The wrong approach can leave your organization far short of its savings goals. An illustration of any global logistics operation, with its complex web of vendors, warehouses, distribution centers, service operations, transportation routes & hubs, reveals an intricate map where individual costs are difficult to separate & understand. Logistical expenses typically comprise up to 4-5% of total costs for a manufacturing firm, so the increasing complexity of the global supply chain applies increased pressure on margins. Enterprises usually implement transformation technology solutions or partner with a third party provider to manage costs. Yet, many find themselves falling short of their savings goals. Why? Growth is good, but... As supply chains become more global, new routes & locations augment the logistics network. Each new link in the supply chain brings its own local complexities regarding the availability of logistics assets, local laws & regulations, & infrastructure. Other factors also offer increased challenges. Finding appropriate service providers, for example, is a more complicated process than it used to be. Manufacturers also need to conduct periodic risk
- 2. 2 assessments to ensure that natural disasters, political developments & other factors beyond their control are not looming as an incipient threat to production & fulfillment. Reducing complexity is doable — with the right approach Most organizations try to tame complex supply chains by deploying expensive technology tools, hiring consultants for business process re- engineering, or, more recently, deploying exotic analytics frameworks. None of these solutions alone can produce the savings needed to outcompete in this new, more complex, & more competitive economy. The most effective strategy combines process, analytics & technology to simplify logistics networks, mitigate risk, & optimize the associated costs. This three-pronged holistic approach provides a proven framework for significant improvement. 1. Process design & development "Smarter" processes are the key to more cost-effective operations. Organizations that are serious about creating more streamlined & more effective networks need to examine their operations in detail before beginning any redesign of logistics processes. This involves deep analysis to: Develop a granular view of process activities (carrier identification, logistics spend analysis, etc.) Define key performance indicators such as asset utilization & median loading time & then link them to the business outcome of particular costs Identify the drivers of outstanding cost performance; for instance, building multiple "what if" scenarios for networks to estimate impact on costs
- 3. 3 Benchmark against industry standards for cost management in order to understand current performance gaps Implement best practices to improve costs & sustain process performance By analyzing current processes, your organization can identify process steps where cost leakages occur. Some steps may add little or no value; others may need enabling technology tools to maximize efficiency & increase cost effectiveness. Real-world examples of deep analysis include: After a pharmaceutical major conducted a thorough analysis of logistics processes for an acquired company & standardized processes, it was able to identify cost optimization opportunities of 25%. A chemicals leader achieved 5-7% cost savings through revisiting processes related to shipping frequency, reassignment of supplier-warehouse combinations & setup of 'milk-runs.' A life sciences major identified 13% potential baseline freight cost savings by analyzing logistics management processes & finding opportunities to increase consolidation of shipments. 2. Analytics If you are not leveraging analytics frameworks for analyzing cost performance you are missing a powerful driver for lowering overall costs. Network design analysis, route/mode selection, & logistics spend analysis are a few of the areas where analytics can be leveraged. To be most effective, use tools that can simulate different scenarios for various parameters such as lanes, routes, infrastructure constraints, customs clearance practices, logistics modes & asset utilization. With this data in hand, your logistics organization can better understand the impact of costs
- 4. 4 from various combinations & design your networks accordingly. A number of tools are currently available to analyze costs, including network optimization, carrier sourcing & freight lane analysis. Selection of a logistics analytics tool should be based on: (1) its ability to rapidly study various "what if" scenarios to facilitate process improvements that achieve business outcomes and (2) its ability to identify risks & assess their cost impact on logistics networks. For instance, one chemicals manufacturer created & analyzed multiple scenarios for distribution centers, an optimization effort that generated savings of 17%. Another manufacturer leveraged analysis to identify recoverable costs from suppliers, then set up detailed reports & dashboards to increase visibility into various logistics costs components. 3. Enabling technology Technology in the absence of deep understanding of processes may not be effective in optimizing logistics costs. Simply upgrading the software, without better processes, may actually make the problem worse as employees try to make old processes work with new tools rather than using the tools to support more effective standardized global processes. The selection of technology must be driven by the tool's potential to: Simplify processes (reduce hand-offs, approvals, automate process steps)
- 5. 5 Expedite exception handling (reduce the number of exceptions, auto-resolve commonly occurring exceptions) Reduce systems/applications complexity (standard interface, fewer middleware applications required, better workflows) New challenges require a new approach Global logistics networks are an integrated, evolving creation. To achieve a best-in-class network, businesses need a deep understanding of risks & costs associated with multiple logistics partners, geographies, products & technology tools. Your organization cannot depend on process or technology alone to provide the E-2-E improvements that drive true cost savings. Consistently reducing & optimizing costs without increasing logistics risk can only be achieved by intelligently combining industry- specific analytics frameworks, the right technology tools, & logistics processes engineered for effectiveness as well as greater efficiency.