How to Scale Your Business Despite Supply Problems

6/15/21

Author: Chelsea Lamb

Thousands of business owners have had to deal with supply problems, on top of other COVID-19 concerns. Limited production of raw materials due to pandemic restrictions has impacted everyone from car manufacturers to grocery stores. Now that the pandemic is finally starting to wane, it is becoming easier to access goods for customers. But the return to pre-pandemic supply levels will likely take some time. Supply chain management collaboratives like ASCM Michigan East offer businesses a diverse platform with practical resources to help streamline supply chain management efforts amidst COVID-19.

Sustainability for Your Supply Chain

Your business is only as successful as its ability to provide the goods or services intended. To keep your business functioning, your supply chain should be reliable and sustainable. A circular economy model, in which supply chain managers and companies use goods for an extended period of time to prevent waste, is more important than ever.

Many companies are conscientious about recycling efforts, but creating a more environmentally friendly and economical solution is beneficial on many levels. Sustainable systems promote a business culture that is responsible, and this can be a great way to connect with customers. Another way to help bridge the gap with customers during this supply deficit is to offer them deals they cannot refuse.

Sustainability for Your Supply Chain

Your business is only as successful as its ability to provide the goods or services intended. To keep your business functioning, your supply chain should be reliable and sustainable. A circular economy model, in which supply chain managers and companies use goods for an extended period of time to prevent waste, is more important than ever.

Many companies are conscientious about recycling efforts, but creating a more environmentally friendly and economical solution is beneficial on many levels. Sustainable systems promote a business culture that is responsible, and this can be a great way to connect with customers. Another way to help bridge the gap with customers during this supply deficit is to offer them deals they cannot refuse.

Make it Worth the Wait

Customers have become familiar with empty shelves where toilet paper and hand sanitizer used to sit. Delays in shipment and a decrease in supplies will not be a surprise to anyone entering your establishment or visiting your online business. You can reduce the discomfort of supply shortages by making up for it with killer customer service.

Offer customers discounts and other promotions to make the discomfort of waiting for goods less aggravating. Discounts on items you have in mass can also take a load off your inventory management strains. Consider bundling deals in which clients can purchase several popular items or services at a discount. There are many ways to satisfy customer needs and, in turn, ease their worries by reassuring them that their access to important goods remains unchanged. But it’s just as important to create a less stressful work environment for your employees.

Taking Care of Your Employees

Your employees do all the grunt work that makes your business function, so taking care of them during tough times is crucial. Employee care ranges from offering comp time and appreciation days to surprise bonuses for great customer service. Take a survey to see what you can do to help your employees feel cared for and appreciated.

One foolproof way you can take care of your staff is by keeping payroll streamlined and reliable, especially during hard times. Time tracking should be simple for both yourself and your workers — not to mention, accurate. A good platform will allow your staff to clock in and out with ease, while mobile access lets you track, assign, and manage employee schedules on the go.

This also gives you visibility to better assess employee performance and productivity levels so you can address staffing issues proactively. For instance, if one of your workers is dedicated and committed but struggles with being on time, you can work together to identify problem areas and brainstorm ideas to remedy the problem, rather than moving directly into disciplinary action. When employees know you care about them and want them to succeed, they are more likely to go the extra mile for you and put in their best work. Mutual respect is crucial for the success of your business, so look for ways to build this into your work culture.

When your employees feel respected and your customers are satisfied, your business stands a greater chance at success. Even during times of supply chain shortage, your company will survive and come back stronger through exemplary customer service and being proactive. Make sure to visit the ASCM Michigan East blog for more tips and consider becoming a member to always be in the know.



Chelsea Lamb has spent the last eight years honing her tech skills and is the resident tech specialist at Business Pop. Her goal is to demystify some of the technical aspects of business ownership.

As a supply chain professional, what trends are most likely to impact your company over the long term and how are you planning for them? Send us your thoughts at arollins@apicsdet.org. We’d love to hear from you and possibly feature your company in one of our upcoming blogs!

At APICS Greater Detroit, we are ambitious, smart, and passionate about operations and supply chain management. We invite you to bring our chapter your intellect, drive, and talents. By joining our Chapter, you receive access to the APICS world-class education, publications and industry content, and share with a network of dedicated professionals across Southeast Michigan. Learn more…

Looking for a chance to network and share infomation with other local supply chain professionals? Join our next Supply Chain Community Connect session scheduled for Tuesday, June 15th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm! See below for more details.

Long Term Supply Chain Trends Coming out of COVID-19

2/2/21

Is your supply chain suffering from anticipated part shortages?

APICS Greater Detroit supports supply chain professionals with the information and education they need to remain competitive in today’s world.

Late last week, Alex McLenon from WDET reported that a global shortage of small electronic parts, referred to as “semiconductors” or “microchips,” could pose a threat to Detroit’s auto industry recovery in 2021.

Analysts say an increase in demand, fueled in part by consumer trends during the pandemic, is the catalyst for supply chain issues. They say as new vehicle production slowed to a halt last spring, the consumer electronics industry picked up the automotive sector’s need for microchips.This is certainly an example of the need for redundancy as a long term supply chain trend coming out of COVID-19.
As we come out of the pandemic, it is apparent that certain implications are likely to impact supply chain management efforts over the longer term. Scott Sureddin, a Supply Chain Brain contributor recently shared his thoughts on the three long-term supply chain trends coming out of COVID-19.

1. Redundancy. Supply-chain managers now have a greater appreciation for the need to reduce the risk of out-of-stock events and disruptions. Redundancy has become a key topic, and will continue to be a priority even as operations normalize. Third-party logistics providers are well-positioned to supply redundancy through their resources, infrastructure, and engineering capabilities.
2. Near-shoring. Many, but not all companies, are moving toward near-shoring to avoid the 2020 inventory disruptions. This will push companies and their supply-chain providers to seek higher efficiencies through technology, leaner inventory and network design, offsetting increased costs in warehousing and labor.
3. Resilience. Visibility and real-time monitoring of risk have always been important, but the appetite to invest explicitly in these tools was limited. As we enter 2021, the business case for resilience is at the forefront.

For Detroit automakers, many are starting to take steps to scale back overall production due to the global shortage of small electronic parts where redundancy is not option.

As a supply chain professional, what trends are most likely to impact your company over the long term and how are you planning for them? Send us your thoughts at arollins@apicsdet.org. We’d love to hear from you and possibly feature your company in one of our upcoming blogs!

At APICS Greater Detroit, we are ambitious, smart, and passionate about operations and supply chain management. We invite you to bring our chapter your intellect, drive, and talents. By joining our Chapter, you receive access to the APICS world-class education, publications and industry content, and share with a network of dedicated professionals across Southeast Michigan. Learn more…

Looking for a chance to network and share infomation with other local supply chain professionals? Join our next Supply Chain Community Connect session scheduled for Tuesday, June 15th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm! See below for more details.

Post Pandemic Supply Chain Preparation

12/14/20

Has your supply chain become more resilient to global risk over the past year?

APICS Greater Detroit supports supply chain professionals with the information and education they need to remain competitive in today’s world.

THE COVID-19 pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities and risks in supply chains. In some cases, it has caused companies to take a hard look at their processes and their business models. In others, it has opened new opportunities for innovation, growth, and competitive advantage in the post pandemic world.

Deloitte Insights recently shared recognizing shifts in your customers, business operations and technologies, ecosystems and workforce would be a key area for supply chain leaders to focus on to prepare their organizations’ supply chain processes for thriving after the pandemic.

Deloitte suggests that four fundamental realities have shifted rapidly due to COVID-19 and each of them can have direct and indirect implications for supply chains. While the long-term effects of the pandemic are still unknown, what is clear is that the crisis seems to have helped accelerate fundamental shifts in what customers value, how customers buy, and how businesses need to operate differently to meet customer requirements and earn their trust and loyalty.

1 – Meeting evolving customer values and product and service requirements
The expectation for quick and seamless on-demand delivery will likely remain and require companies to collaborate with ecosystem partners in increasingly complex fulfillment networks. In addition, customers will want tailored and personalized experience. These expectations are likely to extend beyond business-to-consumer companies to include the business-to-business (B2B) world. The values of corporate purpose, trust, and sustainability have also become more important. Although many companies have historically shied away from commenting on societal issues or reporting sustainability goals, organizations—and their leaders—will likely be increasingly required to demonstrate progress on these topics, especially after the pandemic.

2 – Building trusted, connected Digital Supply Networks (DSN)
Traditional linear supply chains optimized for a single business or function are transforming into trusted DSNs. When done in isolation, technology investments often serve to optimize only a component of the value chain, not the whole. In the DSN model, however, functional silos are broken down both within an organization as well as outwardly to include customers and suppliers to enable end-to-end visibility, collaboration, responsiveness, agility, and optimization. In fact, as linear supply chains evolve into DSNs, the companies best positioned for growth may be those that see these networks as core to their business, technology, and operational strategies.

3 – Designing supply chains that are optimized for cost, service, and resilience
Even as business and commerce have grown ever more globalized, supply chains have generally moved in the opposite direction, growing more regionalized to meet local demand. Designing a supply chain that is both resilient and efficient while addressing increasingly complex and nuanced markets is challenging. Organizations will have to consider multiple dimensions: proximity to customer markets, diverse customer service requirements, sources of raw materials, proximity to key suppliers and ecosystem partners, availability of skilled labor, infrastructure, business disruption risk, laws and regulations, and ESG considerations—to name just a few. But the payoff can be a more resilient supply chain, better prepared to weather future disruptions.

4 – Enabling the future of work in supply chain management and operations
The workplace, workforce, and the nature of work itself will perhaps undergo some of the most dramatic changes in the wake of COVID-19. The pandemic proved to many of us that remote work is not only possible but effective. In a Deloitte June 2020 study, CEOs said that they expect a third of their workforce to be working in a full-time remote capacity by 2022, and even earlier in some cases. These trends are not just limited to traditional office work; they extend to the shop floor and throughout the supply network. In fact, many manufacturers are likely to spend more on data management capabilities aimed at facilitating remote operations and improving operational efficiency. Supply chain managers should view their operations with a critical lens, challenging the status quo of where and how work is performed, and who performs it—enabling greater benefit to the organization and its stakeholders.


The pandemic has shown that if companies want to move forward into a future where they can thrive, they will likely need to change. For additional detail on these shifts and tools for assessing your supply chain, access the complete Deloitte article here.

At APICS Greater Detroit, we are ambitious, smart, and passionate about operations and supply chain management. We invite you to bring our chapter your intellect, drive, and talents. By joining our Chapter, you receive access to the APICS world-class education, publications and industry content, and share with a network of dedicated professionals across Southeast Michigan. Learn more…

Looking for a chance to network and share infomation with other local supply chain professionals? Join our next Supply Chain Community Connect session scheduled for Tuesday, June 15th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm! See below for more details.

Food Banks Innovate Distribution During Pandemic

12/1/20

Food Banks around the country have had to innovate their distribution to meet the surge in demand during COVID-19.

APICS Greater Detroit supports supply chain professionals with the information and education they need to remain competitive in today’s world.

Even before the pandemic, food insecurity was a growing problem in the United States. The pandemic has only exacerbated the situation, and according to Feeding America more than 50 million Americans will face food insecurity by the end of 2020.

The surge in demand has required innovative strategies to get the food in the hands of those who need it most, including here in Southeastern Michigan. Read more in our latest article below.

Gleaners Community Food Bank, headquartered here in Detroit, operates five distribution centers in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston and Monroe counties and provides food to more than 500 partner soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and other agencies throughout southeast Michigan. As we come out of the pandemic, it is apparent that certain implications are likely to impact supply chain management efforts over the longer term. Scott Sureddin, a Supply Chain Brain contributor recently shared his thoughts on the three long-term supply chain trends coming out of COVID-19.

Each year, Gleaners distributes more than 45 million pounds of food to neighbors in need! This results in an average of 100,000 meals distributed each day to families in need across our region. Gleaners also provides nourishing food and nutrition education to more than 200,000 children a year. Every dollar donated provides three meals and 92 cents of every donated dollar goes to food and food programs.

Like food banks across the country, Gleaners has seen a surge in demand for food during the pandemic, delivering an additional 11.5 million pounds of food to 325,000 households deeply affected by the crisis. Month after month, their rate of food distribution remains 45% higher than any previous year.

Gleaners has stepped up and developed innovative ways to meet this increased demand and provide food to those in need including:

1. New food distribution sites. 66 drive-up locations were created to operate every other week each seeing an average of 290 households per distribution. Each family receives an average of 36 pounds of nutritious groceries. Households who have never visited an emergency food pantry before were turning to Gleaners for support.

2. Partnerships. Gleaners worked with numerous partners across the five counties to increase donations and set up new distribution sites that were safe in terms of both social distancing and traffic flow.

3. Adapting existing services. Gleaner’s My Neighborhood Mobile Grocery program that saw more demand than ever during the pandemic. The program was adapted to provide seniors safe access to affordable healthy food with all locations providing a no-contact service, pre-order forms and location staff delivering each order right to resident’s door.

4. Increased deliveries where people live. With many Detroit area schools relying on virtual learning this fall, more than 310,000 children might go hungry. The School Food Mobile program became even more important providing more healthy food to school communities throughout the region where they live

5. Pivoting. A favorite word for 2020. Gleaners was reaching new households with mobile distributions, but was still missing others — seniors, homebound patients, pregnant mothers, and individuals with chronic health issues — who were also in need, but weren’t necessarily able to travel to distribution sites. They started reaching out to current and new partners to pivot and figure out a way to get food directly to homes. One of those partners was Focus: Hope and they quickly responded. Per their director, Frank Kubik, “We never shut down, [we] just shifted the business model…We got the word out to the community and began offering curbside pickup and home delivery.”

For more than 40 years, Gleaners Community Food Bank has been a reliable resource for children, families and seniors in their greatest hour of need. Their programs were needed even more during this past year and they have worked hard to innovate their distribution strategies to meet the substantial increases in demand. More information on their services and how you can help can be found on their website at: https://www.gcfb.org/.

Looking for more information on ways to innovate and improve your supply chain management efforts? APICS Greater Detroit is offering the upcoming globally recognized certification class for Certified Supply Chain Professional starting on 12/5.

Ford Receives Manufacturing Leadership Council 2020 Award

11/23/2020

Are you looking for solutions to connect digital tools with real-world facilities?

APICS Greater Detroit supports supply chain professionals with the information and education they need to remain competitive in today’s world.

Recently the Manufacturing Leadership Council recognized Ford Motor Company’s work in developing a framework that makes manufacturing processes more efficient by connecting digital tools with real-world facilities.

Read more in our latest article below

The National Association for Manufacturers (NAM) shared that working with key partners, the Powertrain Manufacturing Engineering group at Ford Motor Company conceptualized and delivered a “Symbiotic Simulation” framework that makes manufacturing processes more efficient by connecting digital tools with real-world facilities.

These efforts received Ford one of the 2020 Manufacturing Leadership Awards for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Analytics Leadership.
A long time innovator, Ford continues to win awards for their efforts. NAM shared that Ford’s development of Symbiotic Simulation—or SymSim— was hatched in 2015, in a Ph.D. project by a member of the company’s PTME group. Once the Ph.D. project ended, the PTME group decided to build it out further, then added a few collaborators: software partner Lanner Group, as well as the University of East London and a team at sustainable manufacturing consultancy HSSMI.

SymSim Connects Digital Tools with Facilities
1. An evolution of discrete event simulation: Historically experts experimented on a computer model representing a facility in order to find improvement opportunities by typically manually downloading data, reformatting it and pushing the data into a model ready for optimization. SymSim shortens that process by making a direct connection to the data that is produced by facilities, pulling data out automatically to help the company understand what’s happening and how its goals can be accomplished more efficiently.

2. Improved quality and reduced time: Connecting the digital model more closely to the physical facility improves the quality of the simulation, which leads to better decisions and results. The second benefit is time. Traditionally, downloading the data, cleaning and processing it would take a week—but the SymSim process can do it almost instantaneously.

3. Increased efficiency and cost savings: SymSim has helped to improve efficiency and deliver savings by reducing overtime and eliminating costly delays.

The early results are significant. Although the proof of concept was just launched in 2019, per NAM the project has already saved more than 1,000 hours of engineering time and around $2.7 million. In one Ford plant that was launching a brand-new engine assembly line, the company ran a daily meeting to show—in just 15 minutes—where the bottlenecks had been the day before.

Investing in innovation has paid off for Ford Motor Company. Learn more about their other efforts and awards on their website at www.ford.com.

Looking for more information on ways to innovate and improve your supply chain management efforts? APICS Greater Detroit is offering the upcoming globally recognized certification class for Certified Supply Chain Professional starting on 12/5.

USPS Impact on Supply Chains

11/2/20

Have your deliveries or shipments been delayed by United States Postal Service (USPS)?

At the last APICS Greater Detroit Supply Chain Connect forum in October, the group discussed the impacts on USPS resulting in revenue losses , delivery footprint and relationship with Amazon.

APICS Greater Detroit supports supply chain professionals with the information and education they need to remain competitive in today’s world.

USPS plays an important role in the supply chain, especially for many small businesses. Below we’ll look at some of their current challenges and mitigation strategies for the upcoming peak season.

Detroit USPS service has been impacted more than others by the pandemic. Per clickondetroit.com The USPS released new data that ranks Detroit’s postal delivery in last place. The data was released due to a federal court order and was part of a new report on USPS performance released by Sen. Gary Peters, who has been investigating USPS delivery delays since July.

According to the data, mail delivery in the Detroit region was about 15% slower than the national average during the first week of October with only 70.69% of First-Class Mail delivered on time, ranking the city at 67 out of 67 USPS regions. Mail delivery throughout the rest of Michigan was 0.5% slower than the national average at 86.1% on-time deliver.

What is the impact of unpredictability in your supply chain? Certainly customers can be upset, as well as shipments from suppliers being delayed impacting the ability to produce products.

Like customers, small businesses value on-time delivery. Per supplychaindive, A 2019 USPS Inspector General Report found that businesses with fewer than 10 employees spend an average of $359 per month on shipping. The majority of these “micro-businesses” use USPS more frequently than any other carrier and value on-time delivery and cost equally. Also, USPS is a major last-mile subcontractor for nearly all major carriers — meaning to some extent that slowing down the USPS slows down them all.


Migration Strategies

So what can you do to anticipate further USPS slow downs and minimize the impact on your supply chain? Here are a few suggestions.

1. Review other carriers such as FedEx, UPS and other local delivery companies. Transitioning to other carriers isn’t physically difficult – but could likely meaning higher prices of $3 to $5 more per shipment. Local deliverers might not have peak surcharges, so important to shop around for the best rates and service.

2. Optimize what you can control, especially during peak seasons. Per Satish Jindel, president of ShipMatrix, every shipper has the ability to save 10% to 12% by optimizing what they can control, like eliminating split shipments or identifying customers who place frequent orders in close proximity and combining them.

3. Budget for peak season surcharges. You might not be able to avoid surcharges, but you can plan for them in your budget. A shipper with a firm understanding of their parcel network and peak season shipping needs will be better equipped to estimate unexpected or changing peak surcharges, thereby reducing overall cost.

4. Negotiate lower peak surcharges. Try to go straight to the carriers and negotiate to reduce or waive these fees. Keep in mind that discounts applicable to these surcharges do not apply to additional peak charges unless explicitly listed. Per parcelindustry.com during the past two peaks, there have been cases where FedEx and UPS waivers have been offered to some shippers if they agreed to provide a forecast of peak volume and take a penalty for missing the forecast.

As we continue through the pandemic and election season, USPS will likely continue to struggle to meet on-time delivery standards and supply chain professionals will need to develop a plan to mitigate risk and deliver for customers.

Looking for more information on best practices for managing supply chains? APICS Greater Detroit is offering the upcoming globally recognized certification classes: Certified in Production, Inventory Management Part 2 starting on 11/7 and the Certified Supply Chain Professional starting on 12/5.

Supply Chain and the Circular Economy

10/26/20

Is your supply chain sustainable?

Sustainable supply chains are a critical component to a circular economy. What’s a circular economy? A circular economy is the idea of keeping materials in use for as long as possible in order to eliminate waste.

APICS Greater Detroit supports supply chain professionals with the information and education they need to remain competitive in today’s world.

Read more in our latest blog post below.

Per Gartner‘s Future of Supply Chain Survey, seventy percent of supply chain leaders are planning to invest in the circular economy in the next 18 months.

Association for Supply Chain Management recently asked, “Why is adopting a circular model so important for today’s supply chains?” in an interview with Deirdre White, an internationally recognized leader in building trisector partnerships to address the world’s most pressing challenges as the CEO of PYXERA Global. Ms. White has led the transformation of the organization to one that maximizes impact through strategic partnerships.

Per Deirdre White, “In our natural world, all physical matter revolves in an infinite cycle of restoration and regeneration. There is no waste in biological systems; only secondary resources. It therefore makes sense that our global economy should be harmonious with its larger ecological system. But this is not the case. Our linear, take-make-waste platform requires a paradigm shift. The transition to alignment, to a circular economy, must happen now. It’s about how we think, behave and consume. It’s about equitable distribution of resources to avoid straining critical ecosystems and careful attention to the regenerative capacity of nature.”

White suggested it’s important for leaders to ask the right questions such as:
1. How can we stop extracting raw materials and design out waste?
2. How can we keep materials already in the economy in circulation to avoid consumption at the expense of our natural resources?
3. How do we get to a state where our economic activity regenerates our natural systems?


ASCM also asked how supply chain professionals can help their organizations cultivate a worldview in order to have a more positive impact?

White shared that, “Our worldview is formed by the prevailing cultural influences we experience every day. It is critical for leaders at all levels of an organization to cultivate a corporate environment that embraces change and innovation with sustainability in mind. Supply chain professionals have the unique opportunity to increase competitiveness and customer satisfaction by directly applying sustainable practices to their work, and society is eager to see more ethical supply chains as a means to lasting change.”


Harvard Business Review also shared the following best practices to creating more sustainable supply chains based on multinational corporations who have pledged to work only with suppliers that adhere to social and environmental standards:
1. They have established long-term sustainability goals.
2. They require first-tier suppliers to set their own long-term sustainability goals.
3. They include lower-tier suppliers in the overall sustainability strategy.
4. They task a point person on staff with extending the firm’s sustainability program to first- and lower-tier suppliers.

Supply chain leaders play a critical role in cultivating sustainable supply chains and keeping materials in use for as long as possible in order to eliminate waste.

Looking for more information on best practices for managing supply chains? APICS Greater Detroit is offering the upcoming globally recognized certification classes: Certified in Production, Inventory Management Part 2 starting on 11/7 and the Certified Supply Chain Professional starting on 12/5.

Three Reasons To Consider Michigan Post COVID-19

10/19/20

Are you considering mitigating supply chain risk by onshore or near-shoring solutions or moving production closer to your customer base?

Supply and Demand Chain Executiverecently shared three reasons summarized below why companies should consider Michigan as they re-evaluate their supply chains.

APICS Greater Detroit knows the power of the Michigan market and supports supply chain professionals with the information and education they need to remain competitive in today’s world.

Read more in our latest blog post below.

According to Supply and Demand Chain Executive, moving production is not an easy task, and manufacturers need to evaluate available workforce, location and transportation logistics. As countries around the world begin to look toward economic recovery, companies should consider Michigan’s strengths in these three areas.

1 – Workforce
One of Michigan’s greatest strengths has always been its workforce – with the nation’s highest concentration of engineers and ranking in the Top 10 for number of workers in the skilled trades.

In May, Governor Gretchen Whitmer created the Michigan Workforce Development Board, which is responsible for the continuous improvement of the workforce development system, to achieve her goal of helping 60% of Michigan’s workforce achieve a post-secondary degree or certification by 2030.

Additionally, the Jobs Ready Michigan program is helping businesses like Detroit Manufacturing Systems, LLC – a Tier 1 auto supplier – to grow by addressing the costs associated with recruiting and training individuals for occupations that are high-wage, high-skill or high demand. As a result, the company is able to prepare the next generation of skilled workers while remaining competitive in today’s economy.


