Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Beating your rivals through supply chain management strategies

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.

Distribution Master Scheduling (DMS) software is the major component in the new rules.

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. Determine when to bring product into each site - maximize Direct Plant Shipping (DPS). If a plant has multiple outside warehouses, DMS determines where product should be put as it comes off the line (most WMS only determine where in the building each product should be stored)

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

4. Minimize pallet handling

Procter & Gamble uses AutoScheduler - Distribution Master Scheduling software - from Transportation l Warehouse Optimization [www.TransportationOptimization.com] in its largest operation around the world to maximize supply chain management strategies. It is sophisticated software that manages the data and maximizes optimized scheduling.

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

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

Tom Moore along with his associates have worked with the best of the best. Procter & Gamble, and other top Fortune 50 companies are among their client list - P & G is a long-term client since 1992. TlWO has saved P & G millions of dollars with transportation consulting solutions. Taking a long-term view, they understand the industry, the market place and like good consultants do, keep the client as the top priority. Contact them at www.TransportationOptimization.com for your free consultation today. Also TEST YOUR SKILLS and see how well you manage your costs. Load a truck and see how efficient you are. Transportation l Warehouse Optimization - Solutions that work. Solutions that save.

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