 Is risk a synonym for uncertainty? The thesaurus in Microsoft Word suggests that it is and a Google search confirms it however, when thinking about managing supply chains, there are a different set of actions for risk than those taken to address uncertainty. The primary supply chain actions to reduce risk involve alternate sourcing, inventory […]
Risk and Uncertainty Read More »
Automobile manufacturers are constantly driving their cars into crash structures to see how they stand up. When was the last time that you crash tested your supply chain? What would have happened to your supply chain if Apple had experienced the Samsung battery problem? A year ago no one could have predicted that the number
Supply Chain Crash Test Read More »
What is ethical sourcing? Essentially, adoption of ethical sourcing reflects the respect to the people and our plant. Ethical sourcing gets rid of the outdated opinion of making profits by solely focusing on needs of end customers in terms of quality, price, delivery and service. Instead, it incorporates needs from more comprehensive stakeholders along the
‘Ethical Sourcing’ The Next Electronic Industry Trend Read More »
Any principled sourcing manager, if asked, should raise Ethical Sourcing to be a top priority. It is one of those things that makes obvious sense from a human condition perspective but has not yet been used as a differentiator by electronics companies. Starbucks and other consumer facing companies have acted on it, but beyond the
Disruptive Strategy: Ethical Sourcing Read More »
Professor Hans Rosling is an interesting fellow. In his documentary Don’t Panic: How to End Poverty in 15 Years, which details the United Nations’ plan to end poverty in 15 years, he describes two paths to economic prosperity while improving the human condition. These paths have great importance to the supply chains of the future.
Professor Rosling is an interesting fellow Read More »
In this article, I summarize some points from a lecture that I gave at Hong Kong University in 2014; it drew on a blog I wrote in 2013. I repeat some of the ideas from that blog here because I believe they are critically important for world-class companies. I was focused on supply base design,
8 Supply Chain Design Rules for Engineers Read More »
While Nicolas Chauvin struggled alone following the Napoleonic wars, he would have had more company if he lived today. His single-minded devotion to his cause – a dying cause – would have fit well in today’s political and economic climate. Too many leaders and people of influence think the future will somehow resemble the past;
Quickening of Change Stresses Manufacturing Read More »
Last month I made a presentation to the IEEE Consumer Electronics Group in San Jose, CA. I asked this group of engineers a very important question. It was important because of the implications that designer choices have on the supply chain. I started with my left hand holding the top of a slinky and my
Supply Chain Structure Should Not Baffle Electronics Design Engineers Read More »
In putting together the slides for a technical review, I realized that two thirds of the staff at Lytica have technical degrees; mostly electrical engineering but also computer science, mathematics and related fields. While not a total surprise, it is unusual to have this technical depth in a supply chain company and it is also
5 Areas Engineers Impact Procurement Read More »
In my last blog, I discussed how due diligence can be improved. Today we’ll explain how to ensure a component will meet standards, perform as expected, and be in supply when you need it. These concerns stem from the second level of Lytica’s supply chain hierarchy of needs, which includes three elements: Certifications that the
Ensuring Components Meet Your Needs Read More »