2 – Location
Strategically, Michigan’s unique connection of transportation and distribution routes translates into a cost-effective supply chain for small to medium-size businesses, with proximity to OEMs in the automotive and medical device industries.

A quarter of the more than $700 billion in annual trade between the United States and Canada crosses the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit, the most active border crossing in North America. The Detroit region also sits along the St. Lawrence Seaway as a major port providing central access to the Midwest and international borders. Along with 120,256 miles of paved roadway, 33 active deep water ports, 26 freight railroads with 3,600 miles of track across the state, 18 commercial airports, including one of the largest U.S. air hubs in North America and a leader in warehousing,

Michigan leads the Midwest and is ranked No. 4 for warehouse distribution, making the state an ideal location for companies of all sizes to conduct business.


3 – Rapid response
Following years of laying the groundwork to develop a wealth of supply chain assets and expertise, when the pandemic hit Michigan manufacturers like the ones listed below acted quickly to pivot their business models and assist industries most affected:

• The Big 3 Automakers – General Motors, Ford Motor Co., and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles – stepped up in a big way, retooling their manufacturing capabilities to produce millions of personal protection equipment (PPE) for frontline healthcare workers and patients.
• Commonwealth Sewing Co. and the Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center (ISAIC) added medical gowns and surgical masks as permanent fixtures to their high-capacity garment manufacturing operations.
• TentCraft had never manufactured health products, but pivoted operations to make PPE.

As a state that is within 500 miles of nearly half the U.S. and Canadian population and home to more than 1,400 foreign companies, Michigan is a place where businesses can thrive in a globally connected location and access the talent and supply chain needed to find success.

Looking for more information on the powerful supply chain community in Detroit? Join us tomorrow for our FREE Supply Chain Community Connect forum on October 20th! More info below.

Gartner’s 3 Main Concerns Supply Chain Leaders Need to be Aware Of

10/12/20

Is your workforce structure appropriate for an increasingly digitized world?

Gartner recently shared that 40% of the CEOs surveyed pre-COVID were already substantially or completely changing their organizational structures. They also suggested that it’s the responsibility of supply chain leaders to make sure that their organizational design is appropriate for an increasingly digitized world.

APICS Greater Detroit supports supply chain professionals with the information and education they need to remain competitive in today’s world.

Read more in our latest blog post below.

The challenges of 2020 have changed the landscape for supply chain managers and business leaders are adjusting their long term strategies to hedge risk and remain competitive.

Per Gartner’s CEO Survey, the coronavirus pandemic has prompted CEOs to question their current business and operating models — including the supply chain. They shared three main concerns supply chain leaders need to be aware of summarized below.

1 – A changing global trade ecosystem
Organizations had already experienced increased uncertainty around tariffs and trade regulations last year. That’s why 57% of CEOs were planning to redevelop their supply chains to better adapt to this new environment. Now, in light of the pandemic, 21% of supply chain leaders believe their supply chain is highly resilient, with 55% expecting to achieve that state within two or three years.

Supply chain leaders should prepare to present their resiliency plans to the C-suite, but must also explain that there will be trade-offs. More resiliency usually means a supply chain organization that is less lean, less agile and holds more inventory. Resiliency is important, but a supply chain must always work economically. Finding the balance between these potentially competing modes of operation is key.

2 – Digital drivers of supply chain efficiency
This year will be a cash-sensitive one. However, in a recent Gartner survey 39% of manufacturing businesses indicated that they had increased their technology investment beyond the levels budgeted before the pandemic. Supply chain leaders must make sure that any planned investment aligns with their CEOs’ critical priorities — growth, financial stability, cost management and risk management.

“CSCOs must make clear that today’s digital progress secures the options of tomorrow,” O’Connor said. “Supply chain organizations with proper digital capabilities can act as the central nervous system of the business that senses risks and opportunities and enables real-time action.”

3 – Structural shifts in the workforce
Although many organizations have frozen hiring since the pandemic began, most CEOs recognize that the structure of their workforce needs to change permanently. In fact, 40% of the CEOs surveyed pre-COVID were already substantially or completely changing their organizational structures.

While this concerns all parts of the business, it’s the responsibility of supply chain leaders to make sure that their organizational design is appropriate for an increasingly digitized world. This means upskilling existing supply chain staff as well as ensuring that new talent is motivated by the prospect of a robust career path.

Is your team ready? APICS Greater Detroit is here to help you upskill your supply chain team and supporting roles with globally recognized certification classes taught by supply chain experts! Learn more about our CPIM and CSCP classes starting in November and December!

Looking for more information on the powerful supply chain community in Detroit? Join us tomorrow for our FREE Supply Chain Community Connect forum on October 20th! More info below.

Avoiding Supply Chain Chokepoints

10/5/20

Does your supply chain suffer from chokepoints?

For those of us who’ve driven into the city of Detroit during rush hour, we know there are many chokepoints along the way that can delay the commute.

In supply chain management, a chokepoint refers to any step in a process where a single point of failure can jeopardize the entire supply chain.

APICS Greater Detroit supports supply chain professionals with the information and education they need to remain competitive in today’s world.

The Association Supply Chain Management (ASCM) shared five fixes to supply chain chokepoints. Read more in our latest blog post below.

ASCM shared that chokepoints are vulnerabilities in modern business and should be eliminated whenever possible. However, the complexity of today’s supply chains means that sometimes chokepoints are unavoidable. When that happens, you need to
– be aware of where your chokepoints exist
– know the ways your chokepoints can fail
– establish a fix for each chokepoint.

To help you accomplish this, they provided five of the most common supply chain chokepoints and some suggestions for how to fix them summarized below.

1 – International Production

Buying your components from a high school buddy who owns a shop two towns over is just as much of a chokepoint as buying them from a manufacturer across the ocean. However, having even just one international supplier could cause hiccups. Longer production chains, even if they remain domestic, have more links, which can slow down product flow and create problems. When you add international aspects like shipping, regional stability, changing tariffs and taxes, your risk exposure can be serious.

The fix: Unfortunately, the best plan here — dealing with domestic or local suppliers whenever possible — isn’t practical for most businesses. The next best option is to source vital materials from two different international vendors in two different countries. This won’t cut out all of your risks, but it does mean you can shift the order load if one region becomes problematic.

2 – Shipping Components

Getting the components you need to make your products is vital. You need to get them from the manufacturer to either your customers or your own plant. If something goes wrong, it often means your products won’t get made and sold. This is especially true of long supply chains in which a single shipment might pass through the custody of a dozen or more responsible people and organizations between the loading dock and your receiving department.

The fix: Hedging your bets against this problem takes two steps. Step one is to stay informed of situations that might impact the region, routes and companies involved in moving your supplies. Get early warnings whenever possible so you can make new arrangements in time to avoid a problem. Step two is to always have a light relationship with a competitor to your usual shipper. Let them know you’re available to be poached if the opportunity arises. When a problem pops up, they’ll be ready to save the day for you to win your business moving forward.

3 – Timing Checkpoints

A timing chokepoint happens when event A needs to happen before event B can happen and event A gets delayed. This ultimately delays the timing of the supply chain, causing further delays and missed opportunities. Sometimes the delay to event A happens because of a chokepoint earlier in the supply chain. Other times, there’s something happening with how event A gets accomplished that causes the slowdown. Either way, that single point of failure cascades downstream.

The fix: The easiest solution to this chokepoint is to widen your timeframe so there’s no risk of choking. Sometimes, this means simply reworking your schedule. Other times, it means establishing a stockpile of components and supplies so a late event isn’t a problem. Many small and medium-sized businesses can’t do this because they’re waiting on payment for one contract before they can begin work on the next. A small-business line of credit or small-business loan can be a powerful solution here, allowing your timeline to extend beyond the restraints of your cash flow.




4 – Shipping Product

This chokepoint is the opposite side of the supply shipping problem. If you ship what you sell, any interruption between your shipping department and the customer creates a poor client experience and reduces your chances for the next sale. Whether the problem is the way you get units to your shipping subcontractor, an issue with delivery or theft in high-crime areas, you’ll still be the one the client blames when things go wrong.

The fix: Your best defense here is to have a close, customer-oriented relationship with whomever delivers your goods to your customers. If possible, make sure you have an arrangement that helps you know about problems before the client does so you can contact the client with your plan for making things right.

5 – Your Staff and System

Your staff forms a chokepoint any time just one person knows how to do something or has the qualifications or permission to make something happen. Whenever that person is ill, on vacation or busy with other duties, your supply chain blocks up. If that person leaves the organization, everything grinds to a halt. Your systems can create chokepoints when they produce a single point of failure through the timing of a task, the physical layout of a workstation or any number of other factors that go into your business doing what it does.

The fix: The solution to this chokepoint is to look at your systems and staffing to identify single points of failure. For each, either adjust your operations or invest in training staff so there always is a second option whenever something goes wrong.



Supply chain managers need to assess their supply chains to see if any chokepoints exists internally or externally and adjust as needed to remain competitive in today’s world.

Looking for more information on the powerful supply chain community in Detroit? Join us tomorrow for our FREE Supply Chain Community Connect forum on October 20th! More info below.

BorgWarner Supply Chain Manager Receives Women in Manufacturing STEP Ahead Award

9/28/20

Last week, the Manufacturing Institute held their eighth annual STEP Ahead Awards recognizing women in science, technology, engineering and production careers who exemplify leadership within their companies.

The Institute’s STEP Ahead Awards gives women across the country a platform to showcase the incredible opportunities the industry has to offer, whether they are running the company, designing the next big product, or testing innovations on the shop floor.

APICS Greater Detroit supports supply chain professionals with the information and education they need to remain competitive in today’s world.

BorgWarner Supply Chain Manager Kelly Zhu Receives Women in Manufacturing STEP Ahead Award. Read more in our latest blog post below.

Per BorgWarner, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, Supply Chain Manager Kelly Zhu is a recipient of a Women in Manufacturing Science, Technology, Engineering and Production (STEP) Ahead Award for demonstrating exceptional leadership skills in the workplace. The fourth consecutive BorgWarner employee to achieve this recognition, Zhu is one of 100 exemplary women to earn this annual award.

Felecia Pryor, VP and Chief HR Officer at BorgWarner stated that, “Kelly has embodied hard work, mentorship and leadership throughout her time at BorgWarner, and is incredibly deserving of this honor. Her passion, natural business acumen and energy make her an excellent role model for other employees across the company. She is consistently on the lookout for educational opportunities that foster growth for our employees; she helps set the tone for careers at BorgWarner and we couldn’t be more pleased to have her as a part of our team.

Zhu began her career at BorgWarner as a warehouse supervisor in BorgWarner’s Ningbo, China plant. Through years of dedication and continuous growth in her skillset, Zhu earned increasing responsibilities as production supervisor, production manager, program manager and product line manager before she reached her current role. Today, she is focused on building a high-performance team and strives to develop the younger generation.

On the Manufacturing Institute award site, Kelly shared on the importance of continuous improvement, “Manufacturing is full of challenges and freshness in daily work. We need continuous improvement with rapidly changing technologies, costs and customer preference to stay competitive. Here we always meet diverse people and learn from each other to be better each day.”

The Manufacturing Institute hosted the 2020 STEP Ahead Awards on September 24th, honoring 130 women in manufacturing for their leadership within the industry and the example they set for other women in manufacturing.

Here are a few key quotes from the speakers:

• STEP Chair Erika Peterman, BASF senior vice president for chemical intermediates North America, said, “[In the future], women will continue to be key contributors to our economy. . . . Manufacturing in the future may not look like it does today, but it will be around, and there will be opportunities for professional growth for all workers. And lastly, STEP Ahead will continue to provide programs and forums that foster and encourage females to enter the world of manufacturing and pursue their careers.”
• Manufacturing Institute Executive Director Carolyn Lee: “The most famous symbol of manufacturing in America is a woman, Rosie the Riveter. Rosie inspired women to work in America’s arsenal of democracy during WWII. Today, manufacturers have mobilized to fight a new war, against COVID-19. . . . And that wouldn’t be possible without a dedicated, talented, innovative and diverse workforce. And that includes the women we honor here tonight, who will inspire a new generation.”
• NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons: “I couldn’t wait to raise a glass to all of you tonight. . . . I can’t think of anyone I’d rather toast than the women of manufacturing, because you are the backbone. . . . Our industry will rise to any challenge, so long as talented and driven and heroic women are leading the charge. That’s our past, that’s our present, and there is no doubt that’s our future.”

Access the complete listing of all 2020 Step Ahead Nominees here.

APICS Greater Detroit is committed to helping supply chain professionals at all stages of their careers. We join the Manufacturing Institute in celebrating the importance of women in manufacturing and congratulating Kelly Zhu and all of the 130 women recognized for their leadership!

Four Steps to Superior Supplier Management

9/22/20

Is your supplier management effort an inclusive activity?

APICS Greater Detroit supports supply chain professionals with the information and education they need to remain competitive in today’s world.

Last week the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) hosted their annual Connect conference virtually. The agenda was full of great supply chain education and the opportunity to network with professionals from all over world. A highlight from day 1 included best-in-class supply chain education and best practices shared by experts.

Michelle Lombard, CPIM, director of supply chain and production planning at SeaSpine, shared her thoughts on how to deliver superior supplier relationship management, starting with involving others in the process.

Read more in our latest blog post below.

4 Steps to Superior Supplier Relationship Management

Michelle Lombard, CPIM, director of supply chain and production planning at SeaSpine, believes supplier relationship management works best when it’s an inclusive activity. In her educational session, she offered clear strategies for involving others in the process, noting, “You can’t do it by yourself and you shouldn’t do it by yourself — or you will fail.”

She shared the following strategies to help create a competitive advantage:

1. Segmentation. Begin by reviewing your current program. All the stakeholders need to be in the room, deciding together on the criteria that makes a tier one supplier.
2. Governance. Lombard suggested using a simple RACI diagram to categorize people’s roles. She described this as a way to “non-emotionally” break down the tasks of everyone involved in supplier relationships.
3. Performance management. “Notice I did not say ‘scorecard,’” she stressed. “Performance management is much broader. … You’re setting the tone for your suppliers.” She added that this requires two-way communication and collaboratively creating roadmaps to future plans.
4. Supplier development. Lombard said this final step will come naturally once the first three are in place because you have cleared the channels of communication, built trust, are measuring what’s important and have common goals. It’s here that the supplier becomes a strategic partner. “Celebrate this victory together,” she urged, “that’s the icing on the cake.”

Effective supplier management requires engagement from all stakeholders and setting clear expectations leveraging the steps Michelle identifies above.

For over 60 years, supply chain professionals and organizations have relied on APICS to deliver world-class education and certification. At APICS Greater Detroit our programs have helped supply chain professionals work with their suppliers to deliver results needed to stay competitive. There’s still time to advance your career in 2020 with our Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD) certification! The CLTD program will expand your logistics, transportation, and distribution knowledge and prepare you for the APICS CLTD certification exam. An expert-instructor led class begins virtually in the Detroit area on September 26th! Learn more…

Got questions? Send us an email at classes@apicsdet.org. We are here to help!

Logistics Trends After COVID-19

9/16/20

Have you seen a demand for faster delivery options by your customers?

APICS Greater Detroit supports supply chain professionals with the information and education they need to remain competitive in today’s world.

Per RedwoodLogistics, during the COVID-19 quarantine, most people have been doing all of their shopping online. Even groceries and medications are being shipped, within a few miles of a consumer’s home. Since customers can’t get that instant gratification of going to a store, they’re even more eager to have fast delivery to their home. One of several key trends that will remain after COVID-19 is that there will be an even larger demand for faster delivery options.

Read more in our latest blog post below.

We all know that the pandemic has had significant impacts to supply chains and logistics globally. In the Detroit area, manufacturers and suppliers have continued to adjust to meet the changing needs of customers. So what impacts can we expect to see on logistics post pandemic? RedwoodLogistics shared their top 5 new logistics trends they anticipate to see after COVID-19 summarized below.

1 – Globalization Will Take a Back Seat

Prior to 2020, international trade was considered the best way for many businesses to source and produce items while maintaining a strong global market. However, since the shut down of borders to trade and travel since COVID-19, businesses have shifted, at least temporarily, to sourcing and producing local goods.

For logistics, this means there’s going to be an emphasis on more local shipping and movements. We’ll likely see an increase in demand for trains and trucks across North America, which may put a deeper load on an already overloaded transport system. This is thus calling for changes in the way we can optimize freight movement to ensure every truck is full, drivers are happy, and logistical resources are being used most efficiently

2 – Buyers are More Price-Conscious

With such a major economic shutdown, a lot of people are focusing more on how they can save money in any way they can. As far as logistics trends are concerned, this is one that is always fairly constant. People are looking for deals and are willing to wait until the price is right to get what they want, like waiting for free shipping or sales from their favorite companies.

A lot of businesses have decided to offer free or low-cost shipping as an incentive to keep consumers purchasing from them. For shippers and transport companies, this means they’ll likely start to see a lot of their clients looking for lower shipping prices. We anticipate a new wave of long-term, low-cost contracts between retailer and shipping partners looking to push a greater quantity of goods at even cheaper costs.

3 – Logistics will be Driven by Automation

Automation is the wave of the future in logistics. This isn’t news to anyone; supply chains have been moving towards automation-driven efficiency for a while. Now, though, it’s going to be even more critical than ever, and the push will be even stronger than before.

Route optimization and reduced errors are going to be necessary in a world of local shipping and price consciousness. AI learning and the Internet of Things are the best way to ensure that resources are used most effectively to get goods delivered fast, on time, and with as little expenditure as possible. Also more people are realizing now that they want flexibility in their work. which means robots can step in to perform on-demand tasks. Now is the time for companies to start implementing automation throughout the supply chain.

4 – There Will be an Even Larger Demand for Faster Delivery Options

People want cheaper shipping, while at the same time demanding faster delivery. During the COVID-19 quarantine, most people have been doing all of their shopping online. Since customers can’t get that instant gratification of going to a store, they’re even more eager to have fast delivery to their home.

Despite the price consciousness, a lot of customers are actually willing to pay a premium for fast delivery services on certain types of items, especially personal care productions. Expectations for shipping have changed: people want fast, low cost, and at their door right when they want it. This means speed and cost need to be balanced and optimized.

5 – Risk Management Will Dictate the Supply Chain
COVID-19 has shown many organizations just how unprepared and vulnerable they are. Risk management firms have become the most popular B2B business and logistics trends recently as companies are looking for new ways to create flexible and agile businesses with an emphasis on resilience and hazard management. For a lot of companies, this means better handling of potential upstream disruptions by diversifying their sources and transport contractors. It could also mean anything from employing more robots to implementing disaster plans.

In summary, RedwoodLogistics suggests that when and how quickly the economy can restart will impact the way the freight market will move and recover. Companies will need to get ahead of these logistics trends in order to keep up.

Are you a logistics or distribution professional? Advance your career in 2020 with our Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD) certification! The CLTD program will expand your logistics, transportation, and distribution knowledge and prepare you for the APICS CLTD certification exam. An expert-instructor led class begins virtually in the Detroit area on September 26th! Learn more…

Got questions? Send us an email at classes@apicsdet.org. We are here to help!

Industry 4.0 Impacts on Supply Chains

9/7/20

Are you leveraging digital solutions to manage your supply chain?

APICS Greater Detroit supports supply chain professionals with the information and education they need to remain competitive in today’s world.

Per McKinsey & Company, industry leaders are leveraging Industry 4.0 solutions as an approach to increase end-to-end supply-chain transparency and many are fast-tracking automation programs to stem worker shortages arising from COVID-19.

Read more in our latest blog post below.

Tom Kelly, president and CEO of Automation Alley, recently spoke with MICHauto’s Glenn Stevens Jr. and the Chamber’s Devon O’Reilly about what Michigan companies will need to do to utilize technologies like artificial intelligence to survive, compete, and thrive into the future. He defined Industry 4.0 as the convergence of digital and physical technologies disrupting the manufacturing industry and being realized today in smart factories across the globe. Michigan led the second industrial revolution, which developed and progressed with the third, and has the potential to be at the helm of Industry 4.0. He stated, “We are going to become the true knowledge center we were kind of destined to be. We need to make sure Michigan owns that story globally. We need to dominate the fourth.”

Not sure how best to leverage digital solutions to improve your supply chain efforts during COVID-19? We’ve summarized below McKinsey & Company suggestions on how Industry 4.0 can help reimagine manufacturing operations after COVID-19 specific to making and delivering products.

Making the products

Digital technologies can help mitigate the effects of the pandemic on production and employees in multiple ways including boosting employee safety, operational efficiency, asset productivity, and product quality.

1. Boosting employee safety and operational continuity: Digital technologies that enable remote work and collaboration, eliminating the need for noncritical employees to leave their homes, are becoming a necessity. Machine-vision algorithms and wearable technologies, are also helping maintain safe distancing as manufacturing operations restart.

2. Improving productivity and performance management: Digital solutions allow manufacturers to move away from manual data collection by adding sensors or directly tapping into machines’ programmable logic controllers (PLCs) to collect data and display it on live dashboards. Supervisors can then monitor factory performance remotely and in real time. They can deploy interventions when needed, conduct effective performance-management meetings, adapt daily plans to meet customer demands, and to improve labor productivity as well as operational efficiency—all remotely. In addition, process automation and physical automation or robotics can supplement labor capacity. Wearable technologies, such as augmented-reality glasses, can enhance remote assistance in maintenance, such as when operators need off-site assistance due to limitations on travel. This increases machine availability by reducing maintenance downtime.

3. Improved quality: Beyond improving day-to-day operations, digital technologies can go one step further in quality management. For example, machine-vision algorithms can conduct automatic quality inspection and quality control using predictive algorithms, relieving constraints in workforce availability while increasing the precision and threshold of quality checks. Furthermore, as SKU counts increase for finished products and raw materials, ensuring end-to-end traceability becomes increasingly important for quality. Industry 4.0 technologies, from simple barcode scanning to RFID tracking and blockchain, can help

Delivering the finished goods

Delivering the finished goods to customers is a complex, dynamic task that often involves third-party logistics partners. The COVID-19 crises reduced availability of transportation modes while introducing added complexities, such as new requirements for packaging and for safe, last-mile contactless delivery. In this context, digital and analytics solutions can increase visibility of both demand and supply for logistics services, improving real-time performance.

• Logistics: A digital logistics-control tower can create live visibility into performance at every stage of outbound logistics, from loading in the warehouse to unloading at the delivery point. Combined with digital fleet management, route optimization, and carrier analytics, these tools can raise uptime for transportation assets while optimizing the operation, management, and allocation of resources. Collectively, these changes can go a long way toward increasing operational resilience in responding to crises.

• Warehousing: Warehouses present many opportunities for a automation interventions. These include shuttle systems, automated material-storage and retrieval systems, smart shelves, smart picking robots and cobots—and automated and intelligent sorting, picking, and packing systems, along with drones to perform inventory inspection. A digital twin can help design optimal warehouse operations, creating a digital duplicate of a warehouse to understand the results available from different digital technologies. Other Industry 4.0 solutions can assist warehouse workers as well, including augmented-reality tools that make picking multiple orders at one go much easier and more effective, and exoskeletons to reduce injury from repeated heavy-material handling

McKinsey & Company summarize the importance of committing to Industry 4.0 reinforcing that as organizations begin to restart their operations in the next normal, they have an opportunity to reimagine a future with digitized, resilient operations. Early successes have shown that companies can start on their industry 4.0 journey in a small way and then scale quickly—if they commit to Industry 4.0 transformation in line with their business environment and their strategic objectives.

Looking for more information on ways to remain competitive as we continue to emerge from the pandemic? APICS Greater Detroit has expert instructor-led classes beginning in just a few weeks! Starting in September we are offering the following courses to help supply chain professionals meet today’s top challenges and help you and your company ensure your teams have the skills needed.

• Certification in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) provides you with the ability to understand and evaluate production and inventory activities within a company’s global operations.

• Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) program is the first and only supply chain certification encompassing the end-to-end global supply chain. APICS CSCP designees gain the skills to effectively manage global supply chain activities that involve suppliers, plants, distributors, and customers located around the world.

• Certified in Logistics, Transportation, and Distribution (CLTD) program will expand your logistics, transportation, and distribution knowledge and prepare you for the APICS CLTD certification exam.

Got questions? Send us an email at classes@apicsdet.org. We are here to help!

Supply Chain and Food Industry

09/01/20

Did your supply chain experience a disconnect between supply and demand during the pandemic?

APICS Greater Detroit supports supply chain professionals with the information and education they need to remain competitive in today’s world.

Yemisi Bolumole, Ph.D., CLTD-F, an associate professor of supply chain management at the Eli Broad College of Business, Michigan State University, recently shared an example of where this happened recently with food supply chains during COVID-19.

Read more in our latest blog post below.

Per Feeding America, millions of people are newly at risk due to the pandemic of experiencing food insecurity, alongside those who were experiencing food insecurity before the COVID-19 crisis began. Yemisi Bolumole shared recently in SupplyChain Management Review in response to the disconnect between supply and demand started in the pandemic with the food supply chain’s inability to get itself together fast enough. starting with the farmer whose tomatoes were rotting on the vine to the consumer who buys three bags of fresh apples and only winds up consuming one of those bags (and throws the rest away).

She’s go on to state, “With COVID, the issue wasn’t the absence of food in the supply chain; it was an oversupply of food in the wrong places. While farmers were experiencing extreme surplus due to reduced commercial demand from schools and restaurants, grocery stores struggled with delayed deliveries and shortages, and food banks faced unprecedented demand and shortages of donated food. This disconnect between supply and demand led to a lot of food waste in certain areas, and massive food insecurities in others. With no one to connect the dots between these two problems, the problem mounted.”

In Michigan, several food and agriculture businesses stepped up to help and donated food and funds to the state’s food banks. Kroger’s expanded Dairy Rescue Program – in partnership with dairy cooperative suppliers and farmers – pledged to donate 200,000 gallons of milk to Feeding America food banks through the end of summer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program also assisted delivering as of August 27th almost 75 Million boxes of fresh produce, dairy and meat to more than 10,000 food banks and nonprofit organizations.

How do we avoid such a large disconnect between supply and demand in the future as it pertains to food insecurity?

Even though many organizations have assisted during the pandemic to fix the broken supply chains, Bolumole suggests that going forward, we have to look beyond risk management that focuses on simply “keeping the lights on,” and incorporate a real social awareness angle to our risk assessment plans. She states there’s definitely an opportunity to establish supply chain driven social welfare units centered on ensuring survival of all stakeholders through a second COVID crisis; partnering with governments to ensure good public-private sector alignment; and encouraging people to come up with ideas for surviving the next COVID. We just have to get creative. As supply chain professionals, it’s our job to come up with an engine that allows great ideas to be put into action.

At APICS Greater Detroit we know the challenges supply chain professionals face every day as the world around us changes. Having a risk management plan that can adjust quickly and consider community needs is paramount to helping us all work through global impacts such as COVID-19.

Looking for more information on ways to remain competitive as we continue to emerge from the pandemic? APICS Greater Detroit has expert instructor-led classes beginning in just a few weeks! Starting in September we are offering the following courses to help supply chain professionals meet today’s top challenges and help you and your company ensure your teams have the skills needed.

• Certification in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) provides you with the ability to understand and evaluate production and inventory activities within a company’s global operations.

• Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) program is the first and only supply chain certification encompassing the end-to-end global supply chain. APICS CSCP designees gain the skills to effectively manage global supply chain activities that involve suppliers, plants, distributors, and customers located around the world.

• Certified in Logistics, Transportation, and Distribution (CLTD) program will expand your logistics, transportation, and distribution knowledge and prepare you for the APICS CLTD certification exam.

Got questions? Send us an email at classes@apicsdet.org. We are here to help!

Cybersecurity is a Supply Chain Problem

08/24/20

Is your supply chain protected from hackers?

APICS Greater Detroit supports supply chain professionals with the information and education they need to remain competitive in today’s world.

Recently the National Defense Magazine shared that lone wolf hackers, rogue nation-states and cybercrime syndicates are in a position to disrupt the global supply chain.

“Cybersecurity really is a supply chain problem” that encompasses the telecom carriers that are used by businesses, the hardware and software that supports organizational workflow, and the cloud assets that so many organizations are leveraging today, Richard George, former National Security Agency technical director of information assurance and current senior advisor for cybersecurity at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, recently said in a speech to cybersecurity professionals.

Read more in our latest blog post below.

Richard went on to say, “It’s not just the government that’s a target, everybody’s a target,” he added. Kevin O’Marah, former manufacturing and supply chain contributor to Forbes, wrote, “Where once we worried about localized mistakes or oversights upstream, now we worry about cataclysm, potentially at the hands of actors bent on destruction. The new world of supply chain risk means preparation for widespread, systemic disruption in our immediate future.”

He continued: “As with war and natural disasters, cyber threats have the potential to kick off systemic failure, meaning a sort of domino effect whereby ordinary preparedness fails to overcome infrastructure, communication and human breakdowns.” To defend against cyber criminal intent to disrupt and “own” the global supply chain, George observed that corporations must be on guard, be careful of untrustworthy entities within the supply chain, ensure transparency throughout the supply chain, force strategic partners to prove their cybersecurity posture, and limit entanglement with companies/countries that don’t respect intellectual property rights.

The Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center outlined nine reasons below cybersecurity should be a priority in your business right now, despite a large percentage of companies cutting cyber budgets due to pandemic financial pressures. Here are some key statistics about cyber hacks in recent months:

1. Ransomware attacks increased 148% from February to March

2. At the end of March 2020, the number of cyber-attacks related to the COVID-19 pandemic grew from 100 daily to more than 5,000

3. 25% of employees working from home do not know what security protocols are in place on their devices

4. 20% said their IT team did not provide any additional security tips as they shifted to working from home

5. 50% of companies reported allowing employees to use personal email addresses and personal devices to conduct company work

6. 51% of global companies experienced more phishing attacks due to employees working remotely

7. Following the increased use of unprotected mobile devices, mobile phishing has increased by 37.1%

8. Only 41% of cyber professionals said their companies are utilizing best practices to ensure a secure remote workforce

9. The average cost of a data breach in the manufacturing industry was $5.2 million in 2019

With cybersecurity dangers very real and present, companies should resist temptations to cut cyber budgets. Supply & Demand Chain Executive shared the steps below to protect your supply chains from cyber threats.

• Create a Recovery Plan: Approach cybersecurity from the point of view that it’s only a matter of time before a breach occurs. Shore up your defenses, but also ensure that you have a recovery plan in place. This plan should provide clear guidelines on what steps to take in the event of a breach. Assign employees specific tasks and ensure that they know who to contact and what action to take. The faster the response, the better able you’ll be to limit the damage.

• Run a Security Audit Regularly: It’s essential to run regular security audits. Identify potential gaps in the company’s defenses. Then come up with a clear plan to deal with these. A security audit of this nature should be conducted at least once or twice a year.

• Improve Physical Security: If a bad actor can gain physical access to your offices, they’re more easily able to launch an attack. Re-evaluate your physical security to tighten up security. No third-party contractors or clients should be allowed unfettered access to your offices or cargo. Malicious code can, for example, be built into a QR code. When that item is scanned, the virus is uploaded into the computer system.

• Review Electronic Links: You may think that your system is only linked to first-tier suppliers. This isn’t strictly true. They’re dealing with their suppliers and clients, and so they’re connected to other companies. If there are any weak links in the chain, you might all be at risk.

• Conduct Regular Penetration Testing: It’s wise to conduct penetration scanning at least once a year. Make it part of your general security audit, or run it separately if you prefer. This becomes critical as bad actors start to use more sophisticated methods to breach systems. At one stage, a password with just letters and numbers was considered hard to crack. As our tech and systems age, they’re more at risk from sophisticated hacking techniques.

• Security Awareness Training: It just takes one employee to download the wrong meme to infect your system. Security awareness training has become critical to make employees aware of the risks.

• Re-Evaluate Your Vendor Agreements: Your third-party vendors must be held to the same high standard as your company. They’re accessing your systems. If they don’t follow strict security protocols, your systems are at risk. The one way to ensure that they take security as seriously as you do is to hold them accountable. Work this into the contract to avoid issues later on.

Cybersecurity is a supply chain problem. Encourage your company to take the steps above to ensure you are protected.

Looking for more information on ways to remain competitive as we continue to emerge from the pandemic? APICS Greater Detroit has expert instructor-led classes beginning in just a few weeks! Starting in September we are offering the following courses to help supply chain professionals meet today’s top challenges and help you and your company ensure your teams have the skills needed.

• Certification in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) provides you with the ability to understand and evaluate production and inventory activities within a company’s global operations.

• Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) program is the first and only supply chain certification encompassing the end-to-end global supply chain. APICS CSCP designees gain the skills to effectively manage global supply chain activities that involve suppliers, plants, distributors, and customers located around the world.

• Certified in Logistics, Transportation, and Distribution (CLTD) program will expand your logistics, transportation, and distribution knowledge and prepare you for the APICS CLTD certification exam.

Got questions? Send us an email at classes@apicsdet.org. We are here to help!

Supply Chain Careers are In Demand

08/17/20

Are you looking for a career that is challenging, rewarding and in demand?

APICS Greater Detroit knows supply chain and the benefits of choosing a career in this rewarding field. Supply chain professionals we support tend to be very happy with their careers. In fact, per the Association Supply Chain Management’s 2020 Supply Chain Salary and Career report, “Overall, surveyed supply chain professionals are happy with their careers. On a scale from 1-10, 70% gave a rating of 8 or higher. Nearly all professionals (88%) have a positive outlook of their career.”

SupplyChain Game Changer also shared their top reasons why supply chain is such a great career path summarized below!

SupplyChain Game Changer shares their top reasons why Supply Chain is such an appealing career path:

1. Something for Everyone! Every person has different interests, motivators, goals and objectives in selecting their jobs and careers. The fantastic thing about working in Supply Chain is that there is literally something for everyone. Supply Chain is so broad based and extensive that anyone choosing this career path can find something to fulfill their goals and objectives.

2. Job Diversity. Given the tremendous breadth of what Supply Chain is it follows that the number of jobs is equally diverse. In most companies Supply Chain jobs include planning, strategic procurement, logistics management, fork truck operation, dispatching, scheduling, inventory control, assembly, processing, maintenance, planning, buying, sourcing, packaging, quality control, inventory management, space planning, supplier management, capacity management, lean, process design and transformation, I/T systems development and management, repair and recycling, expense management and financial controls, resource planning, analytics, cash flow management, training and education, and much more.

These jobs could involve working in a Warehouse, Distribution Centre, Manufacturing operation, or in an Office environment, or all of the above. Supply Chain also spans virtually every industry. Manufacturing and Distribution based industries are obviously built on Supply Chain. But even industries such as Banking require Supply Chain skills for planning, supplier sourcing and management, process design, information flow management, procurement, and cash management. And obviously Supply Chain consulting is a huge and growing business.

3. An Incredible Skills Development Platform. Given the diversity of jobs, industries and roles available in Supply Chain it follows that there is an equally extensive opportunity to develop a massive portfolio of personal and professional skills. Planning, analysis, scheduling, time management, risk mitigation, management, real time problem solving, decision making, leading, change management, process development and design, project management, presenting, financial management, conflict resolution, and negotiating are just some of the skills that any Supply Chain job will develop in you. You may also have the opportunity to work with people from different cultures and in different countries all around the world. The opportunities for interpersonal skills development and networking are enormous.

4. A Brilliant Future in Supply Chain. With advancements in Digital Technology Supply Chain is on the cusp of significant changes for decades to come. Technologies such as the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Predictive Analytics, 3D Printing, Autonomous Vehicles and Drones, and more all provide the foundational elements to make revolutionary changes in Supply Chain.

In conclusion, Supply Chain is a fantastic career path for anyone. For many people their interests, desires, and goals will change over time. A great feature of Supply Chain careers is that there are so many options and directions that as your goals change you can easily change within Supply Chain.

Looking for more information on ways to remain competitive as we continue to emerge from the pandemic? APICS Greater Detroit has expert instructor-led classes beginning in just a few weeks! Starting in September we are offering the following courses to help supply chain professionals meet today’s top challenges and help you and your company ensure your teams have the skills needed.

• Certification in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) provides you with the ability to understand and evaluate production and inventory activities within a company’s global operations.

• Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) program is the first and only supply chain certification encompassing the end-to-end global supply chain. APICS CSCP designees gain the skills to effectively manage global supply chain activities that involve suppliers, plants, distributors, and customers located around the world.

• Certified in Logistics, Transportation, and Distribution (CLTD) program will expand your logistics, transportation, and distribution knowledge and prepare you for the APICS CLTD certification exam.

Got questions? Send us an email at classes@apicsdet.org. We are here to help!

Manufacturing Skill Gap Still Exists Emerging from Pandemic

08/10/20

Is your company still struggling to look for skilled workers as we emerge from the pandemic?

APICS Greater Detroit serves local supply chain professionals by providing knowledge and education needed to compete in today’s world.

Per the National Association Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey 2nd Quarter 2020, 50.5% of manufacturing leaders still anticipate that difficulties in attracting and retaining employees will continue to be a challenge over the next 12 to 18 months once the COVID-19 crisis abates.

APICS Greater Detroit can help you close your skill gaps with globally recognized supply chain certification training staring this September! Read more below.

Manufacturers are still anticipating a shortage of workers. Per the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, “The COVID-19 outbreak forced companies to evaluate and transform their traditional ways of doing business nearly overnight. Leaders and team members were required to quickly adapt to this new normal to make safety the top priority.

As companies worked to acclimate to this new environment, many came to realize their abilities to reskill or upskill workers were not sufficient to keep up with the rapidly changing landscape. This was felt across nearly all industries, while millions were laid off and essential sectors struggled to find enough skilled workers to keep up with soaring levels of demand.

Currently, more than 7.2 million jobs remain unfilled in the United States due to a lack of skilled workers available, with 87% of executives experiencing gaps in their workforce.

This talent shortage is especially prevalent in the manufacturing sector, with a growing skills gap made larger by the struggle to find young workers to replace a retiring generation. Combined with the changes brought on by the pandemic, manufacturers need flexible, wide-ranging talent now more than ever.”

Finder younger workers with the right skills needed in this moment in time will be very important. Per McKinsey & Company, “To emerge stronger from the COVID-19 crisis, companies should start reskilling their workforces now.” They outline the three skills below that are likely to speed up after the crisis ends.

1. New skills for the ‘distance economy’: The crisis has accelerated the levels of digitization to help reduce avoidable physical interactions. This has meant finding ways to reinvent work and, in some cases, a partial disruption of jobs and changes in the way workers perform them.

2. Imbalances in talent supply and demand: COVID-19 has changed not only how people work but also how they shop and eat, as well as basic patterns of movement and travel. In this way, the pandemic is setting up what could be lasting employment-landscape shifts that could require the large-scale reskilling of new workers. For example, the pandemic has accelerated the trend toward e-commerce rather than brick-and-mortar sales.

3. Changes to supply chains: With sourcing and production moving closer to end users, the crisis could trigger a restructuring of supply chains. As companies localize or regionalize them, that will shift which skills are needed and where. Global companies may move production closer to the point of sale.

APICS Greater Detroit is here to help by offering globally recognized supply chain certification classes beginning in just a few weeks! Starting in September we are offering the following courses to help supply chain professionals meet today’s top challenges and help you and your company ensure your teams have the skills needed.

• Certification in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) provides you with the ability to understand and evaluate production and inventory activities within a company’s global operations.

• Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) program is the first and only supply chain certification encompassing the end-to-end global supply chain. APICS CSCP designees gain the skills to effectively manage global supply chain activities that involve suppliers, plants, distributors, and customers located around the world.

• Certified in Logistics, Transportation, and Distribution (CLTD) program will expand your logistics, transportation, and distribution knowledge and prepare you for the APICS CLTD certification exam.

Not sure which program is right for you and your company? Read our article on how to pick the right one! Or send us an email at classes@apicsdet.org. We are here to help!

Looking for more information on ways to remain competitive as we continue to emerge from the pandemic? APICS Greater Detroit has expert instructor-led classes beginning in just a few weeks! Starting in September we are offering the following courses to help supply chain professionals meet today’s top challenges and help you and your company ensure your teams have the skills needed.

• Certification in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) provides you with the ability to understand and evaluate production and inventory activities within a company’s global operations.

• Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) program is the first and only supply chain certification encompassing the end-to-end global supply chain. APICS CSCP designees gain the skills to effectively manage global supply chain activities that involve suppliers, plants, distributors, and customers located around the world.

• Certified in Logistics, Transportation, and Distribution (CLTD) program will expand your logistics, transportation, and distribution knowledge and prepare you for the APICS CLTD certification exam.

Got questions? Send us an email at classes@apicsdet.org. We are here to help!

Reshoring of Supply Chains

07/27/20

Are you considering reshoring your supply chain due to the pandemic?

APICS Greater Detroit serves local supply chain professionals by providing knowledge and education needed to compete in today’s world.

Per Thomas recent survey, 64% of manufacturers report they are likely to bring manufacturing production and sourcing back to North America.

Metro Detroit Business Leaders Create North America Reshoring Initiative and MIT supply chain professors share their thoughts on reshoring trends. Read more below.

As many companies consider or begin the process of reshoring, per the Detroit’s Business Journal, local Detroit business leaders are involved with organizations offering a reshoring initiative for North American manufacturers that will offer site selection services, relocation, and business performance solutions. Cornerstone Consulting Organization, a business and manufacturing consulting firm, and Juniper Solutions, a site selection consulting firm, launched Rapid Reshoring Solutions. Both companies are based in Ohio, but Bill Currence, founder of Cornerstone, and Scott Wawrzyniak, managing partner, are based in metro Detroit and work with area companies including automotive manufacturers.

Per Bill Currence, “In this COVID-19 climate, there are a range of variables and pressures that will compel manufacturers to thoroughly analyze and act on re-aligning global supply chains and possibly bring their overseas operations back home to the United States, Our experts have worked across the globe supporting manufacturers for decades, and we’re ready to quickly support these businesses on reshoring efforts while progressing the American economy.”

Reshoring supply chains will be complex for many companies. MIT professors Yossi Sheffi and David Simchi-Levi offered their thoughts about reliance on China, the possibility of reshoring, and how supply chains will — and won’t — change in the era of COVID-19. The professors suggest that companies are unlikely to completely abandon China for the following reasons:

1. It will take decades and untold money to move out of China, so it likely won’t happening very quickly. China is a sophisticated supplier of many parts, Sheffi, the director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics, points out that clothing manufacturers who have left China for other countries are still buying Chinese textiles. Proof in point: While China’s share of clothing manufacturing has fallen over the last five years, its export of raw textiles, which are made with sophisticated large machinery, has gone up. Even if sewing and parts of some other industries leave, “big industries invested decades in building up a whole ecosystem in China,” Sheffi said. “It will take decades and untold money to move out of China, so I don’t see it happening very quickly.” Simchi-Levi agreed: “China is still going to play an important role, and it’s not surprising because it’s a huge market.”

2. Reshoring isn’t necessarily the answer. The pandemic has many speculating about reshoring and bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. Simchi-Levi said that is unlikely to offer what companies are looking for. “Reshoring does not guarantee resiliency,” he said. Such consolidation brings risk. Simchi-Levi pointed to the relatively small number of slaughter plants in the United States that process much of the country’s beef and pork supply. Plant shutdowns because of the coronavirus led to concerns about a backup in meat production, falling prices for farmers, and meat shortages, though that outcome was largely avoided this spring. In other cases, reshoring could require government involvement. For example, drug manufacturing has been moved to India and China not just because of cost, but because it requires highly toxic chemicals, Simchi-Levi said. Reshoring those activities would require development of clean chemical manufacturing technologies, which requires significant investment of time and money — five to 10 years of development time.

3. Supply chains largely held up to the pandemic test. All told, supply chain performance was better than expected during the pandemic, Sheffi and Simchi-Levi agreed. In the early days of the pandemic, pictures of empty shelves made the rounds as people stocked up on staples like rice, pasta, and yeast (and, of course, toilet paper). Despite the pictures of empty shelves, Sheffi said, the food supply chain never really failed. Many of those photos were taken later in the day, he said, and though stores might have run out of some items, there were never any actual shortages. Despite “unbelievable” changes in demand patterns, including people spending more time at home and buying comfort food, the food supply chain in the United States continued to work, Sheffi said. The medical supply chain system also worked, with no shortages of drugs, with one notable exception: a lack of personal protective equipment, or PPE.

Per Sheffi, “Supply chain managers are going to be much more important in the corporate hierarchy.” At APICS Greater Detroit, we profoundly agree with this sentiment and are here to help you with the information you need to help your company reduce costs, minimize risks and meet demand during these challenging times.

Looking to connect with local supply chain professionals? Join us for a free webinar on August 11th, with special guest speaker, William Crane, CEO of Industry Star. More info below.

USMCA Impacts on Michigan Industry

07/20/20

Is your supply chain impacted by USMCA that went into effect on July 1st?

APICS Greater Detroit serves local supply chain professionals by providing knowledge and education needed to compete in today’s world. USMCA replaced NAFTA and went into effect on July 1st.

Per Mark A. Morgan, the acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, enforcing USMCA means prosperity for Michigan. Read more below.

Mr. Morgan shared his thoughts recently with the Detroit News and stated, “The International Trade Commission estimates that the USCMA will generate between 176,000 and 589,000 new American jobs. Importantly for Michigan, no sector of the economy stands to benefit from the USMCA more than the U.S. automotive industry. The USMCA is projected to generate an estimated $34 billion in new automotive manufacturing investments and 76,000 automotive industry jobs in the United States over the next five years.”

He continues to state the USMCA will benefit Michigan industry by:

1. Requiring 75% of a car’s value be produced in North America.

2. Preventing the outsourcing of American automotive industry jobs by mandating that a set percentage of each vehicle is produced in factories that pay an average wage of at least $16 (USD) per hour.

3. Expands customs authorities to protect human and agricultural health and ends certain Canadian restrictions on American dairy exports, wheat and wine products helping Michigan farmers and vintners.

4. Strengthens prohibitions on the importation of goods produced using forced labor into Canada, Mexico and the United States, and encourages the three countries to cooperate on related enforcement efforts, improving ability to combat human trafficking and leveling playing field for U.S. manufacturers.

Per the National Association for Manufacturers (NAM), trade is important for Michigan, helping Michiganders sell more of what they make to more customers around the world. They produced a USMCA Michigan Fact Sheet on trade that shared one out of three Michigan manufacturing firms export to Canada and Mexico including 3,875 firms with 84 percent being small- and medium-sized businesses supporting local economies.

NAM also stated that Michigan’s top exports to Canada and Mexico include: motor vehicle parts; motor vehicles; motor vehicle bodies and trailers; chemicals; fabricated metal products; iron and steel; electrical equipment and components; other machinery; plastics; engine, turbine and power transmission equipment. Plus Michigan’s manufacturers rely on North America: Canada and Mexico as big purchasers of Michigan goods, purchasing substantial portions of Michigan’s foreign sales of major manufactured goods, supporting well-paying jobs in communities across Michigan. For example, in 2018, per the U.S. Department of Commerce, Michigan exported $55 Billion of manufactured goods to the world and $34 Billion or over 60% was to Canada and Mexico.

Looking for more information on the USMCA? The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has established the USMCA Center to serve as one-stop shop for information concerning implementation efforts.

How will the Pandemic Change Automotive Supply Chains?

07/13/20

Has your company considered long term changes to your supply chain as a result of COVID-19?

APICS Greater Detroit serves local supply chain professionals by providing knowledge and education needed to compete in today’s world. We are excited to share this week’s blog written by a guest author, Danni Tachoir, an automotive supply chain professional.

