To become the best, you need to learn from the best (Supply Chain Mgmt)

When looking at improving supply chains, companies should not just look within the own industry for ideas and best practices. In fact, many excellent models, approaches and methodologies can be found across industries.

There are some key companies that come to mind when striving for excellence in the supply chain. Gartner’s 25 top supply chain company list provides a first good start.

Each of these companies does some or many good things right. Those practices can be brought back to the own organization and customized to the specific needs and circumstances.

• Apple: Vertical integration through strategic acquisitions; investment in manufacturing tooling & equipment to ramp up and automate production.

• McDonald’s: Collaborative planning and inventory management downstream and upstream.

• Amazon: Attempts to take over management of the last mile and direct delivery to customers. Locker return services in metropolitan areas.

• Procter & Gamble: Small batches of products and packaging using leading-edge multi-material 3D printers.

• Cisco: Acquisition & Integration expertise.

• Intel: Vendor-managed inventory solutions and collaboration on products, operational efficiency and agility resulting in world class customer satisfaction. Advocacy on conflict minerals.

• Zara: Rapid prototyping and time to market for new products; maximized fulfillment speed for trendy and seasonal products.

• Walmart: Center of Excellence to identify isolated local supply chain innovations and spread them globally.

• PepsiCo: co-planning with retailers to manage event-based promotions down to very specific location-product-timing combinations. Using digital marketing signals to monitor and shape consumer demand patters.

• Nestle: Customer centric supply chain.

What are your thoughts?

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