Topic of the day
Lean, Fast and Flexible
Demand for technology products is largely driven by the health of the economy and consumer spending. The latter is often seasonal, linked to other products like games or software, or, increasingly, influenced by social media – all making sales less predictable.
As online retail becomes more prevalent, different distribution solutions are also required. In addition, long supply chains from manufacturing in Asia to consumer markets in Europe and North America are highly exposed to disruption by natural disasters or geopolitical unrest, as well as to labor and fuel price fluctuations. Under these challenging circumstances, supply chain flexibility is crucial.
Topic of the day
Lean, Fast and Flexible
The dynamics of the technology sector demand continuous cost optimization in the end-to-end supply chain set-up and flexibility in sourcing and manufacturing capacities, distribution modes and channels, as well as services. These latter include postponement, late configuration, as well as reverse logistics and recall solutions. Other key solutions to achieve leaner, faster and more flexible supply chains include inbound-to-manufacturing (I2M) management solutions, multi-modal transportation, multi-country consolidation, and distribution services.
And, integrating repair & return into the distribution network is a way to achieve faster cycle times and reduce transportation costs for after sales service.
