Inventory Mgmt with Frequent Orders

How Digital Data Enables Strategic Fit

While Carhartt traces its roots back 133 years, the company is now implementing digital tools (cloud, analytics, artificial intelligence, etc.) to improve its overall supply chain operations.

To implement process improvements, data must be timely, accurate, and relevant. A common expression amongst operations leaders: for something to be “meaningful” it also needs to be “measurable.” Hence the requirement for real-time data analytics.

Carhartt continues to improve its operational capabilities—for example increasing factory automation—as a means to further enhance a differentiated business strategy […]

By James Kirby Easterling|2023-01-04T07:24:05+00:00January 8, 2023|Tags: analytics, artificial intelligence, automation, data mining, inventory management, logistics, MRP, operations strategy, strategy, supply chain mapping, warehouse|

Amazon’s Thousand Suburban Warehouses

Amazon plans to open 1,000 small delivery hubs across the United States, with plans to increase this number to approximately 1,500.

The move is to further the company’s goal of same day delivery to customers. Walmart and Target have been using their network of stores to provide same day delivery, with Walmart implementing Walmart+, its own version of Amazon Prime.

Amazon’s small delivery hubs are planned to be about 200,000 square feet, one-quarter the size of the company’s fulfillment centers. Moreover, these […]

By Ross L. Fink, Ph.D.|2020-11-02T03:10:14+00:00November 3, 2020|Tags: facility location, forecasting, inventory management, location, logistics, supply chain management, transportation, warehouse|

What Pandemic? Agile Systems Help Sephora Gain Market Share

Sephora’s early investments in flexibility have paid off.

Sephora, like most retailers, had to close its stores during the pandemic. Whereas many others struggled to build or shore up an online presence, Sephora shifted gears with little effort. It relied on its inventory system linking brick-and-mortar retail and e-fulfillment facilities as well as on a distribution network with rapid access to most zip codes. Not only did the company meet customers’ expectations, but it also increased market share.

Video Spotlight:

By Corinne M. Karuppan, Ph.D.|2020-09-05T16:22:38+00:00September 8, 2020|Tags: ERP systems, inventory management, logistics|

Inventory Throughput is Key for E-Commerce Warehouses

The rise in e-commerce has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

E-commerce requires three times the warehouse space over brick-and-mortar retail operations. A real key to managing a warehouse efficiently is inventory throughput. Wayfair, for example, focuses on throughput and uses a chase demand strategy to staff warehouse operations to obtain efficiency.

Video Spotlight:

Inside An E-commerce Warehouse (Oct 12, 2016, NDTV)
E-Commerce Automation at Newegg’s Robotic Distribution Center (Oct 16, 2018, […]

By David Little, Ph.D.|2020-08-02T01:53:51+00:00August 1, 2020|Tags: aggregate planning, chase, coronavirus, covid-19, sales and operations planning, throughput, warehouse|