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Supply Chain Management
Plex Manufacturing Blog
Where Did My Quality Go?
Many people only look at production operations to assess quality within an operation. But quality is imperative across all departments within manufacturing. Production processes, inventory management, maintenance, and the demand and supply planning process are all critical components of quality management.However, there are two different approaches for businesses regarding these processes -…
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Supply Chain Technology Adoption: Opportunities and Obstacles
"Back to normal."After the countless disruptions that have defined the last several years, that’s not a phrase used by manufacturers when talking about where supply chains are headed.However, not getting back to normal offers new opportunities for success. Finding better ways to minimize upheaval and maximize relationships also means gaining stability, agility, and predictability when it comes to…
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Where Did My Profit Go?
While the last few years have seen significant events like COVID-19 and other disruptions impact profit for companies in every industry, staying profitable and maximizing profit is a never-ending pursuit.Companies often audit, implement improvement initiatives, and pressure suppliers to lower the cost of raw materials to increase their bottom line. But hidden in the weeds is a cumulative set of…
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Where Did My Inventory Go?
It’s happened to every manufacturing professional over the years: The computer – or clipboard – shows enough stock to make the scheduled product, but a short delivery or quick uptick in demand means there isn't enough stock on hand to fulfill orders.Inventory issues, no matter the reason, can be maddening. They can throw even the most carefully planned production schedules into chaos, leaving…
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Where Did My Raw Materials Go?
In the age before computers, supply chain visibility depended on telephone calls, snail mail, verbal agreements, and even intuition. As technology advanced, these functions were computerized to give supply chain professionals better control over data and information....
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Where Did My Product Demand Go?
We've all been there.One day, demand is high, forecasts are rosy, and life is good. The next, demand has plummeted, and you're sitting there with a mountain of inventory and booked capacity with no demand to support it.Wild swings in demand have always been a headache. But with supply chain volatility and complexity increasing, it's becoming harder and harder to prevent these swings....
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From Farm to Factory: How Fertilizer and Material Shortages Affect Food and Beverage Manufacturers
It’s become a perfect storm. Massive disruption of supply chains for food products is becoming a regular threat. Driven by lingering COVID-19 impacts, the war in Ukraine, and other factors, there’s a global shortage of fertilizer....
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Don't Get Too Close to the Flame
Plex DemandCaster Demand and Supply Software lets planning professionals use data-driven insights to navigate successfully and stay away from the flames. ...
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Lock it Down with Supply Chain Planning Software
Read here to learn how supply chain planning software streamlines and automates supplier relationships and adds value for both parties. ...
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Quality Management in an Age of Disruptive Supply Chains
Once upon a time, it was easier. For decades, supply chains stabilized globally, allowing companies to source components confidently and manage their supply chain plans with Lean methodology. And while supply chain complexity increased during this time, the ability to span the globe and know their materials would arrive on time....
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