Every year hundreds of thousands of readers visit our supply chain blog to take advantage of all that we have shared online. Many of our readers check out what we call “classic”, how-to blogs that were published years ago. These blogs include:
What is Demand Forecasting?
This blog dates back to 2018 but remains a very popular topic. Why? Because forecasting demand is the cornerstone of supply chain planning and individuals new to the industry almost always need to have a strong understanding of demand. The blog provides a perfect introduction to the concept of demand.
Basics on S Curves
Arkieva’s Ken Fordyce dives deep into explaining the ongoing challenge of estimating demand for new products as well as the overall lifecycle of products. This is a more technical article that reviews charts and calculations that you can apply to your day-to-day work.
The Relationship Between Forecast Accuracy and Safety Stock
Safety stock can be a significant drag on free cash and profitability. This blog reviews different approaches to forecasting safety stock. We have a lot more to provide on this subject beyond this article. Just query “safety stock” on our blog to see all that has been published and check out our recent webinar on this subject.
S&OP vs. IBP
This blog looks at the difference between S&OP and IBP as it relates to the Gartner Maturity Model. Using this, you can benchmark where you stand on your journey to joining sales, finance and the supply chain. I’d like to add that although this blog remains popular, we are seeing a gradual move away from planning (S&OP) and more to execution (S&OE). It appears that after years of planning and corporate alignment, organizations are finally getting down to the nitty-gritty of proving results and making S&OP a living, breathing part of everyday business.
The blogs above represent the “classic rock” of supply chain thought leadership. In 2022, we published a significant amount of fresh new content. Based on LinkedIn views and engagement, here are a few of the most popular new blogs.
Managing Supply Chain Transformation Beyond IT
This story about how to navigate a transformation project through your organization, get buy-in, and ensure success was of great interest to our readers.
2022 Predictions for the Supply Chain
Yes, it is now 2023, but given the slow pace of change for the supply chain, our hot take on the need to focus on infrastructure, labor and agility remains valid.
Sustainability and Circularity
These are important not just to business operations but are increasingly a litmus test customers use to decide where to make their purchases. This blog offers an approach to turn waste streams into revenue streams and make sustainability an integrated part of your business.
4 Barriers to Capturing True Demand
Demand is always a topic of interest. In this blog, we identify some common barriers that obscure visibility on demand and prevent accurate forecasting.
We hope you find our many blogs and Resource Center of value. In our resource center, you will find longer-form white papers, infographics and case studies designed to make you better at your job. If you have specific questions about the challenges you are facing, feel free to reach out to a member of our team.
