Supply Chain Optimization

Management Won’t Listen

“No capital for revising the supply chain network…make do with what you have.”  I heard this the other day….I’d appreciate your thoughts on what to do.  Here are mine:

  • Survey the customers and non-customers by having the sales team go out with a customer-service questionnaire.  Don’t ask customers,“what do you want?” but rather ask, “who is your best supplier?” “how much are you prepared to pay for a day of faster service?”  i.e., questions to elicit what is acceptable, but don’t set expectations
  • Have the sales team review the results with management.  Sales should be your ally by this stage
  • Get management’s approval to assess what it takes to fill those gaps
So, those are my thoughts – what do you think?