Optimizing Global Supply Chain Management

With the globalization of businesses, it is becoming imperative for companies to work towards optimizing the global supply chain management for increased sustainability. Along with enhancing relations with business partners, this also gives the company a vital competitive edge in the industry. This becomes challenging owing to the dynamic global business environment and the complex global trading regulations. The following tips are handy for optimizing global supply chain management along with assessing risk management and cost control issues-

• Partner collaboration- The key factor in the success of a supply chain partnership is collaboration between partners. This must be ensured so as to avoid fragmental functionality which can be detrimental to the supply chain. 
• Correct IT solutions- A major mistake made by most supply chain managers is failing to choose the right IT solutions for their business needs. This can be avoided by carefully evaluating business needs and budget considerations to make the right decision while choosing IT solutions for global supply chain management. To make the most of these solutions, it is advisable to be in constant touch with your software vendor. 
• Common database- Having a common database where trading partners can access vital information regarding the supply chain processes helps to encourage concise communication in a compatible language, helping to streamline the global supply chain. 
• Set milestones- When working on global supply chain management, it is important to constantly re-evaluate targets, and make an effort to raise the bar of performance higher. This can be done by setting targets to be achieved over a set time period, and ensuring that the skills of the workers are also upgraded with quality-assured processes to meet these rising expectations. It is important to ensure that enough time is allocated to the achievement of these targets along with the upgrading of resources and technology. 
• Encourage customer participation- By keeping your customers involved, you shall be in a better position to understand their needs, and upgrade your resources to meet these needs. It is advisable to invest in an integrated IT application that serves as a platform where all trading partners can interact and exchange their views on the global supply chain. 
• Upgrade technology- Just investing in the right IT solutions is not enough. It is equally important to keep this technology upgraded on a regular basis, so as to avoid economic stagnation. Along with providing increased customer satisfaction, this also helps to increase the ROI by cutting costs and promoting your company’s growth. 

To know more about optimizing the global supply chain management, visit McLane Logistics Technology at 4001 Central Pointe Parkway, Temple, TX 76504. You can also call them at 1-800-989-7568.

Warehouse 3g For Microsoft Dynamics

Warehouse management systems are being viewed as a critical component of modern businesses, as they play a key role in streamlining the processes involved in the supply chain. Warehouse 3g (W3g) is one such warehouse management solution, which integrates the key elements of warehouse management and transport management, for optimal warehouse distribution. This warehouse management system is being applied to various businesses across the globe, and has a tag of reliability attached to it.

The seamless integration of Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP and Warehouse 3g makes it easy for users to avail the benefits of both with a single installation. From the warehouse management point of view, one of the major benefits of W3g is to be able to have a clearer cash flow visibility. This makes each stage of the warehouse management process transparent, hence reducing the chance of human errors interfering in correct product transport and delivery.

Another key benefit of W3g is the optimization of warehouse receiving and put-away, which in turn helps in having better warehouse control, as well as ensuring paramount customer satisfaction. This works with a two-thronged approach, minimizing the time taken to fulfill orders, while also significantly reducing the work force required in the process. By using this warehouse management system, the original purchase orders can be tallied with the receipts of delivered goods, so as to automate the receiving as well as put-away process.

The warehouse staff benefits immensely from such a system, as they can carry out the order-picking procedure in a systematic manner, knowing where and when resources need to be allocated. The W3g warehouse management system is a highly organized and easy-to-use one, thanks to its division into different modules, for tasks like receiving, shipping, scheduling, physical inventory, cycle counting, transportation, product integration, and mobile application. Users can choose from advanced options like optimized refilling and picking, perishable item receiving, container type variations, best door assignment calculation, etc., depending on their needs.

This warehouse management system hence utilizes its robust features and coming-of-age functionality to work towards the attainment of warehouse goals, which are- reduced cost, reduced time, and the delivery of the right product to the right customer. McLane Logistics Technology puts its century-long expertise in warehouse engineering to use, giving every business owner a chance to benefit from dramatically improved warehouse functionality. To know more, visit them at 4001 Central Ponte, Parkway, Temple, TX 76504 or call at 1-800-989-7568.

