If your company is a global importer, then you know you cannot afford to deal with only one supplier. However, that does not mean that only international companies can benefit from hedging their supplier risk. Natural disasters, possible political instability, or disruptions in trade flow could all damage the way your business operates.The process requires supply chain resiliency, or more simply, the ability to secure the logistics and transport systems used for distribution of products or supplies.
Tag Archive for Logistics
02
Jul 2012
Outsourcing Close to Home – The Benefits of Rural Sourcing
In this economy, the decision on whether or not to outsource can often be a no-brainer. Delegating tasks too costly to execute in-house, to organizations that specialize in them, is a logical solution to many businesses’ dilemmas. The real question arises when the given organization needs to determine who to outsource to. Offshoring and urban sourcing – while they can both be effective in numerous situations – often come with high international maintenance and travel costs, or expensive commuting and real estate bills respectively.
There is, however, another viable option according to The Economic Times. Rural sourcing can often be just the right fit for an organization seeking affordable outsourcing in key business processes.
Aldo Forlini |
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| Tags: benefits, business, delegation, economy, in-house, Logistics, Outsourcing, procurement, rural sourcing
26
Mar 2012
Mexico As An Outsourcing Destination
An article in Logistics Management says our neighbor to the south “may soon become more attractive as a sourcing alternative.” This is according to Moffatt & Nichol, an engineering and construction consultant firm. They report that “all of Latin America is becoming more attractive, but we really feel that Mexico is going to be an area of increased manufacturing concentration.”
China would be the likely loser in any increase in “near-shoring” activity. “Quality fade” partly as a result of a number of recalls on products imported from China is one of the reasons for the push toward sourcing from Mexico and Latin American economies. Reduced landed cost is also cited as a compelling factor given the closer proximity Mexico has to the US.
Here is a link to the Logistics Management article:
Aldo Forlini |
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| Tags: alternative, China, Construction, engineering, imports, latin america, Logistics, Manufacturing, Mexico, near-shoring, quality, recalls, sourcing, south
09
Mar 2012
“Significant Perturbations in the VA Supply Chain”
“While I am not opposed in principle to reverse auctions, it is clear they are causing significant perturbations in the VA supply chain,” says Jan Frye, VA deputy assistant secretary for acquisition and logistics.
Perturbation. Interesting word.
The quote is from a Federal Computer Week report this week that the Veterans Affairs Department (VA) has ordered its contracting arm, the Veterans Health Administration, to cease and desist, at least temporarily, the use reverse auctions.
This move, news of which Federal Computer Week received in an internal VA memo provided by an anonymous source, comes on the heels, ironically, of a VA announcement not long ago touting major savings as a result of reverse auctions. Read more
William L. Heaton, Jr. |
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| Tags: acquisition, cease and desist, Logistics, Reverse Auctions, VA, veteran affairs department, veterans health administration
05
Mar 2012
What Hiring Managers Want
Supply Chain Management Review and Logistics Management recently surveyed readers to determine what today’s hiring managers are looking for in terms of job candidate educational credentials and professional skills..
Highlights of the survey included:
-75% of those surveyed said they have hired on the past 12 months or have plans to hire in the next 12 months. Positions most often mentioned include logistics staff, supply chain analysts, planners and forecasters and warehouse and distribution center workers.
-82% of respondents reported that they have hired or will hire recent college graduates. Problem solving skills are most in demand with communication skills and IT knowledge filling out the number two and three spots. In addition, traits like confidence (“but not arrogance”), enthusiasm were also mentioned as being important to hiring managers. Read more
Amit Puri |
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| Tags: candidate, education, forecasters, hiring, Hiring Trends, Logistics, planners, Supply Chain Education, survey, workers
Procurement and Logistics Square Off
Shippers and logistics providers are squaring off about their fundamental shifts in how they are conducting business. As the global economy continues to ebb and flow, the principles the providers maintain are causing conflict. The shippers are concerned with eliminating as much waste as possible, and trying to keep operating costs down. On the logistics end of the spectrum, this is conflicting with their desire to create long-lasting relationships with the customers they currently have.
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