Why has concurrent planning become an important need?
When the unexpected happens a quickly respond to it is needed; innovative process, people, advanced technology, and other considerations are motivating Supply Chain teams toward a concurrent planning.
Supply Chain Concurrency is about breaking down silos, including cross-functional thinking without so much time involve. Concurrent Supply Chain planning, is a way to look at the Supply Chain as a whole, in a fraction of time, in which everyone is included in the planning and discussion, through enhanced cross-functional collaboration. To accomplish an integrated business planning, Concurrency process needs of many digital disruptive tools; this kind of comprehensive and connected view across your global Supply Chain has become a prerequisite to success.
How Supply Chain Concurrent planning benefits your organisation?
· Horizontal information integration, between data, process and people.
· Gives you end-to-end visibility, connecting your Supply Chain globally, as well as in a regional basis.
· Synchronised demand.
· Creates a platform for cross-functional collaboration.
· Shrink S&OP scenario creation and analysis.
· Enables you to breakdown silos.
· Helps you to make better decisions.
· Enables you to act faster to make corrections if something has gone wrong.
· Improves operational and financial performance.
· It will allow you to spend less time managing your Supply Chain.
Supply Chain Concurrency planning could be applied in different industries settings, for example:
In the Automotive Industry, where they need faster cycles in product innovation, business response to changing customer needs and in internal processes; higher levels of high-tech electronics, along with technology advancements in alternative-energy powered vehicles, more sales and operations planning (S&OP); regionally-based difference in the planning of model variances to satisfy local needs, requiring higher levels of schedule synchronisation and enhanced supplier collaboration; a higher dependency on high-tech supply chains for synchronising component, needs to connect markets and channel demand distributors among stages of production.
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Industry: needs for drug patent, generic drug manufacturers, changes in buying channels, distribution, and subsequently in product margins; a more global-focused footprint to both leverage localised production opportunities and more regional distribution at a faster pace, or responding to concepts of personalised medicine, namely drugs specifically tailored for an individual patient’s illness needs, campaign characteristics related to production starts and lot of tracking to insure efficiencies, optimal plans to meet cost, product margin, and end-item demand needs.
In Summary:
SC Concurrency = Advanced technology + Connecting data + Process + People + Democratised communication + Saving time.
Concurrency means an integrated Supply Chain now connecting end-to-end Supply Chain information and unique planning requirements with constantly changing business needs, for cross-functional and cross-business coordination. The goal is to operate as a single global based company, everyone in the Supply Chain moving into a single direction and consequently, saving time for you to enjoy life!
So where is your supply chain thinking developing?
Dave Food