How Microsoft Dynamics Can Ease The Supply Chain Process

Understanding the supply chain is becoming critical to business owners, owing to it being an integral part of any organization’s functioning. As simple as it might seem on the surface, the supply chain is indeed a highly intricate system that needs an efficient management system in place for its smooth functioning. Microsoft Dynamics, which is software catering to this very purpose, and is being used by entrepreneurs across the globe to make each stage of the supply chain process more organized.

The basic emphasis of this software lies on the four critical stages involved in any supply chain, which are production, purchase, distribution, and shipping. When Microsoft Dynamics is incorporated into a preexisting supply chain, it gives that much-needed boost to the process, by making the job of every employee involved, much easier. Not only does this enhance the productivity of the organization in terms of decreased workforce, time efficiency, cost-cutting, and customer satisfaction, but it also makes other functions like planning and coordination more systematic.

The major benefits of Microsoft Dynamics for the supply chain process are-

• User-friendly interface- You do not need to be techno-savvy to operate the software, since its easy-to-use and intuitive interface guides you through each stage. Much like other Microsoft products, it has highly applicable features like a business-role specific design, which makes it simple for employees to access the tools that are most relevant to their jobs in the supply chain process. 
• Flexibility- One of the most attractive features of Microsoft Dynamics from a business owner’s point of view is that its functionality is easily customizable, making it possible to tweak its usage as per the requirements of your company. If you plan for expansion of your supply chain in the future, Microsoft Dynamics will still be as relevant as a supply chain management software for you then, as it is now. 
• Better visibility- Effective communication and transparency at each stage is imperative for the efficiency of a supply chain. Microsoft Dynamics makes both these factors possible, with its insightful interface which makes it possible to view everything, right from changes in customer orders to shipping addresses in a single glance. This aids in making the right decisions at every stage, and taking instant action when required. In addition to this, features like automatic notifications help in inventory control, by alerting when reorder levels are reached. 

For more information on Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 and how it can be beneficial to your business, visit McLane Logistics Technology at 4001, Central Pointe Parkway, Temple, TX 76504 or call them at 1-800-989-7568.

The Role Of Transportation In Logistics Chain

Transportation is a key process in the logistics chain, which is involved at every stage, right from the manufacturing of the product, to its final delivery at the required location. The role that transportation has come to acquire in the recent times can be judged from the fact that freight transportation costs contributed to over 6% of the GDP of the United States in the past year. While the basic goal of transportation in the supply chain invariably remains ensuring that the good reaches the customer within the stipulated time, there are several subsidiary roles that are met with efficient transportation management. These range reduced inventory costs to better warehouse management.

The success of any supply chain can be judged from its transportation management. Wall-Mart is an ideal example of how the use of the simple technique of cross-dorking can make the entire transportation system responsive and streamlined. Another major role that efficient transportation plays in the logistics chain is the globalization of products. This is made possible by facilitating transportation of goods from countries with cheap labor like China and India, not just contributing to their economy, but also helping to create a channel of flow for these products.

There are various decisions that need to be made by both the carrier as well as the shipper for the proper functioning of any transportation system. The most important of these factors are those relating to cost. The carrier might need to incur a fixed operating cost in case of access to an operating facility, despite whether he is actually using the facility or not. Apart from that, the major cost incurred is trip-related, which covers labor and fuel costs. This can be minimized by strategizing on transportation routes, and minimizing labor by making use of advanced technologies like bar code reading and tagging.

When carefully planned, transportation can be a leading competitive strategy for a firm. The two most important factors that need to be optimized are transportation costs and customer responsiveness. Transportation managers are faced with various critical decisions, such as the ratio of outsourced transportation to company-owned transportation; whether or not to own and manage an independent transportation fleet; how to minimize the need for backup inventory by improving customer responsiveness, etc. This can be made possible with the use of information technology including satellite communication with on-road vehicles.

Mclanetech Logistics Technology provides reliable and customized transportation management software and systems for your business. For more details visit them at 4002 Central Pointe Parkway, Temple, TX 76504 or call at 1-800-989-7568.