Danni shares her thoughts below on how the pandemic will reshape the supply chain for automotive and associated risks.

The coverage about COVID-19 began in the U.S. around late 2019. At that moment, the virus was someone else’s problem, the U.S was in the clear and it was our intention to remain untouched. Fast forward to early 2020 when the W.H.O. declared it as a pandemic, COVID-19 then became what felt like a never-ending nightmare. The reality of this virus has forced organizations to re-evaluate their strategies. In the midst of stay at home orders, businesses find themselves struggling to stay alive. Unemployment rates are the highest they have ever been and the federal government is providing stimulus relief to help the economy stay afloat.

I’m not sure about you, but the thought about buying anything more expensive than a sandwich quickly evaporated. As a resident of southeastern Michigan for majority of my life, I wondered how will this change the only industry I’ve ever known? I’m referring to the business of manufacturing and selling vehicles. If you’re a Detroiter, chances are, you either are an employee of the Big 3 (GM, Ford, FCA) or you’re employed somewhere deep in their complicated supply chain that supports their manufacturing.

I was on a GM project when the pandemic began to impact the supply chain. China was on lockdown, people couldn’t freely grocery shop let alone commute to work to ship car parts. The lockdown created supply issues for GM assembly. So how will the pandemic reshape the supply chain for automotive?

How will the supply chain change?

1. Increasing the localization of the supply chain: One potential trend is localizing of manufacturing within the supply chain. We will likely see a general trend of manufacturing movement back to the U.S. for the automotive industry. During a time of crisis, maintaining control of the supply chain is essential for a company. When the supply chain is disrupted, so is the flow of goods. Without the product, it is obvious the profits will be impacted. When the manufacturing is local, it increases control for the upstream segment of the supply chain, thus increasing the chances of delivering the product to the customer downstream. In addition to increasing control another advantage is the majority of the workforce will be in the same time zone. This aids to increasing work productivity compared to working with teams internationally. During the beginning stages of the pandemic, there was increased urgency to get answers and to map out solutions. Having manufacturing facilities that are local allows business to quickly move through the problem resolution process.
2. Decreased head count to support the same level of required capacity: In the middle of this pandemic, most companies will ask how they can we do more with less? There’s a drive to reduce cost but still attempt to maintain a quality output. This change will allow a company to reduce overall cost and will be an important piece that companies will build into their future strategies. There is a need to have clearly defined contingency plans to maintain the norm with less headcount. This brings flexibility to your operations therefore allowing a company to react faster in unprecedented times.
3. Redundancy in suppliers: Increasing the number of suppliers to produce the same part is redundant and can be costly, but will make the supply chain more robust. A potential lack of supply means an impact to profits, but the other unknown is when the supply will resume in a situation where all the dependence is on one vendor. There is always going to be a struggle between staying efficient while ensuring customer happiness, which can be conflicting targets, however it increases the likelihood of having the product to the customer. The ability to react quickly is always important, but it’s compounded in a pandemic. This strategy enables the supply chain to be more flexible to disruption. These variables impact the goods to the end customer. It plays into the thought of over preparation to protect any issues downstream of the supply chain.
4. Acceleration of digitizing the supply chain: The digital transformation of the supply chain had already begun but the pandemic will likely increase the speed to get there. Digitizing the supply chain is another way to allow a company to be more flexible. In this pandemic there’s a heavier dependence on data within the supply chain which is crucial to the ability of accurate decision making. Companies need to understand all options and avenues when it comes to supply of the product. The faster the data is available, the faster an accurate decision can be made, because ultimately time costs money.

What are the risks associated with these changes?

• Higher labor, land and goods costs: The main risk of increasing the flexibility through localizing manufacturing within the U.S. could mean higher cost due to labor and land. The company should also consider what percent of their manufacturing can be automated. If a company has more automated manufacturing, then moving the manual labor back to the U.S will be more viable than a company with a low percent of automation. The most obvious risk attached to increasing redundancy with the supply base and digital transformation of the supply chain is cost. These increased costs will need to be assessed against the increase of flexibility and control.
• Cross-training fewer employees: The risks associated with decreased headcount is shifting from a “master of one” mentality closer to a “jack of all trades”. The employees will naturally need to assume more responsibility when there’s a reduction of the workforce. There’s a mental burden associated with the change, and there will be a bigger challenge in finding the right individual for that type of role. There is also increased cost due to the growth of responsibilities, however overall cost could decrease as headcount has decreased.

The reality of the pandemic is forcing many companies to review their strategy. Costs and profits will remain as top priorities because they’re the foundational elements of a business model. But the protection of product availability will need to be equally as important as profit. Companies will need to consider a new mindset focused on delivering products versus how much revenue can be generated. That mentality shift will drive a different supply chain model.

Packaging Trends Beyond COVID-19

07/06/20

How should packaging providers address both sustainability and hygiene concerns alongside cost, performance, and convenience requirements post pandemic?

APICS Greater Detroit serves local supply chain professionals by providing knowledge and education needed to compete in today’s world. Next week we are looking forward to hearing from Camille Chism of Indigo Packaging and Consulting, LLC at our Supply Chain Community Connect speaking to the topic of e-commerce packaging and how it is affecting the supply chain.

As we think about packaging effects on the supply chain, McKinsey & Company recently shared how packaging megatrends are expected to evolve post COVID-19 in their recent article, “Shaping the next normal of packaging beyond COVID-19” summarized below.

Getting a Handle on Reducing Supplier Packaging Costs

06/24/20

Could you use help identifying ways to save costs when it comes to your supplier packaging?

APICS Greater Detroit is proud to share insights on this important topic guest written by William Crane, CSCP, CEO of IndustryStar.

Per the 2020 Q2 National Association for Manufacturers Survey, a weaker economy and increased costs are primary concerns of today’s manufacturers. William outlines below the importance of an inbound packaging optimization initiative to help reduce packaging costs by as much as 20% in as little at seven days.

Getting a Handle on Reducing Supplier Packaging Costs

By: William Crane, CSCP, CEO IndustryStar

As you gaze across your manufacturing shop floor at multicolored returnable dunnage, visualize dollar bills taped to each container. Within this “packaging” there are precious funds tied up that can be quickly unlocked. In fact, there are few continuous improvement initiatives that represent greater quick win results with minimal investment.

Partnering with suppliers outside our four walls to optimize inbound packaging is critical to realizing lean extended enterprise performance results. An inbound packaging optimization initiative, even at a well-run manufacturer, can reduce packaging costs by as much as 20% in as little at seven days.

Top supply chain leaders share a common trait, they are passionate about optimization insights that can be gained from detailed packaging data. Today, leaders are investing time up front to convert this often-manual disparate packaging data at their suppliers into real time digital information to accelerate continuous improvement initiatives throughout their supply chain.

Fortunately, there is a system for effectively organizing packaging information into a single collaborative place of reference – Automated Plan for Every Part (PFEP) software, and when implemented as part of a company’s broader lean game plan for success, it can help you reduce the time and costs of receiving parts from your suppliers.

What Packaging Optimization Success Looks Like

As one example, a Tier I automotive supplier of seats partnered with their Tier II supplier of mechanisms e.g. recliners and latches, to optimize inbound packaging which in turn reduced packaging costs, inbound logistics costs, plant inventory floor space and inventory levels. Input data was loaded into an Automated PFEP software tool to calculate a Current State PFEP baseline. Teams then refined input variables such as standard packs, container weights, and inbound logistics costs which in turn calculated a Future State PFEP.

The key to swiftly refining your PFEP is mastering the interrelationships between PFEP inputs and outputs. This is another area that Automated PFEP software assisted the team as a productivity tool by automatically calculating outputs- which also reduced human error. For example, the Tier I and Tier II supplier determined it best to revise their Pull Quantity from 100 pieces to 25 to ensure alignment in both company’s ERP systems of Standard Pack and Pull Quantity. Further, both organizations transitioned to a higher density returnable plastic container- moving from 25 to 50 pieces per standard pack, allowing for more parts to be delivered per full truckload shipment, which lowered inbound logistics costs per part.

These small input adjustments enabled rapid transformation. During times of sudden volume shifts, continuously reviewing and dialing in the appropriate input variables is key. Small changes add up quickly as each dollar saved goes straight to the bottom line. Typically, the Buyer, in this case, the Tier I supplier, partners with their Tier II supplier as part of a continuous improvement initiative to identify, prioritize and realize cost savings- of which are often mutually shared.

Once cost savings were added from the resulting reductions in delivery optimization, part inventory, plant floor space and total number of containers at the Tier I and Tier II supplier, net cost savings totaled $88,307, or 31% of annual total costs for these line items.

Supplier Packaging Common Challenges

• Address Reluctance to Change – At first glance, packaging might not seem like a continuous improvement intuitive worth tackling. Help your suppliers embrace change by visualizing the cost reduction opportunity. Create a simple one-page case study, like the above, that outlines the supplier’s current state and future state supply chain.
• Realize Success Then Replicate – Identify a supplier that either 1) needs immediate help fast and/or 2) is traditionally more open to new ideas. In both cases, these suppliers will more readily welcome change and thus will realize results faster. Once you have demonstrated success with this supplier, develop a case study with a testimonial and share their success. Use this powerful case study to build enthusiasm with internal team members and additional suppliers and then replicate this process with more and more suppliers to accelerate momentum.
• Align Incentives for Deeper Buy In – If you have not entered a 50/50 cost reduction sharing arrangement yet, do so. At the end of the day, people change and are motivated by facts, but if there is no economic incentive to invest time in improving your inbound packaging your requests will not be prioritized. Share cost reductions with suppliers. In addition, go above and beyond by also highlighting how best practices can be applied to suppliers’ other customers to increase their overall profitability. Actively seek ways to improve your supplier’s business throughout the process to foster stronger relationships.

Accelerate Results with Technology

• Provide Software to Accelerate Results – Empower your suppliers with access to Automated PFEP software to accelerate their results. Smaller suppliers simply do not have the same level of bandwidth and technology resources, thus automated calculations and collaboration tools can help them get faster results.
• Collaborate on Software to Compress Timelines – You will need to project manage the packaging changes needed to successfully capture cost savings in a timely manner. The resulting workload involved in packaging optimization e.g. gathering, storing, and sharing data, and tracking tasks, statuses, and next steps can prove to be a large complex project. Agile project management software, often included in Automated PFEP software, can provide a flexible tool for tracking multiple supplier initiatives at once.
• Engage a Partner for On Demand Support – In select cases, suppliers will not have the team member availability and/or capabilities need to kick off a packaging optimization initiative. Address people challenges head on by aligning with an organization that can provide on demand PFEP training and help with the day to day deployments to institutionalize lean best practices and knowledge.

Optimize Supplier Packaging Costs with Confidence

Packaging is not typically something we think much about in the supply chain, but it plays a major role in shipping and handling parts. Leveraging proven lean formulas, supply chain professionals can efficiently optimize inbound packaging in partnership with their suppliers. By making small adjustments to the way parts are packaged, it saves time and money in production, transportation, storage and return.

Automated PFEP software offers a purpose-built tool to free up your time to drive swift packaging cost reduction results with your suppliers. It also provides a platform for communication and fine-tuning operations throughout a product’s life cycle.

Pared with a broad lean game plan, PFEP can empower you, your team and suppliers to make adjustments to your supply chain faster so you can navigate a more dynamic world. These real time adjustments can not only reduce costs, but they can empower you and your suppliers with greater agility to handle whatever the future holds with confidence.

About the Author

William Crane, CSCP, CEO of IndustryStar, an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based on-demand supply chain services and software technology company that partners with leaders to reduce the cost, time and risk of bringing new product ideas to production and beyond. William is a trusted advisor in supply chain with demonstrated results starting, launching and enhancing procurement, logistics, supplier quality and manufacturing organizations.

His work has appeared frequently in the American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS), Institute for Supply Management (ISM), Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) and Sourcing Industry Group (SIG), among others. William’s passion for bringing technologies to market that have a positive impact on the world can be found via his blog Supply Chain for Tomorrow’s Technology.

William is also Host of the Supply Chain Innovation podcast where he interviews top industry change-makers to uncover strategies, tactics, and tools to expedite, optimize, and de-risk supply chain operations. William may be contacted at william.crane@industrystar.com.

Human Trafficking in the Supply Chain

06/15/20

Did you know manufacturing is the third largest risk area for forced labor?

APICS Greater Detroit mission is to serve our local supply chain community with information and education needed to be successful in our ever changing world.

Last week in our Supply Chain Community Connect we heard from Alyssa Rollins, Executive VP APICS Greater Detroit, on the Michigan human trafficking task force and important information regarding human trafficking in supply chains.

Per the Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force, human trafficking is legally defined as a form of modern-day slavery. It is a crime under international law, federal and the State of Michigan as well as each individual state in the United States. The term “severe forms of trafficking in persons” is the statement reflecting how serious it is for it to be slavery and includes both sex and labor trafficking.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline reported 11,500 cases of human trafficking in 2019 and Michigan had the 7th highest amount at 364 cases reported.

The Federal anti-trafficking law, Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) was put in place in 2000 and revised in 2003, 2008, and 2013. An annual report, TIP, is a valuable research tool that is published annually in June describing anti-trafficking efforts in over 180 countries in the world as well as giving explicit recommendations on needed progress. Each country is then rated on a Tier systems of 1, 2, 2 1/2 or 3. The U.S. Secretary of State is responsible for this report.

Types of human trafficking include:

• SEX TRAFFICKING is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purposes of a commercial sex act, in which the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person included to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age. (22 USC 5 7102(9) ),
• LABOR TRAFFICKING is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purposes of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage or slavery.(22 USC 5 7102(O) ).
• Force, fraud, and coercion include threats, either physical or psychological, in which a victim has a belief that the person has the capability of performing such an act.
• Commercial sex act means anything of value is given to or received by any person.
• A minor in federal law is anyone under the age of 18 and force, fraud, and coercion are not included as elements. Consent is not an issue.

Myths about human trafficking:

• Only undocumented foreign nationals get trafficking in the United States.
• Traffickers target victims they do not know.
• If the trafficked person consented to be in their initial situation, then it cannot be human trafficking or against their will because they “knew better.”
• People being trafficked are physically unable to leave their situations/locked in/held against their will and they always want help getting out.

Human trafficking in the supply chain:

• Unknowingly, we eat, wear and use products made from slavery every day.
• Slave made products make up a small proportion of imported/American-made goods.
• Manufacturing is the third largest risk area for forced labor (behind domestic work and construction).
• Debt bondage is the most frequent form of forced labor in Manufacturing.

How can you help?

• Resources:
  • Read The Slave Next Door by Kevin Bales, visit the Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force Facebook page, Polaris Human Trafficking website, TIP report.
  • Visit Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force Website: https://mhttf.org/
• Talk to at least 4 people about the myths of human trafficking
• Supply chain
  • Buy Fair Trade goods (coffee, chocolate, nuts, bananas, etc.)
  • Clothes from companies with vertically integrated supply chains
• Share the 1-888-373-7888 human trafficking hot line number.
• Volunteer for mentoring or donate money/items to Vista Maria and Sanctum House.
• Donate to Southeast Michigan organizations supporting human trafficking survivors:
  • Vista Maria: https://www.vistamaria.org/donate/
  • Sanctum House: https://www.sanctumhouse.org/donate-contribute/

How to Build an Ethical Supply Chain for Your Business

06/10/20

Looking for suggestions on ensuring an ethical supply chain?

APICS Greater Detroit mission is to serve our local supply chain community with information and education needed to be successful in our ever changing world.

We are pleased to present the article below written by Derek Goodman, founder of Inbizability, on how to build an ethical supply chain for your business.

By Guest Author: Derek Goodman

As you prepare to restart your supply chain following the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s an ideal opportunity to reassess where your business sources its merchandise and materials. Does your supply chain align with your business’s values, or are purchasing decisions made only with the bottom line in mind?

Today’s consumers expect more from the brands they do business with. Research shows that millennial consumers in particular are increasingly looking to support values-based companies that weave social and environmental responsibility into the fabric of their business — their supply chain included.

What is an ethical supply chain?

Many customers want more than values-based messaging from the companies they do business with. They also want to know that the products they buy come from ethical sources. For consumers, that means doing businesses with companies that actively work to reduce their environmental impact and improve labor conditions throughout their supply chain.

Is an ethical supply chain worth the cost?

Consumers want ethical supply chains, but are they willing to pay for it? Luckily, the answer is yes. Per BusinessNewsDaily, two out of three consumers are willing to pay up to 25 percent more for goods that align with their values.

Not only that, but ethical companies perform better over time. Businesses listed as one of Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies outperform other businesses by 14.4 percent over five years, IndustryWeek reports.

How to create an ethical supply chain

It’s clear that an ethical supply chain is not merely a cost, but an investment. However, taking the leap toward a more sustainable, equitable supply chain poses challenges for business.

Perhaps the biggest is the time investment required to thoroughly vet a supply chain. Modern supply chains are global and complex, making transparency difficult to achieve. To create a more ethical supply chain, SupplyChainBrain advises businesses to start by simplifying. Businesses should map out their supply chain in order to identify and eliminate unnecessary steps and use technology to increase visibility throughout their supply chain.

A simplified supply chain makes it easier for companies to take measures like regularly assessing supplier ethics and maintaining a history of supplier compliance. However, this work still requires more hands on deck. Companies that aren’t prepared to bring on full-time ethics and compliance personnel can turn to freelancers to fill this labor gap. Platforms like Upwork make it simple to find freelancers with the specific skills your business needs.

As an alternative to hiring freelance supply chain management and compliance consultants, businesses may opt to simplify their supply chain by moving to a dropshipping model. However, dropshipping doesn’t mean businesses can opt out of vetting their supply chain. Rather, it allows them to outsource supply chain management to a third party. The best dropshippers have the research and compliance expertise to find ethical suppliers on a company’s behalf.

Ethical supply chains and marketing

The work doesn’t stop with the supply chain. In order to reap the benefits of an ethical supply chain, companies also need to inform consumers about what’s happening behind the scenes.

Ethical marketing is a marketing strategy that showcases a brand’s commitment to its values. By putting its social and environmental responsibility on display, a business can capture consumers searching for ethical companies to support.

Moving toward an ethical supply chain takes work, but there’s no better time to do it than right now. As you prepare to restart your business, consider how you can leverage your supply chain to appeal to consumers and create longevity and sustainability for your company.

About the Author

Derek Goodman is an entrepreneur. He’d always wanted to make his own future, and he knew growing his own business was the only way to do that. He created his site Inbizability, to offer you tips, tricks, and resources so that you realize your business ability and potential now, not later.

Supply Chain Horizon – Top Trends

06/02/20

What do the experts say about the top trends in supply chain?

At APICS Greater Detroit an important part of our mission is to ensure the supply chain community has the information needed to be successful in our ever changing world.

Last week we hosted Dr. Judith Whipple, Professor of Logistics and Supply Chain Management and Faculty Director of the Master of Science in Supply Chain Management Program at Michigan State University (MSU). Dr. Whipple shared about the future of integrated supply chains.

Highlights from Dr. Whipple’s presentation on what’s on the supply chain horizon are below.

Dr. Whipple and a team of researchers at MSU recently conducted a survey of 50+ medium and large firms in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa – Focused on strategic initiatives, challenges, and future considerations. We’ve summarized their findings shared by Dr. Whipple last week regarding what’s on the horizon for supply chains.

• Amazon effect and omni-channel: Respondents shared that Amazon successes due to their data driven approach and same day delivery is impacting retailers. They are juggling omni-channel issues such as a common pool of inventory for e-commerce and B2B customers, last mile delivery and store versus distribution center fulfillment.
• Organizational design for supply chain: Supply chain managers are considering centralized versus decentralized approaches, some opting to bring everything in-house and others moving to a more decentralized model. The right approach depends on the organizations strategy, with those more focused on customers and products being likely more decentralized and companies focused more on operations leaning towards a more centralized approach.
• Outsourcing/Insourcing: Research showed some organizations focused on outsourcing and having 3PLs managing warehouses. Other respondents have made investments in their own capabilities to bring supply chain components back in-house and reduce costs where possible.
• Risk management and sustainability: Supply chain leaders are focused on identifying the weakest link in their supply chains from a risk management perspective. On the sustainability front, key strategic areas include:
  • Environmental with zero waste initiatives and protecting scarce resources
  • Leveraging social media and maintaining compliance
  • Economic with cost minimization and building the business case
• Talent development: Companies are partnering with universities to attract talent. They are systematizing talent development with concern of getting the right talent at the price they are willing to pay. Companies are focused on talent retention with mentoring and networking opportunities. They are dealing with a multi-generational workforce and looking at offering more flexible work arrangements.
• Total network design: Companies are looking for opportunities for consolidation including divisionally, regionally and with competitors. Critical factors that are influencing network decisions include taxation, trade pacts, regulation, economic growth and service expectations.
• Weathering the storms by remaining “change ready”: Key strategies include:
  • Keeping a pulse on changing conditions with tools such as internal innovation council, leveraging supply chain partners and customers for information
  • Postponement and flexible manufacturing
  • Expanding/diversifying customer base
  • Customization – product/package/solution

As the premier association for supply chain management, at APICS Greater Detroit, we know supply chain management is complex and will continue to evolve moving forward. Special thanks again to Dr. Whipple for joining us last week to share the MSU research findings and leading a robust discussion on future trends!

Looking for ways to get connected with your local supply chain community? Join us next week Tuesday, 6/9, for our bi-weekly Supply Chain Community Connect! More info below.

Restarting Your Supply Chain Amid Pandemic

05/27/20

Is your business planning a restart due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

At APICS Greater Detroit an important part of our mission is to ensure the supply chain community has the information needed to be successful in our ever changing world.

Many companies in the greater Detroit area have been impacted by the global pandemic and are looking to resume or increase operations.

At our Supply Chain Connect forum this past week, Matt Stekier, Senior Manager – Supply Chain & Operations Improvement at Plante Moran, shared their insights on five steps to restart your supply chain amid the COVID-19 disruption summarized below.

5 Capabilities to Create Resilient Supply Chains

05/19/20

Is your supply chain resilient to changes?

At APICS Greater Detroit an important part of our mission is to ensure the supply chain community has the information needed to be successful in our ever changing world.

Certainly disruptions due to pandemics such as COVID-19, geopolitical events and climate related disasters are increasing in frequency and magnitude.

Bain & Company global consultants recently shared five capabilities leaders are investing in to create resilient supply chains summarized below.

Per Bain & Company global consultants, leaders invest in five capabilities summarized below to create resilient supply chains:

1. Network agility. Reacting quickly to disruption requires a flexible ecosystem of suppliers and partners that can handle sudden shortfalls or even produce new products. That means setting up alternative manufacturing sites and assembly nodes and making the most of Industry 4.0 tools to optimize cost, improve visibility across the network and accelerate reaction times. Leaders develop tailored solutions for each segment of their supply chains to boost performance and cut costs. Those dependent on offshore production move some manufacturing onshore or closer to their core markets. Toyota reduces risk by having one supplier produce 60% of the needed parts, and two additional suppliers each produce 20%.
2. Digital collaboration. Cloud-based supply chain applications and collaborative platforms and tools enhance information sharing. They also improve the quality and speed of decision making within an organization and with suppliers and other external partners in a secure environment. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, manufacturers have demanded greater visibility into the supply chains of their suppliers—a practice worth continuing. Leaders are applying automation and robotics to make their supply chain more autonomous and adding suppliers in their home markets to ensure business continuity.
3. Real-time network visibility. Control tower solutions that integrate data across the entire supply chain, 5G technology and blockchain offer leadership teams real-time visibility. Companies can better calibrate supply with forecast demand by comparing internal production capacity data with real-time demand signals such as weather data.
4. Rapid generation of insights. Leadership teams can stay a step ahead of supply chain disruptions by improving their ability to rapidly analyze internal data and external sources of big data. That means harnessing machine learning and artificial intelligence for predictive and prescriptive analytics. Those tools can deploy early-warning technologies, model risk scenarios and develop preprogrammed responses. Increased risk of disruption also requires updated planning parameters and objectives, since old assumptions are no longer valid.
5. Empowered teams. Decentralized teams can react quickly to insights generated by advanced analytics and create the rapid-recovery capabilities that will help companies navigate smoothly in times of disruption.

