The globalization of supply chains has made risk a primary concern for organizations. The aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and the recent flooding in Thailand serve as stark reminders of how natural disasters can throw supply chains off balance. In fact, Tommy Lui, logistics…

Here at APQC we’re always on the lookout for the next hot supply chain topics. And with 2011 winding down, it’s the perfect time to take stock of what has happened in supply chain management over the last year and what you want to know about in the new year. So we want to hear from you: what are…

This month we’ve released several new content pieces related to supply chain management. We have something for just about everyone, whether you want a high-level look at supply chain processes, information on procurement practices, or best practices in reverse logistics. At APQC’s 2011 process…

At APQC we’re having our own version of a Black Friday sale on one of our most popular reports. Through November, nonmembers can purchase an electronic version of Reverse Logistics: Backward Practices That Matter at the discounted price of $99! (As always, APQC members can download a copy of the…

We’ve been getting a lot of feedback on the content in the Knowledge Base. So far the majority of the feedback has indicated that you are satisfied with our content. We’ve also gotten some requests for content on specific topics. Here are a few of these topics, along with content that may be just…

On October 12, the U.S. Congress passed free trade agreements (FTAs) with South Korea, Panama, and Colombia. Originally negotiated five years ago, the agreements must be signed by President Obama before they go into effect. The FTA with South Korea will make 95 percent of U.S. consumer and…

Supplier relationship management (SRM) has received attention for its potential to improve supply chain effectiveness and dependability through greater collaboration with suppliers. Perhaps you’ve wondered: How many organizations have implemented SRM programs? How dependable are the supply chains…

In my last blog post I outlined the essential skills for supply chain managers, as indicated by readers of the Focus Research Web site. That post focused more on skills rather than how supply chain professionals gain those skills. Last week Bloomberg Businessweek posted an article on how more…

What skills should every supply chain manager have? This question prompted a variety of answers from readers of the Q&A section of the Focus Research Web site. The more popular answers were:    forecasting ability,    customer service (including the…

It’s no secret that “going green” is a hot topic among consumers and organizations alike. Consumers are becoming increasingly interested in where the products they purchase come from and how those products impact the environment. This can be seen in the rising popularity of Sourcemap.org, an open-…