20160919_Triple A Supply Chain.pdfVIP

The best supply chains aren’t The Triple-A Supply just fast and cos t-effective. They are also agile and adaptable, and they ensure Chain that all their companies’ interests stay aligned. by Hau L. Lee Reprint R0410F This document is authorized for use only in Executive Transition Program- by Dr. Urs Muller from August 2012 to February 2013. HBR Spotlight The 21st Century Supply Chain The Articles Managing the modern supply chain is The Triple-A Supply Chain a job that involves specialists in manu- by Hau L. Lee facturing, purchasing, and distribution, October 2004 of course. But today it is also vital to The best supply chains aren’t just fast and cost-effective. They are also agile and adaptable, the work of chief financial officers, chief and they ensure that all their companies’ interests stay aligned. information officers, operations and Reprint R0410F; OnPoint 8096 customer service executives, and cer- tainly chief executives. Changes in sup- Leading a Supply Chain Turnaround ply chain management have been truly by Reuben E. Slone revolutionary, and the pace of progress October 2004 shows no sign of moderating. In our Five years ago, salespeople at Whirlpool said the company’s supply chain staff were “sales increasingly interconnected and inter- disablers.” Now, Whirlpool excels at getting the right product to the right place at the right dependent global economy, the pro- time—while keeping inventory low. What made the difference cess of delivering supplies and finished Reprint R0410G goods and information and other business services from one place to Aligning Incentives in Supply Chains another is accomplished by means of by V.G. Narayanan and Ananth Raman November 2004 mind-boggling technological innova- tions, clever new applications of old A supply chain stays tight only if every company in the chain has reasons to pull in the same direction. ideas, seemingly magical mathematics, powerful software, and old-fashioned Reprint R0411F; OnPoint 8363 co