Bain & Company goes on to share that the Covid-19 outbreak has exposed just how vulnerable far-flung supply chains have become. We agree with them that companies that begin investing today in a resilient supply chain will be best positioned to weather the next event that obstructs the global flow of goods.

Looking for more information on the future of integrated supply chains? JOIN us on May 27th for a FREE event to hear from Dr. Judith Whipple, Professor Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University!

Dr. Whipple will be sharing her expertise on, “What’s on the Supply Chain Horizon: Future Trends for an Integrated Supply Chain.” There will be time for discussion after her presentation.

We hope you can join us as we are all in this together!

Advice for Supply Chain Graduates in 2020

05/13/20

Are you a senior graduating this spring with a supply chain degree?

At APICS Greater Detroit an important part of our mission is to serve the next generation of supply chain leaders. We’ve heard from many supply chain students looking for assistance as they graduate during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

At our Supply Chain Connect Forum this past week, several resources were shared to assist students as they begin their careers. We’ve summarized these resources and our advice below.

Basic Needs

Handshake has provided an extensive list of free resources to assist students with basic needs during the pandemic including:

Mental or emotional support:

• If you feel anxious, overwhelmed, or just need to talk to somebody, crisis counselors are available to you 24/7 via the confidential Crisis Text Line. Simply text HOME to 741741 for free support in the US from a trained Crisis Counselor. The Headspace app has released a collection of free materials called “Weathering the Storm,” which includes meditation, sleep, and movement exercises. Ten Percent Happier has created a collection of free guided meditations and additional resources for anyone who might need emotional support during this time.

Moving Help:

• To help support students impacted by university campus closures, U-Haul is offering 30 days of free storage for new customers with college IDs. To help students get home to their families amid campus closures, Enterprise is “reducing the age minimum and waiving the young renter fees for rentals” through May 31, 2020.

Affordable and reliable internet access:

• Comcast Xfinity has announced a slew of offerings in response to COVID-19 concerns for students and remote workers, including free use of outdoor and public Wi-Fi hotspots and unlimited data for no additional charge. Spectrum has offered “free access to internet and WiFi for 60 days for new Pre-K to 12, college student and teacher households who don’t currently have internet or WiFi service.”

Finances:

• Edquity offers emergency aid and basic needs insecurity technology for college students; to take advantage of easy access to online support, read more here. The US Department of Education has announced temporary changes regarding student loans, which you can read in full here.

Hunger:

• In support of independent restaurants and businesses during this trying time, UberEats has waived delivery fees for applicable small business orders. Many chain restaurants, such as Chipotle, Subway, and KFC, are also offering discounts and free delivery on online orders.

Job Searching

Graduating and applying for your first professional job feels especially daunting when the economy, the job market, and the world in general seem to be turned upside down. The Muse provided 6 job search tips for new grads during the pandemic summarized below.

1. Check in on Your Job Offer: You might’ve already had a job lined up, perhaps through a previous co-op or internship or via on-campus recruiting, and are likely wondering if that offer still stands. Check in first with your college career office if they were involved, and if not reach out to whoever extended the offer to you, whether that’s a recruiter, the company’s campus recruiting coordinator, or your future manager.

2. Be Flexible: “Many first-time job seekers have a vision of what they thought their first job would look like,” Williams says. That vision might still be valid but you might need to take some turns and twists to get to that end goal. You might have to consider a different role or location in the short-term.

3. Let Your Skill Set (and Demand) Be Your Guide: Instead of focusing on the job you want, Williams suggests focusing on the industries most interested in the skill set you’ve built. Think about how the skills from your college courses, past internships, summer or work-study jobs, and volunteer work can be leveraged in our current economy. Again, whatever job you get now, you can use that experience down the line to help you transition into the kind of role you originally had in mind—or you might discover another path you’re even more excited about.

4. Continue to Network: Reach out to people you already know relatively well to ask them to keep an eye out for relevant opportunities for you. Make a list of people in your network you feel comfortable approaching—such as favorite professors, internship supervisors you got along with, family members, and friends—and let them know you’re looking for a job. REACH out to APICS Greater Detroit! We are a great resource for you and can connect you to other professionals looking for talent.

Be more focused on staying connected and telling your story than on finding a job, Williams says. It may seem counterintuitive—and it may not yield job offers right away—but you’ll be getting on people’s radar and laying the groundwork to build and grow your career in the years to come.

5. Stand Out From the Crowd: “It’s easy to feel productive and send out 50 one-click applications on LinkedIn, but getting a job requires you to get clear on what you’re looking for and why you want it,” says Meghan Duffy, a career coach who graduated from college during the last recession in 2008. If you’re asking for virtual coffee chat, write a personal and well-researched email. Don’t ask to “pick someone’s brain;” pinpoint the topics you’d like to learn about, Duffy says. Being specific about what you hope to gain from these meetings and arriving prepared with thoughtful questions will help you stand out from others reaching out for advice.

6. Continue to Update Your Skills: “If you’re planning to go to graduate school in the next few years, anyway, and you can afford it, or even if you need to borrow for it, going during a recession is a good time to do it,” says Patrick Mullane, executive director of Harvard Business School Online. That’s because if you enter the workforce during a recession, your earnings could be lower for your lifetime. “You’ll likely have to start with a reduced salary, so it might be better to be in school during a down economy and enter the workforce in a better market,” he says. Even if you don’t want to invest in grad school, it’s important to keep learning and updating your skills, especially if your job search takes a bit longer.

Get Hired

The Art of Procurement shared a podcast this week on how to hire and be hired in the headwinds of the new economy. Mark Holyoake is the founder of Holyoake Search, a US East-coast based procurement recruitment firm and someone who always has his finger on the pulse of the procurement recruitment market. In this interview, Mark provides Host Philip Ideson with an honest overview of the current state of hiring, interviewing, and career building.

Marks speaks to personal branding and that job hopping is more common now and building an extended network is important. He challenges folks to consider the following questions:

• What do you want to be known for?
• And who is the audience?
• What makes you you?
• What are you long term career intentions?
• How do you want to be perceived?

The more you share, the more you reach. Good shares that get engagement on social media should educate, inspire, provoke healthy debate . Draw on own experiences for content. Build your following, increase connections and follow industry leaders.

Additional Advice

Here some additional advice we gathered from supply chain professionals that participated in our forum this past week.

• Get involved in a professional organization like CSCMP or APICS Greater Detroit. At APICS, we have student chapter at Eastern Michigan University and recent alum to help you during your job search. Find a mentor.
• Keep learning! LinkedIn learning (Some are paid content, Some are offered free) including topics like logistics management, negotiation. Consider professional certifications such as APICS CPIM, CSCP or CLTD. Supply chain leaders prefer APICS certifications.

Still have questions? Fill out our contact us form.

Help us celebrate YOU! Send us your picture and a couple sentences about where you are headed in your supply chain career so we can share and celebrate with you!

 

 

Email us: marketing@apicsdet.org

As we all are working through challenging times during the pandemic, know that APICS Greater Detroit is here to support you at every step of your career. Partnering with CSCMP in the Detroit area, we will continue to host the Supply Chain Community Connect discussion forum to share best practices and solutions to today’s top supply chain challenges. Our next call is Tuesday, May 26th. We hope you can join us as we are all in this together!

Supply Chain Technology and Coronavirus

05/06/20

Is your company adopting new technology such as digital platforms or robotics due to Coronavirus impacts?

Last week APICS Greater Detroit hosted our Supply Chain Community Connect and Domenic Leo, Regional Manager for Geek+, shared about robotic solutions companies are turning to increase pick efficiency, worker ergonomics, etc.

Many companies are stepping up investments aimed at simplifying and speeding up their supply chain operations from robotics to digital platforms. We’ve summarized some of these activities below.

The Wall Street Journal shared last week investments companies are making to simplify and speed up their logistics operations. They shared, “Supply-chain upheaval from the pandemic is presenting the tech world with a sudden and unexpected proving ground for automation, digital platforms and other tools that had been low on the priority lists for companies’ logistics operations. From delivery software to mobile robots that help workers fulfill e-commerce orders, those offerings are drawing attention in industries where thin margins have often left companies clinging to older, highly manual operations.” Key tools to assist during the pandemic include:

• Contactless paperwork for shippers and drivers
• E-commerce solutions due to growth in online sales
• Automation equipment and robotics for warehouses and factories impacted by increased demand an distancing guidelines

As we all adjust to new requirements and look for technological solutions during the pandemic, know that APICS Greater Detroit is here to support you with education and networking opportunities. Partnering with CSCMP in the Detroit area, we will continue to host the Supply Chain Community Connect discussion forum to share best practices and solutions to today’s top supply chain challenges. Our next call is Tuesday, May 12th. We hope you can join us as we are all in this together!

Tactics for Plant Management During COVID19

04/27/20

Are you a manufacturer looking for information on ways to keep your plant safe during COVID19?

Per Fox2Detroit, two of Detroit’s big three automakers announced over the weekend they would begin recalling some factory workers back to their respective plants as Michigan businesses seek to start reopening amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Ford said it was planning to recall a skeleton crew of workers Monday as it took steps to restart its assembly lines.

APICS Greater Detroit is focused on serving the local supply chain community with needed information and education to help navigate these challenging times.

We’ve summarized below three guiding principles shared by McKinsey & Company on keeping workers safe through the Coronavirus crisis.

Access McKinsey & Company’s full article here for more information on ensuring your plant is ready to reopen or expand production.

As many manufacturers will likely continue to have many employees work from home, we shared tactics to help you manage your time and employees remotely in our blog last week with pros and cons of working from home.

APICS Greater Detroit is here to support you with education and networking opportunities. We currently support approximately 400 members representing over 150 Detroit area companies.

We have recently teamed up with CSCMP in the Detroit area to host a new Supply Chain Community Connect live discussion forum to discuss topics like the one above and more! Our next call is Today, April 28th at 12:00 PM EDT. We hope you can join us as we are all in this together.

Mohamed Rashdan Shares #WhyAPICS is Important to Him

04/13/20

APICS Greater Detroit members continue to share #WhyApics is important to them.

Mohamed Rashdan, Operations Manager for FedEx and Logistics, Materials and Supply Chain Management major at Eastern Michigan University shares shares his Reasons for joining APICS below.

“Reasons why I joined the APICS…
I was excited to be part of a community of like-minded individuals and be part of something meaningful.
It brought me meaning to supply chain. That every day, I am making an impact in the world.
It opened a lot of opportunities professionally and taught me to get out of my comfort zone
As the president of the student chapter APICS EMU, I was eager to bring supply chain education using APICS body of knowledge to fellow classmates to help us all out professionally. To get the real-life experience of the supply chain world to the classroom.
Now I am a operations manager and I know my role is greater than my operation in my company but it is to keep the world running .”
Mohamed Rashdan, Operations Manager for FedEx and Logistics; Materials and Supply Chain Management major at Eastern Michigan University

Share your #WhyApics story today on how APICS has helped you in your career by sending us an email at media@apicsdet.org!

APICS Greater Detroit currently supports approximately 400 members representing over 150 Detroit area companies with key educational and networking opportunities.

APICS is the leader in supply chain education and certification programs. We set the industry standard. For years, individuals and organizations have turned to APICS to build skills and advance supply chain performance. The APICS brand is globally recognized as the top provider of supply chain certification, endorsement, certificate and education programs.

If you’d like to learn more about how your local APICS chapter can help you in your career from globally recognized certifications to local networking events visit our website at http://www.apicsdet.org.

Join us on Tuesday, April 14th for our Supply Chain Community Connect hosted by us and CSCMP – Detroit area. Details below!

Supply Chain Professionals in Detroit Share About Quarantine Life

04/07/20

Are you looking for support as a supply chain professional during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Last week APICS Greater Detroit, CSCMP, and friends roundtable came together in the first Supply Chain Connect open forum to connect, share and discuss ideas as we all navigate through these challenging times.

Below summarizes ideas and tools that can be leveraged for learning, business management, and surviving the quarantine life.

Read more below.

1. 1. Learning: tools to go virtual, resources for seeking help and more!
      • Some are utilizing Udemy online courses to learn new things: https://www.udemy.com/
      • Virtual is taking off! One member reported taking violin lessons via Facetime, the teacher is in Ann Arbor and the student is in Clarkston
      • Educational Resources: Professors and university faculty are willing to discuss how they are approaching learning and supply chain exposure during this time. Send us an email at: media@apicsdet.org if you’d like more information
      • Zoom was offering free training at 2:00 and 6:00 each day last week. Check the Zoom site
      • Per James Liegghio at AIAG: With regards to the upcoming AIAG Corporate Responsibility Summit, here is the link to the virtual event (April 28th and 29th) https://www.aiag.org/store/events/details?EventCode=E20CRSMMT. SCM students are FREE to register (must be a Supply Chain / Global Supply Chain Management student at the university level or pre-Supply Chain focus at a community college such as MCC, Henry Ford, Schoolcraft, OCC, etc.)
   2. Business Management and COVID-19 Support
      • SAP promoting Ariba discovery: connecting vendors and buyers. More info: https://service.ariba.com/Discovery.aw/125032045/aw?awh=r&awssk=qPSaiBFs&dard=1&ancdc=1 and https://my.ariba.com/Discovery
      • From SAP, “We are working with our customers who are shifting from their normal products to medical products to find new suppliers. We’ve helped folks like GM or Hospitals find new suppliers using the SAP Ariba Discovery tool. We’ve made access to that tool free. If anyone is interested, you can contact dan.miller@sap.com”
      • The Detroit distributor asking for volunteers to help assemble face shields for local medical personnel is Value Wholesale Distributors in Oak Park. You can contact them through their Web site https://www.valuewholesale.com
      • Kerry Zielinski, President CSCMP Detroit has a hands-on project idea. Contact if interested: kerry.zielinski@complog.com
      • Podcast suggestion: Investor Chamath Palihapitiya chats with Kara Swisher about COVID-19, the next 9 – 36 months of the stock market, and ends up going into how supply chains will start to become more resilient. Also: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/recode-decode/id1011668648?i=1000469424578
      • Automotive logistics website showing “extraordinary events” not being an excuse anymore
   3. Tips for Surviving Quarantine Life
      • Stay Connected – #Wearealllinkedin on LinkedIn platform serving as a way for people to connect and help each other in different cities (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/timflucht_wearealllinkedinabrdetroit-wearealllinkedinabrdetroit-activity-6646453996036898817-kdgW)
      • Takeout suggestions – Support your local small businesses and order takeout from Culvers, Barrio Plymouth (bringing food out to cars), Ironwood Plymouth and more
      • Entertainment – Live Nation is now doing Live from Home, showing various concerts, including Metallica. Disney+ has a great selection of movies for the family
      • Cooking – Tim Flucht shared recipe blog – this week’s recipe is Cacio e Pepe Polenta, with Roast Beef Ragu. Takes only about 20 minutes of cooking time. 2.5 hours of stove time. A good recipe link: https://iwriteforfood.com/quarantine-edition-comfort-food-recipe/
      • Virtual traveling – Check out: https://iwriteforfood.com/gallery/ to see some beautiful pictures, and travel in your mind
      • Date night with spouse “in-house” – From Costco (or your favorite super market): buy take-out pizza for kids, buy expensive steak (prime fillet) and some shrimp or scallops and a salad and lobster bisque. Rent a movie for the kids and enjoy date night with partner cooking and having a candlelight dinner. Tell kids that kitchen and dining room is off limits!
      • Work Out – NTC – The Nike Training Club app, is being offered for free currently

Michigan Companies Step Up to Help During COVID-19

03/30/20

Michigan companies are stepping up to help support the fight against COVID-19 with medical supplies, hand sanitizer and more.

At APICS Greater Detroit we support local supply chain professionals with the education and information they need to be successful in today’s ever changing world.

In the beginning of the COVID19 pandemic we might have been alone, but now more than ever we can work together to overcome this.

Thanks to the companies below for their efforts to help fight against COVID-19!

Is your company shifting to help? We’d love to hear and share your story. Email us at media@apicsdet.org.

The following companies are making changes to support the COVID-19 efforts.

1. Shifting from alcohol to hand sanitizer. According to MetroTimes, Michigan companies like Ann Arbor Distilling Co., Griffin Claw, and Bier Distillery have all starting offering bottles of hand sanitizer for free to their customers. “We just saw the impact of COVID-19 and everyone running out of sanitizer. We operate a distillery, so we got creative and were able to make our own,” Griffin Claw Marketing Director Christopher Lasher said in a statement. “It started as a way to sanitize our own taproom and brewery without stressing the public supply. We also offered bottles for all of our guests to use and it really caught on.”
2. Automakers to help make ventilators. GM has joined in to help solve the nation’s shortage of ventilators, which are critically needed to treat COVID-19. Last Friday, GM made the following statement, “GM and Ventec Life Systems, in cooperation with StopTheSpread.org, the nation’s coordinated private sector response to the COVID-19, are collaborating to enable Ventec to increase production of its respiratory care products to support the growing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Ventec will leverage GM’s logistics, purchasing and manufacturing expertise to build more of their critically important ventilators.” Ford Motor Co. also has said it is researching the feasibility of building ventilators and other devices following discussions with the U.S. and U.K. governments.
3. Pharmacies loan space for testing. On March 13, Walmart, Target, and pharmacy giants Walgreens and CVS Health announced they will play a central role in the U.S. government’s plan to make COVID-19 tests accessible across the country as the outbreak of the illness worsens. Walmart, which operates some 4,600 stores in the United States, will make parts of some of its parking lots available for drive-through testing. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said his company would add more of its parking lots as the availability of the test grows. Target, which has 1,800 stores, will do the same. “Normally you could view us as competitors,” Target CEO Brian Cornell said during the press conference, “but today we are focused on a common competitor,” he added in reference to the coronavirus. CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens, which operate about 10,000 locations across the U.S. will also take part.

Thanks again to the companies above for their efforts to help fight against COVID-19!

Share how your company is helping by emailing us at media@apicsdet.org.

APICS Greater Detroit is closely monitoring the outbreak situation for COVID-19 and will continue to adhere to relevant guidance from government and health authorities regarding the proper management of this situation to help ensure everyone’s safety.

The leaders of the APICS Greater Detroit are committed to the safety and well-being of our members, students and guests. We will continue to focus on bringing you relevant information to help you successfully manage your supply chains.

Guide to ASCM Membership & Changes to APICS Certifications During COVID-19

03/30/20

Has your job or APICS certification education been impacted by COVID-19?

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, APICS Greater Detroit continues to support supply chain professionals. We want to ensure you are aware of important Association Supply Chain Management (ASCM) and APICS certification programs outlined below to assist you during these times.

1. ASCM offers membership extension programs for the unemployed and members called to serve in the military.
2. Also, in light of recent Shelter-in-Place and Stay-at-Home orders to slow and stop the spread of COVID-19, APICS has implemented changes to how to study and test for APICS Certifications.

Read more below.

ASCM offers membership extension programs for the unemployed and members called to serve in the military.

• ASCM Unemployed Membership Extension Program

If you are an unemployed ASCM member whose membership is coming up for renewal and you are actively seeking work within the supply chain management field, you may apply for an extension of membership benefits through the unemployed membership extension program.

This program enables members seeking employment within the supply chain management industry to extend their membership for free for an additional six months.

Note: Members may apply for this extension up to three times for coverage over an 18-month period. Members apply for the extension through their local chapter, which must approve the request and waive chapter dues. Members approved for this waiver will receive e-membership for the duration of the waiver, which includes access to all member benefits which will be delivered electronically.

• ASCM Military Benefit Extension Program

Members called to serve in the military may request a free, six-month extension of benefits through the military benefit extension program. Members whose reserve commitments are activated qualify for this extension of benefits. Members approved for this waiver will receive e-membership for the duration of the waiver, which includes access to all member benefits which will be delivered electronically.

Access more information about both of the above programs at: https://www.apics.org/apics-for-individuals/membership/extensions

APICS has also implemented the following changes to how to study and test for APICS Certifications.

In light of recent Shelter-in-Place and Stay-at-Home orders to slow and stop the spread of COVID-19, APICS has implemented changes below to how our community of supply chain professionals will study and test for APICS Certifications.

• Learning System Updates

Beginning on March 27, all learning system orders will include immediate access to all online reading materials and study tools via the online learning system platform.

Printed books are temporarily suspended, and will be shipped out once production and shipping operations return to normal. Everything in the printed books is available digitally. When our production and shipping teams are able to resume operations, printed books will be shipped to customers who purchased during that time.

• Exam Updates

Our exam partner, Pearson VUE has temporarily launched online exam delivery (OnVUE) in select locations worldwide. If you are interested in taking your exam online though the OnVUE platform, make sure you meet the system requirements.

For more information and additional next steps, view the How To Schedule and Take Your Exam from Home guide.

If you have any questions about your learning system or exam, please don’t hesitate to reach out in one of the ways below. We are experiencing more volume than normal, and are addressing the most time sensitive issues first.

Email: customercare@apicslearningsystems.com (learning systems only)

Email: support@ascm.org (for all ASCM inquiries)

Phone: 1-800-444-2742 or +1-773-867-1777

APICS Greater Detroit and CSCMP are jointly hosting a new SUPPLY CHAIN COMMUNITY CONNECT call tomorrow (3/31) at Noon EDT as an open forum for supply chain professionals to connect, share and discuss ideas during these challenging times. See the graphic here or on our events page for details on how to join.

COVID19 Supply Chain Impacts and Resources

03/17/20

Are you looking for more information, resources and support on COVID19?

At APICS Greater Detroit we support local supply chain professionals with the education and information they need to be successful in today’s ever changing world.

In the beginning of the COVID19 pandemic we might have been alone, but now more than ever we can work together to overcome this. The supply chain community is strong and we’re here to support one another!

As a start, read more below including ASCM’s 8 Tactics to Manage the Impact of Coronavirus on Your Supply Chain and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) COVID19 Resources.

APICS Greater Detroit is proud to be a premier channel partner for ASCM. We’ve summarized below their recently published 8 Tactics to Manage the Impact of Coronavirus on Your Supply chain.

1. Not too late to take meaningful action. Those companies that were prepared — particularly with digitized supply chains — are of course more likely to fare better. However, it’s not too late to take meaningful action. Your first goal should be to ensure the safety of your people. Follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Give your workforce a constant, calm, flow of reliable information. Restricted travel policies are a beginning. Also implement screening protocols, increase workforce hygiene standards, and promote telecommuting and other flexible arrangements. Encourage people with preexisting conditions, who are more susceptible to the virus, to self-declare. Then, proactively shift them to remote work.
2. Identify key suppliers in affected areas. Stay in contact with them hourly and, if necessary, secure alternative sources of supply. If you are in a position to do so — particularly financially — reach out to your partners, understand who their suppliers are and ask how you can help. Accelerating a partner’s time to recovery not only helps them survive the threat, but also ensures your own future success. Work broadly to make a difference for others in fair and reasonable ways.
3. To ensure liquidity, stop discretionary spending. Without cashflow, you don’t have a business. Gauge your free cashflow through July 2020 at least. Next, calculate and manage your cash conversion cycle, taking into consideration receivables, days of supply plus inventory and days of supply minus payables days. Finally, if you have purchased supply chain disruption insurance, begin to exercise that policy as needed.
4. Depending on your business, some demand will shift to online channels. Maintain an integrated view of inventory, and segment or separate inventory for online versus retail. Ensure you have the capacity to handle the volume coming into your distribution centers, as well as last-mile capacity.
5. Digitization is key to efficiency, collaboration and synchronization. To orchestrate your extended supply chain, use emerging technologies including the internet of things, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Digital supply networks help buffer risk with far less overhead. In addition, once your supply chain is digitally modeled, you can run discrete event simulation to see how your network reacts to certain stimuli.
6. Subscribe to a digital alert system. This software-as-a-service scans the world every 30 minutes looking for all types of risk events.
7. Keep in mind that we will eventually recover. To prepare for the rebound, communication and collaboration will once again be vital. As supply chains restart, everyone must be on the same page, especially with regards to what to produce first. Set priorities, and work as quickly as possible to get back in sync.
8. Continue making supply chain risk management a priority. Develop response plans, particularly for the most impactful risks. Keep monitoring your global networks, and have a playbook in place going forward.

