Saturday, January 24, 2009

Supply Chain Management strategies for Beating your Rivals

By Larry Emsweller

"You can't beat your rivals by [following] the old rules." At least that is how retired GE CEO, Jack Welch feels. Yet, you can beat them by using new and successful supply chain management strategies. The problem is that many rely on what they know, and the simple fact is, the old rules don't work anymore. New Supply Chain Management strategies are available and in order to survive you must implement them.

The new rules: distribution-scheduling software.

The key is coordinating production and distribution along with the timing of events. You have to be able to manage these. DMS is the process that helps achieve this. It understands the process. It will tell you:

1. By determining where each order is shipped from, it can tell you the best dock schedule, where the product is made, the line to put it on, what truck to schedule it on, and when it can be cross-docked.

2. DMS can maximize direct plant shipping. It determines when to bring product into each site. While most WMS systems determine where in the building each product should be stored, DMS determines where the product should be put (either in the plant or in an outside warehouse) as it comes off the line.

3. This is proactive because it can offer insight and foresee stock-outs or failures in the system and provide alternative action.

4. Save time on pallet handling.

Distribution Master Scheduling systems manage all the data and create an optimized distribution schedule. This requires a sophisticated scheduling system. One such system - AutoScheduler from Transportation l Warehouse Optimization [www.TransportationOptimization.com] is used by Procter & Gamble in its largest operations around the world maximizing supply chain management strategies.

This rule-based optimizer has been effective in reducing supply chain management effort and costs while increasing customer service. One P & G site reported a 33% reduction in WMS transactions after installing AutoScheduler.

Beating your rivals requires new rules and the introduction of Distribution Master Scheduling software.

When you consider a Transportation consultant, Thomas Moore and his associates at Transportation | Warehouse Optimization have been working with some of the top companies in America finding practical solutions that have resulted in saving millions of dollars. They take a long-term view, know the market place and keep the client as top priority. Contact www.TransportationOptimization.com for transportation cost reductions or solutions to warehouse challenges. Ask for a free consultation. While visiting their website, TEST YOUR SKILLS and see how well you can load a truck or manage cost savings. Transportation l Warehouse Optimization - Solutions that work. Solutions that save. - 16738

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