Sanjeev Shrivastava

Supply Chain folks need to respect the time and expertise of sales professionals that compete for their business against incumbents. Allow me to give an example. You call on an existing customer or a prospective customer. It doesn't matter, but the supply chain folks do their due diligence, qualify you as a future supplier to whatever parts, and you as a sales professional qualify them. You receive the rfq, do your thing, drill down and ask the right questions, provide an apples to apples quote. The supply chain folks say "are you sure you didn't make a mistake?" You go back, double check and say "no, we are good". They say ok and then you ask for the order. They say, "we called our cutrent supplier in and they made sone adjustments and we don't want to take any risk so we are staying status quo but thank you." You say "how about dual sourcing and allow us to demonstrate? Our moq is less than 5% of your eau". They say "no, tyats not the direction we want to go" So I say, " wow, we were 32% less, we did the work. How long ya been with xyz?" They say 10 years. Well have them pay you the $115,000 x 10 years they have been ripoing you off and then i understand staying with the incumbent. They say, "no , we made a decision" This is why we as sales professionals ask qualifying questions. We need quote contracts as sales professionals before repeating this insanity. Something we should all think about before going down such rabbit holes. Supply chains that do this get identified and its very dangerous when an industry of companies won't quote your business. We do all talk and identify bad actors in the arena of the free market. Have a great weekend!

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American manufacturing is surging, and this is just one reason why. “Supply chain managers today are thinking more about geopolitical risk than they are about any other risk.” "Companies’ top supply chain concerns until recently were how to find a reliable source for products at the lowest cost...That led many companies to China with its cheap labor and unparalleled ecosystem of factories, parts suppliers and raw materials...[M]any companies today are prioritizing a supply chain that can withstand geopolitical shocks. That new onus is taking them to other countries and continents where they are setting up alternative supply chains that reduce their reliance on a single country or region."    "Some of the changes companies are making were spurred by the Covid pandemic when factory shutdowns in China, soaring prices for ocean shipping and crippling transportation delays caused parts shortages and empty shelves. [T]he “pandemic spooked a lot of companies into how reliant they were on China.” "The changes are being accelerated by more recent geopolitical shocks as international tensions rise and countries such as China, Russia and Iran face off against the West." #americanmanufacturing #supplychain #madeinusa #madeinamerica #reshoring #nearshoring #decoupling

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I’ve seen a lot of supply chain consulting projects tank during initial discovery. Despite knowing their jobs very well, many CEOs, CFOs, chief marketing officers and other C-suite executives know little about supply chain. And even chief supply chain officers have their blind spots.   Check out my blog in the first comment to learn about assessing the supply chain maturity of the person on the other side of the table. #SupplyChainConsulting, #SupplyChainDiscovery, #ClientExpertise, #CSCOChallenges, #ConsultingGuide  

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The importance of moving from a linear to circular supply chain in the modern era. Four Reasons Data Builds a Circular Supply Chain. #supplychainmanagement #circular #data https://lnkd.in/d5_xdw-D

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3 big takeaways from Fictiv's #stateofmanufacturing report: 1. Skilled workforce shortages continue to be a challenge, but AI implementations are driving meaningful productivity improvements. ➡ Don't be a laggard here. 2. Most folks are concerned about supply chain trade war escalations, regardless of the election outcome. ➡ We're learning to be prepared no matter what (finally). 3. The macroeconomic environment is the biggest factor impacting manufacturing strategy. ➡ Savvy leaders are balancing growth with profitability. Both are possible. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/gxzs3i-N

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Want to make your supply chain more sustainable for the future? Check out this article for some top tips. Restructuring your supply chain for sustainable growth. #supplychain #sustainable #growth https://lnkd.in/gpEF5KTj

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Are you using he best approach to risk management in your supply chain? How to Build and Execute an Effective Supplier Risk Management Strategy. #supplychain #riskmanagement #strategy https://lnkd.in/gC6FjBN5

