As the demands of managing a supply-chain network become more complex, a new study indicates that the intricacies of order management systems, shifts in consumer behavior, and rising costs associated with order fulfillment operations are all factors that constrain high-tech supply-chain executives in their efforts to design an efficient and effective supply network. The report,…
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In the supply-chain industry, you strive daily to improve the productivity, but have you thought about your personal supply chain? Regardless of the industry, relationships play a key role. Adding “spice” to your your job means building meaningful relationships in your personal supply chain. We've all been told that networking is important to our careers.…
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MADISON, Wis. — I write my wife a daily picture postcard. Today's image was a classic still from the movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes , depicting Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell in full chorus-line regalia. As I appreciated the photo, it occurred to me that very few brunettes in history could have stood in the glow…
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The relentless push to grease the wheels of the supply has seized on wireless networking. Savvy supply chain companies are leveraging wireless technologies to track goods both inside and outside their facilities. This infographic, a bit focused on this particular solution, nevertheless gives you a sense for how this evolution can impact your business. (Source:…
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When a Boeing 787 lifted off this week on a test flight as part of its rehabilitation from battery problems, it flew in part on the winds of design and supply-chain collaboration. The aircraft manufacturer endured one of the biggest crises in its history when two of its planes experienced problems with the lithium-ion batteries…
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The US government is ratcheting up its rhetoric against China, claiming that state-sponsored Chinese hackers are involved in massive-scale campaigns to steal trade secrets over the Internet. The Chinese government denies this, of course, while claiming that it has discovered numerous attacks against its networks and infrastructure originating from the United States. The allegations fired…
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The US launch of BlackBerry's next-generation smartphone, the Z10, which went on sale March 22 at AT&T stores, will not only test whether the company still has enough loyal customers, or whether the company can ever recover from its lost market share. Sales of the new product will also expose whether the company has developed…
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In our previous article, Components Direct EVP of marketing Anne Ting outlined the ongoing problem of gray market and counterfeit components in the electronics supply chain. (See: With Counterfeit Components, Buyer Beware.) Despite the increased emphasis on regulation and enforcement, the porous nature of the supply chain still presents many opportunities for unauthorized components to…
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Do you love your smartphone? Of course you do. It's transformed your life in the past five years (except you hate having to fish it from your pocket every time you just want to check the time). Apple and Samsung love them too. The two consumer-electronics giants now account for a whopping 81 percent of…
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Everyone dealing with the electronics supply chain knows that speed is critical for success. Customers wanted their parts yesterday, making just-in-time delivery seem slow by 2013's high-paced standards. But what if speed — or resilience or flexibility, if you prefer — were not only a requirement, but also the secret weapon for supply chain innovation?…
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