The Ledger

Curated content for
analytical business leaders

The Capital Strain of The Supply Chain

Despite all the advances in supply chain knowledge, capabilities, technology, and resources, supply chains are actually putting more financial strain on the enterprise and increasing capital requirements for corporations with days inventory outstanding (DIO) globally deteriorating 8% since 1987.” The supply chain is getting more complex. Due to digitalization there are more supply chain capabilities than at any other time in history; and improvements in the supply chain generate real tangible value, yet few are prioritizing.

Read More at The Digitalist by SAP >

 

FP&A Needs a Beacon to See Through Volatility

In today’s continuously changing market, anything can happen at any time. To manage short-term volatility, FP&A practitioners need to follow the core attributes of their company. While volatility can disrupt plans and create panic, the most effective ways to respond is to have a set of guiding principles to organize your thoughts and reactions. Without this, teams can be adrift among the sea of potential responses, chasing different ends and losing focus. Market changes can easily put a wrench in any plan at any time, so it is important to understand how to navigate through the resulting volatility before it happens.

Read More at AFP Online >

 

Data: Too Much of a Good Thing?

As hard as it is to believe, there was a time in manufacturing when data was difficult to come by. Fast forward to today and manufacturing data is available to anyone and everyone. Compared to a few decades ago, the cost of technology is dramatically less expensive today. As a result, data collection is faster, more automated, and cheaper and access to data is unlimited. Now, companies are drowning in data. While collecting tons of data may seem like a good idea, there are consequences to be considered before making that fateful decision. The key to success with data lies within the technology used to maintain and analyze it.

Read More at Industry Week >

 

Intelligent Manufacturing Enhances the Automotive Industry

While the automotive industry seems aligned on all that a massive transformation entails, the forecast and timing horizon is less obvious. There are many visions for the future of connected and autonomous vehicles and the emerging business models, but a dominant view has not yet emerged. The result is that OEMs, suppliers, technology providers, and others in the changing automotive ecosystem must remain flexible enough to quickly respond to changing conditions; adaptable enough to provide a variety of solutions to the market; and they must partner to ensure all relevant capabilities are brought to bear. While doing all this planning, investing, strategizing, and transforming for the future, automakers still need to design, build, market, and sell great vehicles to their customers.

Read More at The Digitalist by SAP >