Improving Your Supply Chain Efficiency

Every single company is looking for areas where they can improve their product or services. As complex and fast-changing as the supply chain and freight industry are in South Africa, it might seem challenging to restructure your sound business model, but it’s not impossible. Many businesses understandably feel overwhelmed by such challenging market instability and are unsure of where to start in terms of boosting operational efficiency in the center of so much constant change.

Here are four steps you can take in order to encourage more flexible, effective, and profitable operations and support your supply chain.

Review and modify your process
Depending on where your business’s operational process is and what the market demands, you need to do regular thorough reviews. When reviews are diligently undertaken, areas of inefficiency or wasted time and resources quickly become obvious, allowing you to introduce adjustments and changes.

Such detailed optimization can drastically improve your customers’ lead times as well as costs associated with maintaining inventory, handling, and storage.

Forward-thinking
Having a modernized strategy is one vital tool that can allow your business to operate proactively rather than reactively and quickly adjust to any changes happening within the market. When everything goes according to your business model, for example when product deliveries are running smoothly and ahead of schedule, free time is opened up for organizations to gain a better understanding of their customers’ businesses and their individual needs. Think of supply chain streamlining as an investment not only in your product delivery capabilities but in your customer service offering as well.

Data analysis and integration
Decision-making for your supply chain strategy depends on accurate and timely data and information. Having real-time reports available at all times will provide valuable insight into your business. The software allows both users and management to be able to instantly access records, purchasing, and production data for critical decision-making purposes.

In today’s digital age, not making use of the abundant data at your disposal will be a big mistake. Integrating and analyzing data from an enormous variety of sources is now easier than ever before, thanks to dedicated and specialized software. It also helps when you want to cut out unnecessary or inefficient steps in the supply chain.

There are hundreds of off-the-shelf supply chain software packages or component modules on the market today, and most implementations end up requiring some level of customization and integration with other systems. Using platforms and software products error will eliminate the human-associated with manual file uploads and batch updates, allowing information flow to become an automated and smooth process.

Involve your employees
Give employees visibility into how they impact the customer. Create a metrics program that links shop floor level metrics to customer needs and corporate objectives. When employees are involved in the decision-making, they feel valued and like a significant contributor to the team’s success. They tend to be more productive and will raise their level of effort and commitment to ensure the company’s success.

The best companies have transformed their supply chains with time, innovation, and sustained top-management attention. What are you doing to turn your supply chain into a powerful source of competitive advantage?

The supply chain and freight industry continue to play a vital role in the growth of South Africa's economy. If you are looking for skilled staff to make your company grow, we can help.

With years of experience in the Supply Chain and Freight industries, we can assist with the sourcing, evaluating, screening, and matching of candidates to ensure you find the right fit for your company. Contact us today.