In addition to ASCM, NAM is in contact with federal officials who are overseeing the response to COVID-19. They have compiled a the following resources for manufacturers as they respond to the pandemic.

1. Federal government response
2. Special policy action plan and manufacturer’s survey
3. Employee health and safety
4. NAM events
5. Pandemic planning
6. The President’s Coronavirus task force
7. Customs and border protection
8. United States Coast Guard Marine Vessel and U.S. ports

Managing Supply Chain Risk Due to Coronavirus

03/09/20

Has your supply chain been impacted by the coronavirus or other geopolitical events?

At APICS Greater Detroit we support local supply chain professionals with the education and information they need to be successful in today’s ever changing world.

Having a plan to manage risks that can impact your supply chain has become essential to be successful in our global economy. Harvard Business Review author James B. Rice, Jr. recently shared advice summarized below on preparing your supply chain for the coronavirus.

James B. Rice, Jr. is deputy director of the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics and he shares that developing a cogent supply chain response to the coronavirus outbreak is extremely challenging, given the scale of the crisis and the rate at which it is evolving. The best response, of course, is to be ready before such a crisis hits, since options become more limited when a disruption is in full swing.

Below is a summary of several of the measures James B. Rice, Jr. suggested can be taken now specific to the coronavirus outbreak.

1. Start with your people. The welfare of employees is paramount, and obviously people are a critical resource. The companies that recovered the fastest after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 were those that tracked down all their employees who dispersed across the southeastern United States. It may be necessary to rethink work practices. When an ice storm shut down Louisville, Kentucky, in 2009, local workers could not get to UPS’s sorting hub. But workers could still travel by air, so the company flew in personnel from other cities to keep the hub running. This interchangeability depended on job and equipment standardization.
2. Maintain a healthy skepticism. Accurate information is a rare commodity in the early stages of emerging disasters, especially when governments are incentivized to keep the population and business community calm to avoid panic. Impact reports tend to be somewhat rose-tinted. However, local people can be a valuable and more reliable source of information, so try to maintain local contacts.
3. Run outage scenarios to assess the possibility of unforeseen impacts. Expect the unexpected, especially when core suppliers are in the front line of disruptions. In the case of the coronavirus crisis, China’s influence is so wide-ranging that there will almost inevitably be unexpected consequences. Inventory levels are not high enough to cover short-term material outages, so expect cause widespread runs on common core components and materials.
4. Create a comprehensive, emergency operations center. Most organizations today have some semblance of an emergency operations center (EOC), but in our studies we’ve observed that these EOCs tend to exist only at the corporate or business unit level. That’s not good enough — a deeper, more detailed EOC structure and process is necessary. EOCs should exist at the plant level, with predetermined action plans for communication and coordination, designated roles for functional representatives, protocols for communications and decision making, and emergency action plans that involve customers and suppliers.
5. Know all your suppliers. Map your upstream suppliers several tiers back. Companies that fail to do this are less able to respond or estimate likely impacts when a crisis erupts. After the 2011 Sendai earthquake in Japan, it took weeks for many companies to understand their exposure to the disaster because they were unfamiliar with upstream suppliers. At that point any available capacity was gone. Similarly, develop relationships in advance with key resources — it’s too late after the disruption has erupted.
6. Understand your critical vulnerabilities and take action to spread the risk. Many supply chains have dependencies that put firms at risk. An example is when an enterprise is dependent on a supplier that has a single facility with a large share of the global market. The Sendai disaster highlighted this type of exposure. For example, Hitachi manufactured approximately 60% of the global supply of airflow sensors, a critical component for auto manufacturers. The anticipated shortage of these items forced some automotive original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to ration the remaining airflow sensors to their highest margin product lines.
7. Create business continuity plans. These plans should pinpoint contingencies in critical areas and include backup plans for transportation, communications, supply, and cash flow. Involve your suppliers and customers in developing these plans.

Although it’s impossible to anticipate the arrival of global crises such as the coronavirus outbreak, firms can mitigate their impacts by taking supply chain preparedness to a higher level and applying the above principles. Access the complete article at https://hbr.org/2020/02/prepare-your-supply-chain-for-coronavirus.

Still looking for more information on the Coronavirus impact on Global Supply Chains?

The Association for Supply Chain Management is hosting a free webinar on March 12th!

ASCM and Supply Chain Canada webinar hosts Elizabeth Rennie, Editor-in-Chief of SCM Now Magazine will be speaking with Jim Kilpatrick, Deloitte Consulting and Greg Schlegel, founder of the Supply Chain Risk Consortium about how organizations are currently handling the repercussions of coronavirus on their global supply chains and what you can do to help mitigate risk for your organization.

Learn more…

APICS Greater Detroit also offers globally recognized certification programs throughout the year for individuals and companies looking to improve their supply chain management efforts. Please contact us via email at: classes@apicsdet.org with questions on our offerings and how they can help your company prepare for global changes.

Part 2 – How Supply Chain Pros at Automotive Suppliers Accelerate Program Launches

02/25/20

Want to help your team to be more successful?

 

APICS Greater Detroit is proud to share this two-part blog guest written by William Crane, CSCP, CEO of IndustryStar. Part 1 shared last week discussed assembling your team and crafting a winning game plan.

 

Part 2 looks at adjusting to what the defense gives you, tracking your stats to continuously improve and pursuing program launch excellence.

 

As supply chain leaders, we can relate to the immense effort that goes into sequential wins in the March Madness tournament to our positive milestone outcomes during a successful new program launch.

Once you’ve assembled the right team and have crafted a winning game plan, you can move on to plays three through five.

Play 3 – Adjust to What the Defense Gives You

As a supplier we can’t control OEM customer changes, but we can govern how we receive and process them. We can choose to develop proactive versus reactive processes to better execute throughout our launches. Leading Tier I automotive suppliers are starting to embrace Agile Supply Chain to navigate our exciting new frontier of mobility.

As with other methodologies that have gone before, Total Quality Management, Lean and Just-In-Time. Agile is a mindset and not a destination. Agile doesn’t replace these proven methodologies. It simply adds in tools for managing the unknown changes that haven’t historically been needed in our predictable high volume dominated industry. In fact, a consistent repeatable process for managing the unknown is exactly what we need to maneuver through the rapid innovation our industry is experiencing.

As you breakdown what an Agile supply chain looks like, they tend to encompass the following four characteristics which afford their companies a competitive advantage:

1. Shared – Increasingly data is shared via cloud software with key stakeholders inside and outside the organization leveraging Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to push and pull data real time.
2. Speed – The velocity of work is accelerated with an empowered cross functional team that has data organized into information via dashboards that allows informed quick decisions.
3. Scalable – It’s scalable in that the program team is fluid and can instantly add and subtract members to ensure the right skill set at the right time.
4. Sustainable – Lastly, the program team strategy and daily actions are positioned in line with company vision to drive value creation for all stakeholders ensuring sustainable success.

Once you’re able to adjust to changes, the next play is to track your stats!

Play 4 – Track Your Stats to Continuously Improve Ahead of Each Game

It’s OK for coaches to draw up plays on a clipboard, but us supply chain professionals need real time information on program health throughout launch. Our industry is moving at far too fast a pace to wait for various functions to pull together data and program management to then consolidate it.

In an ideal world we have both the summary dashboards of system critical path timing and the ability to drill down into our specific team members tasks so that we can provide support and resources where appropriate.

Another area in which focused software is taking hold is program-task management collaboration. Light weight collaborative supply chain cloud software tools can help teams create, view, edit and assign tasks, ingraining newer Agile ways of working. Further, the more flexible nature of these tools provides the perfect blend of standardized processes for identifying, managing and executing work while also providing a higher level of flexibility.

We spend a lot of time tracking and reporting to leadership and OEMs on open and critical path tasks. Today you can automate these update reports to free up your time. Collaborative software allows you to empower each member of the program team to track their personal to do items and the software rolls up all tasks and statues. Program Managers can now better support their customer and teams by identifying statues and remediating headwinds faster. Our last play is where it all comes together for the win and we pursue launch excellence.

Play 5 – Pursue Program Launch Excellence

Business as usual in automotive is in the rear-view mirror. Gone are the days of gathering, analyzing and presenting information to a single leader who then makes decisions. We need empowered player coach supply chain professionals that can drive program strategy real time based on sound information.

It is possible for you and your team to work less, and as a result be less stressed by experiencing more flow during launches. To accomplish this, we need to mimic winning high performing basketball teams like MSU to focus on the right plays that generate the most outsized results.

Continued program launch excellence has several organizational benefits; happier, more productive, less stressed, lower turnover teams, oh and less coaching from OEM customers. Our mobility future will be different, dramatically different. It is up to us as supply chain leaders to empower our teams with the winning plays to thrive during new program launches.

William Crane, CSCP, CEO of IndustryStar, an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based on-demand supply chain services and software technology company that partners with leaders to reduce the cost, time and risk of bringing new product ideas to production and beyond. William is a trusted advisor in supply chain with demonstrated results starting, launching and enhancing procurement, logistics, supplier quality and manufacturing organizations.

His work has appeared frequently in the Institute for Supply Management, Sourcing Industry Group, Automation Alley, Disruptor.com and Modern Material Handling among others. William’s passion for bringing technologies to market that have a positive impact on the world can be found via his blog Supply Chain for Tomorrow’s Technology. William is also Host of the Supply Chain Innovation podcast where he interviews top change-makers to uncover strategies, tips, and tools for improving new product launches. William may be contacted at william.crane@industrystar.com.

 

APICS Greater Detroit also offers globally recognized certification programs throughout the year for individuals and companies looking to improve their supply chain management efforts. Please contact us via email at: classes@apicsdet.org with questions on our offerings and how they can help your company prepare for global changes.

Part 1 – How Supply Chain Pros at Automotive Suppliers Accelerate Program Launches

02/18/20

Have you ever been a part of a really successful team?

 

APICS Greater Detroit is proud to share this two-part blog guest written by William Crane, CSCP, CEO of IndustryStar.

 

Part 1: Assemble Your Team and Craft Winning Game Plan

 

The best teams are player-coached teams,” once said Head Coach of the men’s college basketball program at Michigan State University, Tom Izzo.

 

We often draw analogies between sports and business; winning teams offer wonderful examples of what is possible when a group of hard-working people mesh to accomplish something bigger than themselves.

 

As supply chain leaders, we can relate to the immense effort that goes into sequential wins in the March Madness tournament to our positive milestone outcomes during a successful new program launch.

Read more…

Unfortunately, at times our program launches can resemble the heartbreaking losses of March Madness, emphasis on the word madness. We have come to accept that launches are a high-adrenaline effort riddled with stresses and late nights. But must they be? Sure, they will always take immense effort, as do all things worth doing, but are there specific plays that can reduce our anxiety and increase our win percentage?

The question then becomes how we can harness the same magic that high performing tournament teams exude to form tight knit program teams that consistently deliver launches on time and budget?

As a plethora of blue chip and new OEMs strive to accelerate an ever-wider range of all new vehicles and technologies from electric to autonomous vehicles; launch speed will become an increasingly deciding factor in determining future new program business awards. Further, our ability to consistency bring programs to market will continue to shape our organization’s profitability.

We need to equip our teams with newer tools to lead and make better day to day decisions faster. Below are the first two winning plays that will aid your team’s efforts in accelerating program launches.

Play 1: Assemble Team of Talented-Complimentary Players

The simple fact is there is more work to be done in a compressed amount of time during the period of program award to ultimate production launch. This understandably creates a high-pressure environment at the onset for our teams where one bad decision can quickly snowball into timeline delays.

As OEMs strive to pick up the pace in which they bring vehicles to market we need to seek more cost-effective ways we can add and subtract people bandwidth from program teams. Further, as OEMs continue to infuse more and more electric-connected technologies into systems we need to also align the right supply chain technical expertise at the appropriate times to ensure consistent forward momentum.

Our standard approaches 1) hiring full time employees 2) staffing contract employees and/or 3) engaging specialty consulting firms to solve people and skills bandwidth spikes has worked ok. However, these approaches are starting to prove more expensive in our increasingly high mix-low volume environment.

Today, automotive supply chain leaders are deploying a fourth lever, technology enabled services firms, to acquire people bandwidth and expertise. Technology enabled service firms represent the next evolution in business process outsourcing (BPOs) and can dramatically reduce program delays by providing your team with the right support at the right time.

Typically, these Supply Chain as a Service firms are a mix of experienced professionals with productivity software e.g. technology enabled services. This lower cost support model enables them to also support focused sub-processes over short time durations, e.g. prototype build inventory management. Every win starts with a great team, technology enabled services firms can be a cost-effective way to suit up the best possible team to play and win your launches.

Play 2: Craft Winning Game Plan to Play to Strengths

One the greatest challenges of launching a new program, whether a full module with a large bill of material or a series of shoot and ship parts, is organizing, managing and reporting on all the critical business data. The data ranges from system cost to part revision to supplier to lead time to inventory level. When aggregated together there are roughly 120 best practice automotive industry business data points per part that should ideally be tracked from program award to production launch to ensure a safe launch.

Typically, due to a lack of bandwidth and standardized systems, our teams are forced to manually track a shorter list, usually 20 data points, only the most mission critical that pertain directly to their function’s job responsibilities. This is understandable because each function needs some of the same data as well as unique data. The net result is that each representative on a program launch team often is forced to develop their own program tracking document, typically in Microsoft Excel.

Launch delays tend to happen from decisions made from inaccurate untimely data. The root causes of which germinate from conflicting data pulled from varying sources, updated at different intervals and formatted in various ways.

Leading automotive suppliers are accelerating new program launches by deploying light weight Automated Plan for Every Part (PFEP) cloud software to replace early manual BOMs and part tracking templates. Automated PFEP software enables multiple cross functional team members from program management to purchasing to materials to logistics to manufacturing to view, edit, track and report on a program real time all in the same document. As with a winning game plan, Automated PFEP Software can help your team play better together at a faster pace.

Come back for next week’s Part 2 of this blog post that will look at three more winning plays to aid in your team’s efforts in accelerating program launches including:

• Adjusting to What the Defense Gives You
• Tracking Your Stats to Continuously Improve Ahead of Each Game
• Pursuing Program Launch Excellence

William Crane, CSCP, CEO of IndustryStar, an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based on-demand supply chain services and software technology company that partners with leaders to reduce the cost, time and risk of bringing new product ideas to production and beyond. William is a trusted advisor in supply chain with demonstrated results starting, launching and enhancing procurement, logistics, supplier quality and manufacturing organizations.

His work has appeared frequently in the Institute for Supply Management, Sourcing Industry Group, Automation Alley, Disruptor.com and Modern Material Handling among others. William’s passion for bringing technologies to market that have a positive impact on the world can be found via his blog Supply Chain for Tomorrow’s Technology. William is also Host of the Supply Chain Innovation podcast where he interviews top change-makers to uncover strategies, tips, and tools for improving new product launches. William may be contacted at william.crane@industrystar.com.

 

APICS Greater Detroit also offers globally recognized certification programs throughout the year for individuals and companies looking to improve their supply chain management efforts. Please contact us via email at: classes@apicsdet.org with questions on our offerings and how they can help your company prepare for global changes.

Keep Digging and Keep Learning!

02/11/20

Are you still learning in your career? Are you continuously seeking new opportunities to keep your skills fresh?

 

 

APICS Greater Detroit hosted Linas Polteraitis, Adient’s VP of Global Commodity Procurement last week at a sold out event where he shared valuable information on strategic procurement strategies.

 

 

Linas also reinforced the importance for supply chain and purchasing professionals to keep digging and keep learning!

Read more…

ASCM CEO Abe Eshkenazi, CSCP, CPA, CAE, recently shared his thoughts on the importance of upskilling supply chain professionals for a sustainable future. He shared that according to PwC’s 23rd Annual Global CEO Survey, the key forces driving the upskilling imperative include automation, less availability of talent, reduced mobility of skilled labor and the aging workforce. “One reality is clear,” the report states, “increases in automation, changes in demographics and new regulations will make it much harder for organizations to attract and retain the skilled talent they need to keep pace with the speed of technological change. They will have to grow their own future workforce.”

Abe stated that the CEOs who have embraced upskilling report benefits including stronger corporate culture and employee engagement, greater ability to attract and retain workers, heightened levels of innovation, and enhanced productivity.

APICS Greater Detroit also offers globally recognized certification programs throughout the year for individuals and companies looking to improve their supply chain management efforts. Please contact us via email at: classes@apicsdet.org with questions on our offerings and how they can help your company prepare for global changes.

Preparing for Supply Chain Disruptors

02/03/20

Has your supply chain been impacted by disruptions such as the coronavirus or geopolitical changes?

 

 

The Wall Street Journal shared last week, “As the spread of the new coronavirus in China causes more factory shutdowns, the effect on global industrial supply chains could linger for years.”

APICS Greater Detroit serves the local Supply Chain community by providing education and information needed to stay competitive.

Read more on ways to minimize the impact of global changes on your supply chain.

Over the past couple weeks, the spread of the Coronovirus has impacted global supply chains.

Per Automotive Purchasing and Supply Chain news, “Commenting on the effect of the Coronavirus outbreak on the global supply chain, Professor Richard Wilding OBE, Professor of Supply Chain Strategy at Cranfield School of Management, said: “This is a major disruptive event with global implications for supply chains. Air freight is already down 50% and we are seeing a backlog of shipping on the Yangtze River. The consequences are already taking effect, as we are hearing that a car plant factory in Germany has had to close because it does not have the raw materials. This is a trend that is likely to continue in the short-term.”

Per the National Association for Manufacturer’s Q4 Outlook survey, 55.4% of respondents were concerned about trade uncertainties, the 2nd biggest challenge for respondents aside from talent shortages.

Bottom line is that today’s supply chains are impacted by disruptions.

Supply Chain Dive contributor, Jon Kirchoff, PhD, a professor of marketing and supply chain management at East Carolina University, recently shared four steps for managers summarized below for ways to minimize risk inherent in global supply chains.

1. Identify which risks can be addressed quickly with little cost in the short run and which will take longer to implement and have higher costs. This idea can be translated into a “cone” of risk, whereby risks are divided up by the time needed to address them (days or weeks, months and years), and the resources needed in terms of planning. In this way, near-term planning commits resources for a quick turnaround while long-term planning commits greater resources but addresses the larger problem.
2. Move from a reactive, operational approach to supply chain risk management and instead pursue it in strategic, proactive terms. Ad hoc solutions do not consider root cause analysis or the long-term impact of supply chain disruptions. An operational approach is fine for a quick turnaround, but a strategic approach to risk management addresses the immediacy of impact and prepares firms for the future.
3. Employ a useful tool in the form of a basic equation of supply chain risk: the probability of the risk occurring multiplied by the impact or cost of the risk to the business. So, while the risk of force majeure may have a low probability of occurring, e.g., Japan’s tsunami of 2011, the impact or costs to the affected supply chains are nearly incalculable. Conversely, while the risk of shipping delays in a lean supply chain is not uncommon, the impact is often relatively low and short-term.
4. Work with supply chain partners to develop and implement risk management strategies. Firms often do not have full visibility of their end-to-end global supply chains, and cooperation and coordination with suppliers and customers are critical. To that end, new technologies such as blockchain show promise to better connect members of the supply chain and improve trust and transparency.

Key to supply chain risk management is to be proactive, consider tactics such as those suggested above by Jon Kirchoff and work with internal and external partners to craft a plan to minimize potential impacts.

APICS Greater Detroit also offers globally recognized certification programs throughout the year for individuals and companies looking to improve their supply chain management efforts. Please contact us via email at: classes@apicsdet.org with questions on our offerings and how they can help your company prepare for global changes.

Career Development Key to Keeping Quality Workers

01/28/20

Is your company struggling to retain quality workers? Many industries are feeling the challenge of a retiring Boomer generation and low levels of unemployment.

 

 

Per HRMorning.com, “Prospective employees see career development as among the most important reasons to sign with —and stay with — with your organization.”

APICS Greater Detroit serves the local Supply Chain community by providing education and information needed to stay competitive.

Read more on how your company can offer essential career development programs to attract and keep your skilled workers.

Supply Chain is a pool of opportunities. If you love your job, then passionately achieve your tasks!

Side by side during office hours by creating references with practical examples.

I learned end-to-end supply chain connectivity. That helped me in automating the entire procurement process flow of the system.

Soon after completion of my certification, I was transferred to the role of Procurement and Analytics. Within 2 years I was promoted to Manager Supply Chain.

I designed a management dashboard after gaining in-depth knowledge from CSCP. This dashboard has end-to-end data and KPIs visibility which is used by Top Management for reporting. Saving of approx. 1.3 million rupees per anum was recorded.

It gives a helicopter view which one cannot get being at a specified job role. CSCP broadens the thinking ability.

Like Arsalan, thousands of supply chain professionals and companies have appreciated the career development opportunities, cost savings and revenue growth APICS certifications have been proven to provide. Read more APICS Certification success stories.

APICS Greater Detroit serves the local Supply Chain community by providing education and information needed to stay competitive. We offer certification classes throughout the year and have a CPIM 2 VIRTUAL class and CSCP In-person and Virtual class both starting in March! More information is below.

Interested in leveraging APICS expertise within your corporate training programs? We can help develop and deliver content proven to help you lower costs and improve revenue! Learn more about our custom corporate training programs or contact us via email at: classes@apicsdet.org.

We look forward to helping you attract and retain quality employees in 2020 with career development opportunities!

APICS Greater Detroit also offers globally recognized certification programs throughout the year for individuals and companies looking to improve their supply chain management efforts. Please contact us via email at: classes@apicsdet.org with questions on our offerings and how they can help your company prepare for global changes.

Value of ASCM Membership for Supply Chain Professionals

01/21/20

Are you a supply chain professional in the Greater Detroit area looking to advance in your career?

 

 

Read our latest article below on the value of membership in the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) as part of your career management strategy.

 

 

APICS Greater Detroit serves the local Supply Chain community by providing education and information needed to stay competitive and is proud to be part of the ASCM network as a premier channel partner.

Per the Forbes article titled, How Engaging With An Industry Association Can Energize Your Job Search, “Senior leaders frequently cite their engagement with industry associations as an essential component of their career management. At its essence, active involvement in associations makes you more valuable internally and more marketable externally.”

If you are a supply chain professional in the Greater Detroit area, you have an opportunity to join the premier association for supply chain management by joining ASCM and APICS Greater Detroit chapter.

Becoming a member of ASCM is an investment in your future. A globally respected educational society, we offer career-enhancing certification programs and opportunities to develop your leadership skills. When you join ASCM, you become part of a network of over 45,000 professionals.

Top 10 Benefits of Membership

1. APICS Certification – Fast-track your career with world-renowned credentials. There’s a reason employers ask for APICS certifications. We set the standard for supply chain management. PLUS members receive free exam content manuals and discounts on prep courses, learning systems and exams.
2. APICS Certification Maintenance – ASCM members receive six maintenance points per year.
3. Savings – on Detroit area courses, events and certification exams!
4. Local Networking – Build your professional network and get involved through local chapters/partners.
5. Job Board – Members get first access to the top jobs and internships in supply chain. Looking for candidates? Members get discounts on job postings.
6. APICS Dictionary – Stay current and improve productivity, consistency and knowledge across the supply chain with the 15th edition of the APICS Dictionary. Members get free digital access.
7. SCM Now Magazine – Online access to the award-winning publication from ASCM.
8. Comparative Analysis Tools – Measure your performance and make well-informed decisions to advance your supply chain with members-only access to the Manufacturing and Distribution Comparative Analysis reports.
9. Supply Chain Channel – Gain insight and knowledge from your peers and grow your online professional network through ASCM online discussion community, for members-only.
10. The APICS Operations Management Body of Knowledge (OMBOK) Framework – defining the scope of the operations management field.

