Just like any process control application, supply chains can be measured, evaluated and optimized by adopting some essential best practices. Here are some of the most useful:
- Identify the supply chains your organization is part of, investigate their upstream and downstream links, detail what moves over them, document their technical characteristics, and describe distances and likely obstacles.
- Formulate project designs sooner in the overall development process, but strive to avoid overcommitting to inflexible plans that can’t be revised.
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- Establish and preserve continuous communications between all internal and external supply chain participants.
- Update colleagues and customers on order statuses, delays and other issues to avoid misunderstandings.
- Cultivate closer ties with suppliers, distributors and other partners, who may be willing to store a manufacturer, OEM or end-user’s frequently used products in their inventory until the customer requires them.
- Employ common, uniform parts and products, so there will be less dedicated, unique items that can’t be used elsewhere. This includes deploying more modular software, systems and components that are easier to adjust and switch out. Comparison tools include Octopart, SAP Ariba, SourceForge and Supplyframe.
- Support reshoring and other supply-chain shortening efforts by patronizing suppliers, whose products may be more costly in the short-term, but will likely pay back the difference in fewer delays and obstacles.
- Research artificial intelligence (AI) tools that can streamline supply chain and project planning efforts. These include Hybrique and Jaggaer.
