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SCM Insights · Technology

Maximize your supply chain transparency with track and trace

Track and trace, that is, determining the location of shipments, is definitely nothing new. Yet everyone still seems to be talking about it. How come?Easy: We know that networked production as well as “smart factories” require reliable information on the delivery status of components. But this also translates to delivery logistics, where it’s important to know, for instance, where a spare part is located and whether it will reach its final destination on time or whether the parts will arrive at the assembly plant (CKD) as scheduled.Sure, logistics service providers are already able to provide plenty of data regarding the location of a shipment – granted, not always in real-time, but still. Yet, how do we connect our systems with those of the logistics service providers? What do we do with the data? How can parts and status notifications be linked to each other without requiring an inordinate amount of effort and time from service providers and suppliers? How can we avoid having to enter data for different customers into individual custom portals? And how can all this data be analyzed effectively? Questions abound. (more…)
Maximize your supply chain transparency with track and trace
SCM Insights

Digitalization is not an end in itself. A commentary

Wherever you look, “digital” is THE overriding theme. Digitalization is not particularly new and by no means simply a future scenario for the years 2020 to 2030.No, the digitalization of tasks and processes has been around for quite some time now. And there is still some homework left to be done. Because, unfortunately, the business world is not yet as digital as it could – or should – be. (more…)
Digitalization is not an end in itself. A commentary
SCM Insights

Going beyond operational supply chain digitalization

Nowadays, most leading companies have EDI interfaces in place to communicate their demands, improve demand visibility, and receive information about shipments. The most advanced ones use cloud platforms, allowing for real-time collaboration with suppliers and other business partners like subcontractors or carriers. It goes without saying, that analytics and big data play an increasing and critical role for companies in all industries.This trend has had a huge impact on stocks reduction and optimization of procurement processes. But it has also increased reliability and provided consistent data. As a result, transparency is not just a concept anymore, but has become reality; and brings with it a common and trusted view and understanding between business partners.Unfortunately, this will not prevent (more…)
Going beyond operational supply chain digitalization
SCM Insights · Use Cases

Automated goods receipt – part 2: How to avoid relabeling

There is definitely a lot of “beeping” going on at my customer’s first plant goods receipt area, where the goods are now being processed – in a considerably more relaxed manner - with scanners.In the first part of my post on goods receipt optimization, I described how to automate goods logging with electronic notifications.Now merely the tedious and elaborate relabeling of the packages for internal quality or production processes remains to be solved. A solution for this issue was also developed jointly with my customer. (more…)
Automated goods receipt – part 2: How to avoid relabeling
SCM Insights · Use Cases

Automated goods receipt – part 1: Recording deliveries

The electronic ordering process had just been successfully introduced. As I walk through my customer’s plant grounds after our final meeting, I think to myself “there sure are a lot of trucks in front of the gates,” and get into my car.As soon as I get on the highway, I call my customer once more, “Mr. XXX, let’s talk about electronic delivery notification and automatic goods logging....” (more…)
Automated goods receipt – part 1: Recording deliveries
SCM Insights

How to enhance collaboration between procurement and quality management

Digital transformation or not: Working together is often difficult even when system-supported processes are in place. This occurs not just on a large scale, e.g. in the collaboration between companies and their suppliers. It also happens on a small scale, e.g. between different departments. Here companies face challenges such as media discontinuity, a lack of transparency, and processes that are interdependent. (more…)
How to enhance collaboration between procurement and quality management
Industry News · SCM Insights · Technology

The Internet of Things is becoming intelligent and collaborative

Artificial intelligence is the topic of the hour. This was not any different at Bosch Connected World. Nearly 3,000 IoT enthusiasts talked about business models and innovations relating to the Internet of Things in Berlin on March 15 and 16, 2017. The top three topics were artificial intelligence, automation and openness. (more…)
The Internet of Things is becoming intelligent and collaborative
SCM Insights

Three steps to digital service procurement

At many companies, the procurement of services – either on the basis of an e-catalog or via a free-text order – is still characterized by many inconsistencies. Internal ERP systems often support demand analysis and the approval process by the manager who oversees the budget in the SRM system. But there is often a discrepancy between the content of the order request from what should actually be ordered. In practice, the offer is often sent to the requisitioner by the service provider in an e-mail message or as a paper document – and then not included in the order request. Why does this happen? Because adding all the individual items from the offer to the order request involves a lot of work for the requisitioner. And he tries to avoid this effort. (more…)
Three steps to digital service procurement