As a member affiliated with the APICS Greater Detroit Chapter, you will be kept up-to-date on our latest opportunities such as social and professional events, meetings, plant tours, and workshops. Prices and discounts can be found below. Learn more…

Learn more about APICS Greater Detroit and join us on February 6th to hear from Adient’s VP of Global Commodity Procurement share his thoughts on Strategic Procurement! Learn more…

UPCOMING January and March 2020 Certification Classes:

 

 

CPIM (Certification in Production and Inventory Management)

 

 

CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional)

 

 

Looking forward to seeing you in 2020!

APICS Greater Detroit 2019 Year in Review!

01/14/20

APICS Greater Detroit is proud to continue to serve the Detroit area Supply Chain Community!

 

We are ambitious, smart, and passionate about operations and supply chain management.

 

We invite you to take a look back at 2019 with us at highlights from our educational events, certification classes, community support and more!

 

We look forward to seeing you in 2020!

• We made our globally recognized certification training courses for Certified in Production & Inventory Management (CPIM), Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) and Certified in Logistics, Transportation & Distribution (CLTD) more affordable and more flexible than ever before. We added new delivery options, providing more flexibility to learn from experts in person and/or in virtual environments. We also offered savings of 20% off historical prices!
• We also offered a Sales & Operations Planning Seminar, full day event that provided managers and planners a comprehensive review of the principles and functions of S&OP. Attendees participated in exercises and discussions on the elements of data collection, demand and supply planning, and conducting the pre- and executive S&OP meetings.
• Congratulations to all of the individuals for earning an APICS Supply Chain certification in 2019!

We hosted many events throughout the year that helped the community, provided educational and networking opportunities!

• March 2019: We kicked off the year with a fun event supporting Fleece & Thank You, a wonderful organization focused on providing comfort and hope to children battling illness. They provide donors the unique opportunity to create fleece blankets and special video messages of encouragement. The APICS Greater Detroit group worked together to put together over 100 blanket kits. Every blanket has a special patch that carries the video message from the maker.
• April 2019: Supply chain professionals got together for an interactive discussion with Global Supply Chain Management Executive, Richard Ulrey Jr., CPA, MBA, PhD. Richard shared expert advice on how a successful Sales & Operations Planning process integrates marketing, operational and distribution planning to create over-arching strategic plans for business.
• June 2019: We hosted a fun networking event and informative tour last week at B. Netkar, the largest meadery in the USA!
• August 2019: We teamed up with ISM and CSCMP to host the 2nd annual Southeast MI golf outing! Participants included Supply Chain Professionals from Adient, GM, FCA, Comp Logistics, Cooper, MetaOps, Wayne State University, Michigan State University, Eastern Michigan University, 4Flow, LLamasoft all enjoyed networking, prizes and of course 18 rounds of golf!
• September 2019: We hosted a fun fall networking event at Axe Throwing at BATL in Novi!
• November 2019: APICS Greater Detroit and Slalom hosted Tim McCurdy, StockX’s VP of Supply Chain, and our amazing members and guests for a night of Supply Chain topics, food, drinks, and networking.

We proudly supported supply chain students.

1. We continue to partner with the Eastern Michigan University APICS Student Chapter. The Student Chapter Management Program is designed as a management tool for student chapters that are seeking to improve their processes, products, and services. It encourages the operation of a well-managed chapter that is properly balanced and effective in meeting its student member needs. The APICS EMU Chapter Earned Platinum Status for their chapter for the 33rd year!
2. In the Fall of 2019, we launched NEW Student Ambassador (SA) Program starting in 2020. SAs will gain valuable experience and exposure, serving as a resource for fellow students on the benefits of APICS.

The Evolving State of Procurement Culture, Identity, and Technology

01/14/20

Research and advisory firm Levvel Research shared key findings around the evolving state of procurement culture, identity and technology in their 2019 Procurement Insight Report.

 

 

Read more in the APICS Greater Detroit blog below.

 

 

APICS Greater Detroit proudly serves the local Supply Chain community by providing education and information needed to stay competitive in today’s fast changing world.

APICS defines procurement as including the business functions of procurement planning, purchasing, inventory control, traffic, receiving, incoming inspection, and salvage operations.

Procurement is a critical role within most companies, often operating as a strategic arm within a tactical back office. Per Levvel Research, “Many procurement departments see themselves as crucial to ensuring financial stability for their company by maintaining competitive and controlled purchasing, strong supplier relationships, and low maverick spend. “

In their 2019 research study, Levvel shared that while maverick spend is the most likely initiative to be reported as a critical priority, broader goals related to global business operations (including supply chain visibility and sustainability/ethical processes), risk management, and leveraging new technology are listed as critical or moderate priorities for many organizations.

Below are the top four procurement initiatives based on survey respondents.

1. Reduce maverick spending (e.g. fraudulent, off-contract, off-budget, non-compliant purchasing). Responses: 38% critical and 40% moderate.
2. Improve visibility/collaboration into supply chain processes. Responses: 35% critical and 42% moderate.
3. Improve visibility into supplier data, quality, and/or risk. Responses: 34% critical and 47% moderate.
4. Leverage new technologies, such as AI and big data/analytics. Responses 33% critical and 42% moderate.

Levell also shared these three notable trends based on their research:

1. Procurement functions have shifted from basic supply management and overseeing transactional activity to more holistic and expansive participation within the business. Procurement leaders’ goals are evolving from simply controlling spend to strategically executing procurement functions that support the business’s financial and operational decisions, protect its bottom line, and mitigate risk to the company’s competitive advantage. This shift is largely motivated by supply chains that are increasingly international, competitive markets operating under more volatile economic conditions and trade laws, and the relatively sharper focus on sustainability and ethical sourcing in order to maintain brand and legal security.
2. The procurement technology space is becoming much more diverse and innovative. eProcurement technology providers are offering tools that enable more strategy, risk control, and supply-chain-centric management to align with the shifting values of procurement leaders. Acquisitions between different procurement and payables providers have increased the number of large-scale P2P platforms available, and an increasing network of partnerships between traditional procurement providers and supplementary / adjacent solutions and services has broadened the net of procurement capabilities for providers’ clients.
3. Expect increased adoption of eProcurement among smaller markets in the near term, enabled in part by the changes in providers’ offerings and delivery models. Overall, eProcurement adoption is being planned sooner by segments that have traditionally delayed adoption until they had the growth and resources to justify the need. One in four LMM organizations surveyed plan to adopt eProcurement software in the next 12 months, and 33% plan to adopt eProcurement software in the next 1-2 years. Enterprises on the other hand, were more likely than any other revenue segment to plan adoption in 5 years or more.

The world of procurement and supply chains is definitely evolving. What are your top procurement priorities? We’d love to hear them! Send us an email at marketing@apicsdet.org.

Learn more about APICS Greater Detroit and join us on February 6th to hear from Adient’s VP of Global Commodity Procurement share his thoughts on Strategic Procurement! Learn more…

UPCOMING January and March 2020 Certification Classes:

 

 

CPIM (Certification in Production and Inventory Management)

 

 

CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional)

 

 

Looking forward to seeing you in 2020!

Industry Leaders Respond as USMCA Moves Forward

12/17/19

Has your supply chain been impacted by trade uncertainties?

 

Last week progress was made on the proposed new United States-Mexico-Canada trade Agreement (USMCA).

 

APICS Greater Detroit serves the local supply chain community by sharing the information and education needed to stay competitive in today’s ever changing world.

Read below for more information on USMCA and what key industry leaders saying.

APICS Greater Detroit is committed to helping local supply chain professionals by offering globally recognized certification classes start in January 2020:

• CPIM (Certification in Production and Inventory Management)
• CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional)
• CLTD (Certified Logistics, Transportation and Distribution)

Advance your career in 2020!

Learn more about all of our programs at our website at: www.apicsdet.org.

Advice on How To Attract Millennials to Your Organization

12/10/19

Is your company having a hard time closing the skill gap? Would you benefit from being able to hire more millennial aged employees?

 

 

At APICS Greater Detroit we are passionate about serving our local supply chain community. We do this by supporting professionals with the information and education needed to stay competitive in today’s ever changing world.

Read more below to learn tips on attracting and retaining Millennial aged workers.

Per the National Association for Manufacturers (NAM) 3rd Quarter Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey, “For the eighth consecutive quarter, the inability to attract and retain a quality workforce remained manufacturers’ top business concern.” As the need for quality employees increases, the make-up of today’s workforce is changing.

Pew Research shared that Millennials (U.S. Census Bureau defines as anyone born between 1981-1996) are expected to overtake Boomers (born between 1946-1964 ) in population in 2019 as their numbers swell to 73 million and Boomers decline to 72 million. Generation X (born between 1965-1980) is projected to pass the Boomers in population by 2028. Attracting and retaining skilled Millennial workers is a key strategy for companies to be successful in the coming years.

The Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center recently published the following insights on what Millennials value at work and how to adjust your company to the changes in the workforce.

What Do Millennials Value?

Per the MI Manufacturing Technology Center, Millenials value the following when it comes to their place of employment.

• Meaningful work. Individuals want to feel passionate about their jobs, as if they are making a meaningful contribution to the organization and to the greater good. Regardless of the position or industry, workers want purpose in their jobs and to feel like they are truly making a meaningful impact.
• Collaboration. Rather than working in independent, isolated silos, younger generations prefer to work collaboratively. By sharing ideas and working together as a team to identify and enact solutions, each individual feels more involved, all while getting to know fellow workers better.
• Staying connected. New generations grew up surrounded by advanced technology. These digital natives thrive when given the opportunity to use different types of technology and largely expect employers to rely on digital forms of communication to connect with workers.
• Social justice. How does your company give back to the local community? What does your company stand for? When Millennials are job searching, these are important questions they need answered before deciding what kind of organization they want to work for.
• Diversity. Young workers want to know that their organization actively supports diversity of thoughts and experiences. They want to feel as if alternative ideas and processes will be welcomed and respected, rather than ignored in efforts to maintain the status quo.
• Education. Millennials want to learn. This curiosity is maximized in a job setting, where workers often are interested in upskilling and furthering their knowledge in order to reach their full potential in their roles, all while opening up new opportunities for future growth.
• Skepticism. Distrust of authority is a common feeling among young people. To ensure workers understand all leaders’ intentions and goals, transparency is key.

1. Review your company’s current culture to ensure it reflects the values above. Make adjustments if needed and highlight these values in your recruitment efforts.
2. Increase retention of younger workers by establishing a co-mentoring program that is collaborative with expectations that both parties can learn from each others experiences and talents.
3. Implement a feedback program to foster continuous improvement ideas and give younger employees opportunities to provide innovative solutions to business problems. This helps all teammates feel invested in the company’s success. Providing ways to share feedback increases collaboration and keeps newer employees engaged.

APICS Greater Detroit is committed to helping local supply chain professionals by offering globally recognized certification classes start in January 2020:

• CPIM (Certification in Production and Inventory Management)
• CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional)
• CLTD (Certified Logistics, Transportation and Distribution)

Advance your career in 2020!

Learn more about all of our programs at our website at: www.apicsdet.org.

Supply Chains and Blockchain: Real World Examples

12/03/19

Is your company using Blockchain technology? Could your supply chain benefit from it?

 

 

At APICS Greater Detroit we are passionate about serving our local supply chain community. We do this by supporting professionals with the information and education needed to stay competitive in today’s ever changing world.

Read more below to learn about what Blockchain is and how it’s being leveraged today in supply chains across industries including food, automotive and pharmaceutical.

What is blockchain? Per SupplyChainDigitial, blockchain is, “a system that records change and movement of transactions. It’s maintained across several systems that are linked to a peer-to-peer network. When it comes to the supply chain, blockchain acts as an immutable ledger within a decentralised location. Meaning that any changes in ownership or possession of goods, along with their movements from each end of the supply chain, can be recorded instantly for the greatest possible accuracy, which is essential for businesses. This increased transparency across the chain can allow for a clear understanding of the value of goods, as well as a more succinct idea of a fair and reasonable cost of each individual product. It also allows for more detailed traceability in goods from across the globe, which gives an insight into the environmental impact of products, as purchasers can follow the entire journey of their orders.”

IBM provides more useful information on their website on the types and uses of blockchain. Next we’ll look at some real world examples.

The food industry has been an early adopter of blockchain in part because of consumer’s wanting transparency. Per CoinTelegraph, the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), published a study in 2018 that found as much as 75% of consumers are more likely to switch to a brand that provides more in-depth product information — beyond what’s provided on the physical label.

FoodOnline shared recently how the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) worked with IBM’s Food Trust to launch a seafood blockchain pilot this past summer, beginning a comprehensive seafood supply chain traceability pilot program. The work is the first multi company and seafood species effort. NFI members who represent harvesters, importers, processors, cold storage, foodservice restaurants and retail are all involved in the program. Per NFI President John Connelly. “NFI members’ supply chains are dynamic and wide reaching, a fertile ground for this type of pilot.”

Several large players in the automotive industry, including Ford and GM have teamed up with The Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative (MOBI) to develop a multi-stakeholder Proof of Concept (PoC) for a blockchain-based Vehicle Identity (VID).

In September, MOBI members launched an important joint initiative to test implementation of the first VID standard, released earlier this year, taking a critical step towards the new economy of movement with blockchain. MOB CEO Chris Ballinger shared, “Creating a trusted digital identity for a vehicle unlocks the potential for a mobility payments network, including: V2V/V2X transactions, electric vehicle to grid integration, usage-based services, fleet operations, congestion pricing, carbon footprint management, and more.”

Ford Motor Company also shared in October a new pilot to investigate how innovative geofencing and blockchain technology could help to accurately track and increase the number of “green miles” driven by vehicles.

According to a recent Forbes article, the value of blockchain technology in the health care market is expected to surpass $1.6 billion by 2025 (paywall). A blockchain example today in the pharmaceutical industry is MediLedger. They are utilizing blockchain to provide a secure platform that offers its users the option of smart contracts and traces certain prescription drugs from the manufacturer to the patient’s doorstep. By utilizing a blockchain network, each step on the process is able to be stored and time-stamped.

These are just a few examples of where blockchain is disrupting industries today and being leveraged to better track information throughout supply chains.

Keep learning in 2020! APICS globally recognized certification classes start in January 2020:

• CPIM (Certification in Production and Inventory Management)
• CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional)
• CLTD (Certified Logistics, Transportation and Distribution)

APICS Greater Detroit chapter members receive discounts on all certification classes – click here to join today.

Highlights from StockX VP Supply Chain Presentation & Dinner at Slalom Detroit

11/27/19

APICS Greater Detroit had a great turnout last week with over 40 local professionals joining a fun and educational dinner meeting at the Slalom offices with special guest speaker, Tim McCurdy, StockX’s VP of Supply Chain!

 

Tim shared how StockX turns Supply Chain traditional Sales and Operations Planning on it’s head.

 

StockX is the world’s first stock market for things – a live ‘bid/ask’ marketplace. Buyers place bids, sellers place asks and when a bid and ask meet, the transaction happens automatically.

Networking and Mediterranean dinner started the evening in Slalom’s innovative, laid back office space right in the center of downtown Detroit where forty were gathered to hear the magic behind Detroit’s first unicorn billion-dollar start-up from their VP of Supply Chain, Tim McCurdy. Tim

Tim, with previous experience at Nike, L’Oreal, and Home Depot covered StockX’s unique approach to supply chain management that flips sales and operation planning on its head. He also shared the importance of users to experience transparency, authenticity and anonymity when using their platform.

Slalom Detroit shared about machine learning, a method of data analysis that automates analytical model building to identify patterns and make decisions with minimal human intervention.

They reinforced the point that it doesn’t need to be complicated. Start with one sku, one project and get that right. Then you can expand from there.

Slalom shares several case studies on their website on how machine learning approaches help solve complex problems.

Keep learning in 2020! APICS globally recognized certification classes start in January 2020:

• CPIM (Certification in Production and Inventory Management)
• CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional)
• CLTD (Certified Logistics, Transportation and Distribution)

APICS Greater Detroit chapter members receive discounts on all certification classes – click here to join today.

Detroit’s Global Logistics Leadership & APICS Enhanced CLTD Certification

11/19/19

Did you know that per the Detroit Regional Partnership, Detroit is the 6th largest metro in the nation for export products to more than 230 countries? Or that EVERY day more than 11,000 trucks carrying goods worth more than $600 million use the Detroit & Port Huron border crossings?

 

 

The Detroit area is a global leader in logistics and APICS Detroit is offering an enhanced Certified in Logistics, Transportation & Distribution (CLTD) instructor-led course to continue to support these efforts as outlined below.

APICS Greater Detroit chapter is excited to host upcoming instructor-led training courses in January 2020 for APICS CLTD 2.0 Learning System that will expand participants global logistics knowledge with updated content to ensure logistics, transportation and distribution professionals have the knowledge they need to succeed in the global marketplace.

2020 CLTD 2.0 Enhancements Include:

• 9 new case studies (1-per module)
• Updates to the online menu to assist students such as downloadable e-Pub files for note taking, exam prep video series, in-product calculator, instructor-led slides and more
• Moving from 8 to 9 modules, splitting the CLTD 1.0 Inventory and Warehousing into individual modules
• Progress check questions moved into online quizzes
• 2 physical printed books

Global logistics and supply chains are very important to the Detroit area and APICS Greater Detroit will continue to support these efforts with globally recognized certifications. Looking to improve your knowledge in this area? Sign up today for our expert instructor-led class starting on January 11, 2020!

CLTD Comprehensive Prep Course – In-person & Virtual (5 Sessions)

Time: Saturdays 1/11/20 to 3/7/20 (Every other week) | 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Price: $1,800 (Member) | $2,100 (Non-Member)

Location: Virtual Meeting & Vistatech – Schoolcraft
We are also excited to be offering the globally recognized certification classes starting in January 2020 for CPIM (Certification in Production and Inventory Management), and CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional). APICS Greater Detroit chapter members receive discounts on all certification classes – click here to join today.

Detroit Based StockX Wins Awards for Retail Innovation

11/12/19

Have you heard about Detroit based billion dollar startup StockX?

 

 

StockX is the world’s first stock market for things – a live ‘bid/ask’ marketplace. Buyers place bids, sellers place asks and when a bid and ask meet, the transaction happens automatically.

 

 

APICS Greater Detroit is excited to host Tim McCurdy, StockX’s VP Supply Chain on November 20th to hear about this fast growing local company.

In September, CNN recognized StockX as Detroit’s first unicorn and a billion-dollar startup turning sneakers into a ‘stock market’. In their feature article, they highlighted that StockX is resetting retail and makes money through transaction fees, seeing millions of dollars in activity on its platform each day, according to a spokesperson.

Footwear News also recently named them to their power list for 2019 Retail Innovators.

What is StockX? In July, Fortune shared, “Cofounded in 2015 by Josh Luber and Quicken Loans billionaire Dan Gilbert, StockX has fully appropriated Wall Street lingo to resell sneakers, streetwear, handbags, and wristwatches. Buyers place “bids” on specific items, sellers set “ask” prices, and historical highs and lows are shown in 52-week increments. Purchases are automatically triggered when a “bid” and “ask” are aligned for a specific product.

StockX serves as a clearinghouse, with inspectors on staff to verify the authenticity of the item. But as the company grows, it will need to ramp up its verification efforts. Currently, this process is largely by touch, as StockX inspectors identify fakes using dozens of parameters, including product packaging, stitching, and even smell, alerting other inspectors via text message. Manufacturers of fake sneakers are constantly improving and adjusting their processes, and this cat-and-mouse game will continue to be played by companies promising to verify products and those selling increasingly passable fakes. “

Looking to learn more about how StockX is disrupting the retail shoe market from their VP of Supply Chain?

 

 

Join us on Wednesday, November 20 at Slalom and hear from Tim McCurdy, StockX’s VP of Supply Chain!

Agenda:

6:30 Mediterranean Dinner | 7:00 Tim McCurdy | 7:45 Networking

Location:

Slalom Offices, 660 Woodward Avenue, 19th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226

At APICS Greater Detroit we support supply chain professionals with educational and networking opportunities at local companies like StockX leading the way in their industries.

We are also excited to be offering the globally recognized certification classes starting in January 2020 for CPIM (Certification in Production and Inventory Management), CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional) and CLTD (Certified Logistics, Transportation and Distribution). APICS Greater Detroit chapter members receive discounts on all certification classes – click here to join today.

Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) 2019 Conference Highlights

11/05/19

Were you able to attend this year’s ASCM national supply chain conference in Las Vegas?

 

 

If not, we’ve summarized a few of the highlights below!

“The ASCM conference value for me comes from the networking and educational sessions. The Carey Lohrenz general session was my favorite this year!”

Alyssa Rollins, Executive Vice President, APICS Greater Detroit

Several members from APICS Greater Detroit were fortunate to be able to attend the ASCM national conference that took place this past September in Las Vegas. The event took place over three days and was filled with valuable information on today’s hottest supply chain topics! Below are a few of the highlights.

Carey Lohrenz, the first female F-14 Tomcat pilot, was a keynote speaker! Carey shared her lessons learned from a career in the cockpit at Mach 2: “When you are working toward high performance in this rapidly changing environment, you must show up as a fearless leader. You have to show up with courage and operate with tenacity — and know what to do when things go sideways.” Landing fighter planes is all about teamwork! You can read more about Carey’s book, Fearless Leadership, and SCMNow Magazine interview in the July 2019 issue.

The power of Supply Chains is to make an impact! So many of the educational sessions discussed ways we can make an impact in the world through sustainability efforts, new technologies and risk management.

ASCM engaged a mural artist to talk with attendees, learn about what motivates them and how they can make an impact as supply chain professionals. Attendees shared their thoughts on sticky notes and the artist created visual testimonials to the mural in real time. It gave people from all across the globe a place to interact and be a part of a collaborative dialogue about the power of supply chains to improve lives. A sample is featured on the right. More information can be found in this article shared by Abe Eshkenazi, ASCM CEO.

ASCM hosted a Women in Supply Chain Forum and invited attendees to be an essential part of their efforts to attract, promote and retain women in supply chain by joining the forum. Speakers shared their insights regarding the new faces of supply chain leadership and the future of the field. There was also the opportunity to network and discuss opportunities and challenges.

There were also Women In Supply Chain Panels. Read more about the panel discussion in our September 20th blog post.

Networking, networking, networking!! Every day was filled with amazing opportunities to meet supply chain professionals from all over the world. From educational sessions, to networking luncheons and dinners, definitely a key benefit of attending the ASCM national conference is the chance to learn from each other!! APICS Detroit hosted a dinner at the Pink Taco pictured on the right with attendees from other APICS chapters and APICS students from Canada and the US!

More information on the content for the 2019 ASCM conference can be found on the national ASCM website. Also next year’s event will be in New Orleans on September 13 – 15. We hope to see you there!

Impact of 5G on Supply Chains & Logistics

10/29/19

Do you have a plan to deploy 5G in 2020?

In a recent survey from Gartner, 66% of organizations plan to deploy 5G by 2020. Per SupplyChainDive, “As the 5G mobile broadband standard begins to roll out in cities across the world, supply chain and logistics managers who don’t have a strategy already may be behind the curve.”

What many refer to as the 5G revolution, has already started with Verizon launching service in big cities across the country in 2019, including Detroit in July! Digital Trends quoted Verizon’s CEO, Hans Vestberg, “(5G) has the potential to be one of the most transformative technologies that we’ve seen in a long time.”

At APICS Greater Detroit, we are here to serve the local supply chain community and help ensure you have the knowledge and tools to compete in today’s ever changing landscape. We share below what 5G is and how it will likely impact supply chains and logistics.

What is 5G? It is the fifth generation of wireless networks and has been nearly 10 years in the making. The new technology promises dramatically faster speeds, instantaneous communication, and the ability to network everything.

