top 25 in supply chain.pdfVIP

Gartners Supply Chain Top 25 reveals the secrets developing a highly effective supply chain S \ 14A THE JOURNAL OF COMMERCE SEPTEMBER 17.2012 By David Biederman -?N^^^v OGISTIG WHEK IT COMES to developing a world-class supply chain, its all about adapting and upgrading. Thats one of the conclusions from The Gartner Supply Chain Top 25, a ranking of the global shippers managing the best logistics and supply chain management programs. Four key trends emerged in this years study, developed by research and advisory company Gartner: return to growth, supply chain resiliency, simplification and multilocal operations. Although the global economic recovery is shaky, companies are starting to reinvest in their supply chains for growth. Last year, we noted that companies were starting to invest in resources and assets again, said Debra Hofman, Gartners managing vice president. This year, that trend continues even more strongly. Natural disasters, such as the March 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami and last falls flooding in Thailand, severely impacted supply chains in the chemical, automotive and electronics industries. Volatile demand and sourcing in high-risk geographies add to the risk of supply chain disruption. Looking to maximize supply chain resiliency. Top 25 companies such as Intel, PG and Unilever upgraded network management capabilities and supply chain visibility. They and other supply chain leaders are taking it much further, redesigning products for flexibility in supply and manufacturing, developing alternative sources of supply, adding logistics .?.—? providers, expanding outsourced manufacturing capacity, and updating risk management processes. THE JOURNAL OF COMMERCE 15A LAST YEAR, WE NOTED THAT COMPANIES WERE STARTING TO INVEST IN RESOURCES AND ASSETS AGAIN. THIS YEAR, THAT TREND CONTINUES EVEN MORE STRONGLY. Anioiig tlie Top 15, the trend ?s iivvav lroni centralized sourcing and manufacturing to multilocal design, supply and support net- works. The tr