How will it impact Supply Chain and Logistics? SupplyChainDive shared 4 ways summarized below on how 5G will impact supply chains and logistics.

1. Track and trace: Supply chains that require a high degree of synchronization will see significant improvements with 5G. Consider inbound-to-manufacturing in the automotive industry. Today, companies employ significant manual controls around the sequencing of goods to reach the assembly line. Track and trace visibility is expected to be the major area for improvement in supply chain logistics because better devices available at lower cost will increase visibility into shipments. Just-in-time manufacturing can track parts moving to the assembly line in real time compared to simply relying on the scheduled arrival. Industries that ship high volumes of small parcels or combine products into kits will be able to track individual products and components. 5G will also make it easier and more effective to monitor temperature, humidity and other environmental factors for sensitive products.
2. Product monitoring: Network slicing capability allows 5G bandwidth to be divided among devices that don’t require the entire capacity. 5G can connect in a highly dense environment, up to 1 million sensors per square kilometer, according to Gartner. 5G enabled sensors will allow for tracking smaller items at the SKU level providing more detailed knowledge of what the condition is, where it is at and when it will arrive at the customer.
3. Connecting indoors and outdoors: Due to better penetration into buildings, 5G networks can blend indoor and outdoor operations and networks. 5G can bridge mobile communications like LTM or 4G for outdoors with indoor technology like WiFi. For example, shippers can plan an outbound order that includes goods in-transit that have not yet been received at the warehouse.
4. Real-time data: 5G’s reduced latency means there’s little lag time between when a sensor detects an event and when it’s recognized by the system. Medical device companies are testing robots that allow a surgeon to perform surgery remotely in real time. For the supply chain, reduced latency can enable vehicle-to-vehicle communication for automated trucks and warehouse robots. Processing power will be able to move closer to the work, making sensors and mobile devices more capable.

As exciting as 5G is, experts suggest companies will need to also plan for significantly more data and ensure they have a solid cyber-security system in place to protect against threats.

For more information on how APICS Greater Detroit can help you and your organization deal with today’s top challenges, check out our website at https://www.apicsdet.org/home or send us an email at Classes@apicsdet.org.

Looking to advance your career, earn more, and help your company grow?

Check out our upcoming globally recognized certification classes below!

• CLTD (Certified Logistics, Transportation and Distribution) starting on January 11th. CLTD helps participants demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a broad range of supply chain logistics topics, setting them apart from peers. Elevate awareness, professionalism, and knowledge/skills of Logistics, Transportation & Distribution practitioners with a CLTD certification.
• CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional) – starting on January 22nd. CSCP is the most sought-after certification by supply chain professionals around the globe seeking to achieve mastery and recognition in their field.
• CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management) – starting on January 18th. The perfect certification for production and inventory management personnel. CPIM provides you with the ability to understand and evaluate production and inventory activities within a company’s global operations.

 

 

APICS Greater Detroit chapter members receive discounts on all certification classes – click here to join today. We look forward to helping you in your career!

Global Supply Chains and Trade Tariffs

10/21/19

Are you concerned about the recent changes in global tariffs?

Many Detroit area businesses have been impacted by changes in trade tariffs. Recently the Detroit News shared how increases in tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum have created an uncertain trade environment for small manufacturers in Michigan, who are concerned about the impact on their bottom lines.

Last week, the Trump administration confirmed tariffs on $7.5 billion of EU goods went into effect Friday. Items subject to duties include aircraft parts, luxury apparel, cheese, seafood and steel, among others. The bulk of the tariffs will be levied on imports from France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom and overall could impact global supply chain costs.

At APICS Greater Detroit, we support local Supply Chain professionals and companies with information and training to assist during times of uncertainty. Read below for some tips from Global Trade Magazine on ways to prepare your business for tariff changes.

1. Do you have a plan to cover the costs? You may not be able to avoid paying the tariffs, but there are various strategies you may consider to help cover their costs including increasing your prices or working with your suppliers to cover at least a portion of the tariff.
2. Will you need to increase your customs bond? The smallest customs bond an importer can hold is $50,000. That used to be enough for many importers to cover generally 10% of the duties and taxes you expect to pay CBP. Unfortunately, as many importers from China are learning, a 25% tariff on products can quickly exceed your bond amount. And bond insufficiency can shut down all your imports while resulting in delays and added expenses. To help avoid bond insufficiency, consider any increased duty amounts in advance of your next bond renewal period. And don’t wait to do this until the last minute, because raising your customs bond with your surety company can take up to four weeks.
3. Do you re-export goods brought into the U.S.? Duty drawback programs can’t be used by every importer. But if you can take advantage of them, they can result in big savings for your company. In fact, you can get back 99% of certain import duties, taxes, and fees on imported goods that you re-export out of the U.S. Just be aware that you still need to pay the duties up front. And you might need to wait up to two years to get your refund.
4. Are your product classifications current and accurate? With potential tariffs looming, consider reviewing your product classifications and make sure they’re accurate. If you find an issue, discuss it with your broker or customs counsel to discuss how you can properly rectify the issue, and avoid penalties from doing it incorrectly. And while we’re on the topic of product classifications, never change them to evade tariffs. CBP will be on the lookout for this kind of activity, and the penalties for noncompliance can be steep.
5. Do you have the support you need? Consider changing your customs brokers to ensure they provide all the services you need to stay compliant. Your provider should help make sure you pay the appropriate duty rates for your products. And they should have people and services available globally to support your freight wherever it is located throughout the world.

For more information on how APICS Greater Detroit can help you and your organization deal with today’s top challenges, check out our website at https://www.apicsdet.org/home or send us an email at Classes@apicsdet.org.

Looking to advance your career, earn more, and help your company grow?

Check out our upcoming globally recognized certification classes below!

• CLTD (Certified Logistics, Transportation and Distribution) starting on January 11th. CLTD helps participants demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a broad range of supply chain logistics topics, setting them apart from peers. Elevate awareness, professionalism, and knowledge/skills of Logistics, Transportation & Distribution practitioners with a CLTD certification.
• CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional) – starting on January 22nd. CSCP is the most sought-after certification by supply chain professionals around the globe seeking to achieve mastery and recognition in their field.
• CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management) – starting on January 18th. The perfect certification for production and inventory management personnel. CPIM provides you with the ability to understand and evaluate production and inventory activities within a company’s global operations.

 

 

APICS Greater Detroit chapter members receive discounts on all certification classes – click here to join today. We look forward to helping you in your career!

EMU APICS Student Chapter 33rd Year Earning Platinum Status!

10/14/19

The Eastern Michigan APICS Student Chapter has earned PLATINUM status once again from the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM).

 

 

Congratulations to the hard working students of the EMU APICS Student Chapter for their efforts in maintaining Platinum status for 33 years!

Read below for more information.

At APICS Greater Detroit, everything we do centers on inspiring and growing Supply Chain Professionals in the Detroit area – at all levels of their careers. We are on a mission to help both professionals and students.

As part of this effort, we are proud to partner with the Eastern Michigan University Student APICS Chapter and celebrate their efforts to maintain platinum status as an APICS Student Chapter for 33 years!

The APICS Student Chapter Management and Recognition Program offers student chapters practical guidance from the diverse resources of parent chapters. As part of the lasting relationships created, parent chapters provide comprehensive instruction on administration, education, membership, public relations, and APICS programs.

Specifically, incoming student chapter leaders receive guidance on sound chapter management and instruction on benchmark processes and activities.

In recognition of achievement, student chapters earn Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum awards and a monetary award. The chapters are recognized on the APICS Web site.

 

Another great opportunity for supply chain students is the ASCM Case Competition, in collaboration with Deloitte. The 2020 ASCM Case Competition registration is OPEN through October 31st. Participating student teams will present solutions to an exciting end-to-end supply chain management problem, as they compete for prize money and recognition. The case may involve distribution, logistics, sales and operations planning, inventory, and other operations management challenges.

ASCM is proud of a rich tradition of student team case competitions. The program began as a grassroots event, with many APICS chapters, colleges and universities taking part. Over the years, the Case Competition has evolved into a flagship event touching students at universities across Africa, Asia, Europe, and both North and South America.

Looking to advance your career, earn more, and help your company grow?

Check out our upcoming globally recognized certification classes below!

• CLTD (Certified Logistics, Transportation and Distribution) starting on January 11th. CLTD helps participants demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a broad range of supply chain logistics topics, setting them apart from peers. Elevate awareness, professionalism, and knowledge/skills of Logistics, Transportation & Distribution practitioners with a CLTD certification.
• CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional) – starting on January 22nd. CSCP is the most sought-after certification by supply chain professionals around the globe seeking to achieve mastery and recognition in their field.
• CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management) – starting on January 18th. The perfect certification for production and inventory management personnel. CPIM provides you with the ability to understand and evaluate production and inventory activities within a company’s global operations.

 

 

APICS Greater Detroit chapter members receive discounts on all certification classes – click here to join today. We look forward to helping you in your career!

Inability to Attract & Retain A Quality Workforce Remains Top Challenge for Manufacturers per NAM Q3 Survey

10/14/19

Per the National Association for Manufacturers (NAM) Q3 Manufacturers Outlook Survey, the greatest challenge facing manufacturers of all sizes continues to be finding a qualified workforce.

Per NAM, “the inability to attract and retain workers remained respondents’ top concern for the eighth consecutive survey, noted as the top concern by almost 70 percent of respondents.” According to their report, to combat this challenge, 69.9% of respondents were, creating or expanding internal training programs and 55% were collaborating with educational institutions on skills certification programs.

At APICS Greater Detroit, we are here to help by offering training and globally recognized certification classes for Supply Chain professionals and companies across the Detroit area.

Read on for how CPIM training helped James Tilton, Director of Materials for Draper, Inc. grow in his career.

Association Supply Chain Management (ASCM)

 

 

CPIM Success Story: James Tilton

Looking to advance your career, earn more, and help your company grow?

Check out our upcoming globally recognized certification classes below!

• CLTD (Certified Logistics, Transportation and Distribution) starting on January 11th. CLTD helps participants demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a broad range of supply chain logistics topics, setting them apart from peers. Elevate awareness, professionalism, and knowledge/skills of Logistics, Transportation & Distribution practitioners with a CLTD certification.
• CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional) – starting on January 22nd. CSCP is the most sought-after certification by supply chain professionals around the globe seeking to achieve mastery and recognition in their field.
• CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management) – starting on January 18th. The perfect certification for production and inventory management personnel. CPIM provides you with the ability to understand and evaluate production and inventory activities within a company’s global operations.

 

 

APICS Greater Detroit chapter members receive discounts on all certification classes – click here to join today. We look forward to helping you in your career!

Passing a Certification Exam:

Advice from Jill Hays, CSCP, CPIM, CLTD

10/01/19

Are you ready to take your APICS certification exam? Are you looking for advice to ensure a passing grade? Jill Hays, CSCP, CPIM, CLTD, current President of APICS Greater Detroit Chapter, shares below her advice on passing certification exams.

I’ve passed the exams for CPIM, CSCP and CLTD, and was a Beta Tester for the SCPRO exam. (yes, I passed that one, but I’m not 100% sure about how Beta testing is measured vs when the exams are fully rolled out…)

CPIM was 5 exams (it’s condensed to 2 now), so if you add them all up, this is 8 major exams. All taken at an official testing center. Yes, I was nervous. That last moment in time, when you are waiting for the results of the test – killer on the nerves!!!!

I was fortunate when I began my journey for my CPIM certification (did I mention there were FIVE exams?!) to get some great advice about studying and taking the exam shared below.

1. First and foremost, be intentional. When you decide to take this on, have goals set. For example, when I sign up for the class to prep for the certification exam, I have an exam date already set in my calendar as well. This keeps me from procrastinating. (I am a world class contender in procrastination!)
2. Know how you learn best! For me, taking the certification course, using all of the tools such as the various practice quizzes and exams, and writing things down are all part of my learning process.
3. Plan to NOT study the day before the exam. Your brain needs time to process all the data and put it in “the right files.”
4. Plan a great breakfast with all 6 food groups. Ok, 5 food groups. (I consider caffeine to be my 6th food group).
5. Don’t ignore the online tools! BE SURE you use the practice quizzes and exams in the online tools AND in the books! (Every person I’ve ever talked to that did not pass the first time did not use the online tools and pretty much ignored the practice quizzes and exams.)
6. When looking at the certification prep courses, be honest with yourself. There is a self study option, a concentrated course and a comprehensive course. All of which can be used successfully… but it all boils down to how the person learns and what support they need to study. I did self study for one of my exams, it was a lot harder for me personally than if I had a class with it.

Looking to advance your career, earn more, and help your company grow?

Check out our upcoming globally recognized certification classes below!

• CLTD (Certified Logistics, Transportation and Distribution) starting on January 11th. CLTD helps participants demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a broad range of supply chain logistics topics, setting them apart from peers. Elevate awareness, professionalism, and knowledge/skills of Logistics, Transportation & Distribution practitioners with a CLTD certification.
• CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional) – starting on January 22nd. CSCP is the most sought-after certification by supply chain professionals around the globe seeking to achieve mastery and recognition in their field.
• CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management) – starting on January 18th. The perfect certification for production and inventory management personnel. CPIM provides you with the ability to understand and evaluate production and inventory activities within a company’s global operations.

 

 

APICS Greater Detroit chapter members receive discounts on all certification classes – click here to join today. We look forward to helping you in your career!

APICS Greater Detroit – Jill Hays Shares #WhyAPICS is Important to Her

09/24/19

APICS Greater Detroit members continue to share their #WhyApics stories on how APICS has helped them in their careers.

Jill Hays, CSCP, CPIM, CLTD, Inventory Optimization Manager at Adient and current President of APICS Greater Detroit shares her #WhyApics, “I joined APICS/ASCM in 2008 to earn my CPIM credentials. It was one of the best decisions I made in my career as it has given the avenue to keep my skills sharp through continuing education, networking and access to research and subject matter experts in supply chain.”

APICS Greater Detroit thanks Jill for her many years of service to and now leadership of the APICS Greater Detroit chapter. We currently support approximately 400 members representing over 150 Detroit area companies with key educational and networking opportunities.

APICS is the leader in supply chain education and certification programs. We set the industry standard. For years, individuals and organizations have turned to APICS to build skills and advance supply chain performance. The APICS brand is globally recognized as the top provider of supply chain certification, endorsement, certificate and education programs.

Share your #WhyApics story today on how APICS has helped you in your career by sending us an email at media@apicsdet.org!

Looking to advance your career, earn more, and help your company grow?

Check out our upcoming globally recognized certification classes below!

• CLTD (Certified Logistics, Transportation and Distribution) starting on January 11th. CLTD helps participants demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a broad range of supply chain logistics topics, setting them apart from peers. Elevate awareness, professionalism, and knowledge/skills of Logistics, Transportation & Distribution practitioners with a CLTD certification.
• CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional) – starting on January 22nd. CSCP is the most sought-after certification by supply chain professionals around the globe seeking to achieve mastery and recognition in their field.
• CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management) – starting on January 18th. The perfect certification for production and inventory management personnel. CPIM provides you with the ability to understand and evaluate production and inventory activities within a company’s global operations.

 

 

APICS Greater Detroit chapter members receive discounts on all certification classes – click here to join today. We look forward to helping you in your career!

ASCM 2019 Conference Women in Supply Chain Panel

09/20/19

Is your supply chain team diverse? Do you struggle to attract and retain diverse candidates?

At APICS Greater Detroit our mission is to foster the advancement of end-to-end supply chain management through the sharing of best practices for our local supply chain community.

We recently had the opportunity to hear from an expert panel at the ASCM national 2019 conference on the topic of women in supply chain and championing diversity and inclusion within your enterprise.

Read more for the highlights from the participants.

Why focus on diversity? Per McKinsey & Company’s most recent diversity report that includes the statistics below, having a diverse workforce pays off.

• Companies in the top quartile for gender diversity are 21 percent more likely to have financial returns above their respective national industry medians.
• Companies in the top quartile for racial and ethnic diversity are 33 percent more likely to have financial returns above their respective national industry medians.
• A positive correlation was found between gender diversity on executive teams with profitability and value creation. Top-quartile companies on executive-level gender diversity worldwide had a 21 percent likelihood of outperforming their fourth-quartile industry peers on EBIT margin, and they also had a 27 percent likelihood of outperforming fourth-quartile peers on longer-term value creation, as measured using an economic-profit (EP) margin.

Having a diverse team is important, yet many companies struggle to achieve this goal. The panel shared thoughts on how their companies worked to improve in this area including:

1. Be aware of unconscious bias. Everyone typically has some form of unconscious bias. Companies should establish training programs for all levels of employees to help them be more aware and foster an environment that encourages respectful dialogue.
2. Leadership support is essential. To be most effective, CEOs and presidents need to be supportive of diversity and inclusion (D&I) initiatives. Sharing the McKinsey & Company statistics on how diversity can help companies improve revenue and EBIT can help show the value to leaders in supporting D&I efforts.
3. Have D&I goals within the hiring process at all levels. Companies should have D&I goals and then consequences for not achieving them such as reducing incentive pay if leaders don’t hit D&I targets.
4. Establish a sponsorship program. Connect senior leaders with new managers to help promote them throughout their career.

 

In the SCMNOW, July – Sep 2019 issue, ASCM shared an interview with Jill Marcotte, Chief Supply Chain Officer for Dealer Tire. Jill started her career at General Motors in their forging facility in Detroit. Below is her response on how to get young women interested in supply chain career path sooner.

“Supply chain and STEM career needs are growing, yet the number of young women in these areas continues to be underwhelming. Getting more young women interested in these career paths will help fill the need for more professionals. So how can companies do that?

They can start by partnering with local school sand community organizations to provide role models of women in supply chain careers and give young women exposure to the type of work we do.

Creating fun, interesting extracurricular supply chain-related activities in middle school also can provide insights into potential careers and influence young women to focus on STEM classes in preparation for college.

Supply chain also has a competitive nature: finding solutions, achieving high metrics, being better than the competition, and so on, so I think we should try to appeal to young women who have participated in sports because they are naturally competitive.

From my own perspective, I came from an automotive family, and STEM was highly valued. I was naturally good at math and science, so my family assumed that I would be an engineer. My engineering roots led me to supply chain, and I love it!”

At APICS Greater Detroit we support local supply chain professionals with education and networking opportunities. We are excited to be offering the globally recognized certification class this fall for CLTD (Certified Logistics, Transportation and Distribution) starting on November 7th. CLTD helps participants demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a broad range of supply chain logistics topics, setting them apart from peers. Elevate awareness, professionalism, and knowledge/skills of Logistics, Transportation & Distribution practitioners with a CLTD certification.

APICS Greater Detroit chapter members receive discounts on all certification classes – click here to join today. We look forward to helping you and your organization attract and retain a diverse supply chain workforce!

Strategies for a Sustainable Supply Chain

09/10/19

Is your supply chain sustainable? Are you looking for more information on strategies to improve in this area?

At APICS Greater Detroit our mission is to foster the advancement of end-to-end supply chain management through the sharing of best practices through our expert body of knowledge, innovative research and systems for our local supply chain community.

Below we share strategies for supply chain sustainability used by a Detroit area global automotive manufacturer.

Ford Motor Company, Inc has been reporting on their sustainability efforts for twenty years. In their most recent Sustainability Report, on pages 42-43 they shared their strategies and results for minimizing their supply chain impact. We’ve summarized these for you below.

As many of our readers know, the automotive industry is complex. Ford alone relies on thousands of suppliers to provide the materials, components and services to make their vehicles. Ford implements the following supply chain sustainability strategies that are making a difference not only for their company, but for the automotive industry as a whole.

1. Sharing Best Practices. Ford actively shares best practices with their suppliers to help them lower their costs, improve quality and meet sustainability targets. They work closely with suppliers to build capacity and ensure sourcing transparency. Ford’s supply chain sustainability initiative is named PACE and was developed to reduce the overall environmental impact of Ford and their supply chain partners. PACE enables Ford to share the best practice examples implemented with 50 strategic suppliers so that they can be replicated. They also encourage their suppliers to cascade the best practices down their own supply chains.
2. Understand Suppliers Impact and Engaging. Ford also helps suppliers reduce their environmental footprint while ensuring social standards are upheld. They do this by engaging with key strategic suppliers through their Aligned Business Framework (ABF). This dialogue helps to drive quality and innovation, identify operational synergies and encourage collaboration in areas such as ethical business practices, working conditions and responsible sourcing. To manage sustainability issues with these ABF suppliers: — Ford verifies that the supplier has a code of conduct that aligns with our own Policy Letter 24 — The supplier provides internal training to ensure its employees understand and comply with the code of conduct – Ford validates their processes to ensure ongoing alignment — The supplier also verifies that its own suppliers are compliant with our shared standards and expectations.
3. Collaborating With Industry Partners. To amplify their efforts and encourage alignment throughout the automotive supply chain, Ford participates in several industry forums including AIAG’s Environmental Sustainability Advisory Group and Greenhouse Gas Work Group, Environmental Science Work Group at the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), and Suppliers Partnership for the Environment – a collaboration among automotive OEMs, their suppliers and the U.S. EPA.

Ford’s efforts are having an impact per their report, suppliers that are integrating climate change into their business strategy has increased from 81% in 2017 to 84% in 2018. Suppliers reporting a water-related target or goal has increased from 69% in 2017 to 81% in 2018. Also, suppliers reporting an emissions reduction target or goal has increased from 66% in 2017 to 73% in 2018.

Looking to advance your career, earn more, and help your company grow?

Check out our upcoming globally recognized certification classes below!

• CLTD (Certified Logistics, Transportation and Distribution) starting on January 11th. CLTD helps participants demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a broad range of supply chain logistics topics, setting them apart from peers. Elevate awareness, professionalism, and knowledge/skills of Logistics, Transportation & Distribution practitioners with a CLTD certification.
• CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional) – starting on January 22nd. CSCP is the most sought-after certification by supply chain professionals around the globe seeking to achieve mastery and recognition in their field.
• CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management) – starting on January 18th. The perfect certification for production and inventory management personnel. CPIM provides you with the ability to understand and evaluate production and inventory activities within a company’s global operations.

 

 

APICS Greater Detroit chapter members receive discounts on all certification classes – click here to join today. We look forward to helping you in your career!

2nd Annual Southeast MI Golf Outing Highlights

09/03/19

On August 16th, APICS Greater Detroit Chapter, ISM and CSCMP teamed up to host the 2nd annual Southeast MI golf outing!

 

 

A great time was had by all participants!

Participants included Supply Chain Professionals from Adient, GM, FCA, Comp Logistics, Cooper, MetaOps, Wayne State University, Michigan State University, Eastern Michigan University, 4Flow, LLamasoft all enjoyed networking and of course 18 rounds of golf!

 

Prizes ranging from golf balls to gift cards were enjoyed by all. (We had so many prizes, we couldn’t give them all away!)

At APICS Greater Detroit we support local supply chain professionals with education and networking opportunities. We are excited to be offering the globally recognized certification class this fall for CLTD (Certified Logistics, Transportation and Distribution) starting on November 7th. CLTD helps participants demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a broad range of supply chain logistics topics, setting them apart from peers. Elevate awareness, professionalism, and knowledge/skills of Logistics, Transportation & Distribution practitioners with a CLTD certification.

APICS Greater Detroit chapter members receive discounts on all certification classes – click here to join today. We look forward to helping you and your organization attract and retain a diverse supply chain workforce!

Improving Supply Chain Performance During Times of Uncertainty

08/27/19

Are you concerned about global uncertainties impacting your supply chain?

Looking for opportunities to improve performance and reduce costs are great strategies to combat global uncertainties.

Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) recently shared a case study highlighted below on how one company was able to heighten their supply chain performance leveraging ASCM educational tools.

At APICS Greater Detroit we offer many programs to help you deepen supply chain management knowledge within your existing team. This September we are excited to offer the following globally recognized certifications with new VIRTUAL options and savings of 20% off historical prices!

• CPIM (Certified in Production and I