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KickStage Consulting can support you with your supply chain needs and effective planning. 4 supply chain essentials for navigating the new normal. #supplychain #resilience #planning https://lnkd.in/gpajXiWV

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🚀 Breakthrough in Inventory Management! 🚀 🔍 Ever faced the frustration of an "Out of Stock" sign? For brands and retailers, it's a costly problem known as inventory distortion, costing global companies a staggering $1.8 trillion annually. Research from Georgia Tech shows that Pull Logic helps companies optimize inventory and reduce unproductive stock. The breakthrough PAR (Product Availability Readiness) score uses advanced algorithms to predict demand accurately, leading to: 📈 Up to 30% revenue increases 📉 Up to 50% reduction in unproductive inventory Backed by investors like Silicon Road Ventures and Fintech Ventures Fund, Pull Logic is set to transform inventory management in our post-COVID world. 🚀 With fresh seed funding, Pull Logic is ready to expand its platform and grow customer relationships. Pull Logic Georgia Institute of Technology Hypepotamus Silicon Road Ventures Fintech Ventures Fund Pax Momentum Benoit Montreuil Jim Waters Taresh Grover https://lnkd.in/eaQJNstD

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AI and automation are revolutionizing supply chain efficiencies, as highlighted by Laura Ritchey from Radial in her insightful interview. By leveraging advanced technologies, companies like Radial optimize inventory management, order fulfillment and logistics, ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction and driving business growth. https://lnkd.in/gD-rqu5E #SupplyChain #AI #Automation #Innovation

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The crucial step most buyers skip when quoting new suppliers . . . Even in the best of times, purchasing teams are under enormous pressure to deliver costs savings. Manufacturing purchasing leaders are saying that cost reductions are even more urgent in 2024. Quoting new suppliers has become the norm for most manufacturers looking to reduce costs on their purchased material. But don’t pull the trigger on the RFQ’s too quickly – it’s vitally important to make sure you’re quoting the right suppliers first. Without a robust process for vetting suppliers, you’ll either end up with a bunch of “savings opportunities” that are really false hopes or even worse, wasting time and resources on supplier audits and customer validations that end up failing. Here’s three simple steps to vet suppliers before you include them in RFQs: 1.     Identify the important supplier attributes that make their way into supplier selection. These should be a combination of capabilities (right manufacturing processes, experience in your industry), desire to do business with your company (fit for product mix and volumes, willingness to achieve target costs), and available capacity. 2.      Get consensus on what you’re looking for in a new supplier. Work with stakeholders to develop an “Ideal Supplier Profile” with best case targets for each important attribute. Then circle back and define the least acceptable condition for each. 3.     Interview potential new suppliers and score them against the Ideal Supplier Profile. We use a red/yellow/green designation – for each attribute, if a supplier doesn’t meet the least acceptable condition, it’s a red. If they meet the best case targets, it’s a red. Anything in between is a yellow. You’ll find this simple step – vetting potential new suppliers before quoting – will save you considerable time after quotes have been evaluated and decisions need to be made. While it won’t ensure that every supplier you include in the RFQ will be a perfect supplier partner, it will prevent 80% of the mismatches that you’re already discovering later in the process. Under pressure to implement more savings in 2024 than your team can deliver? DM me to discuss if you might have untapped opportunities to implement $200k - $500k savings (with fees based on savings achieved). #CostReduction #FastTrackSavings #Procurement

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"89% of manufacturers will expand U.S. operations this year...". That's quite understandable in light of the extensive #supplychain disruptions caused by overseas sourcing. "Long" and "fragile" are not descriptions that evoke confidence in the chain; "compact" and "robust" are. Further, escalating geopolitical tensions, intellectual property insecurity, and cybercrime are constantly increasing the risk of continued reliance upon Asia factories and logistics. Yet, it's not as simple as saying "Let's do this." More than a quarter of the surveyed CFOs also note the top barrier they face will be the lack of qualified people for the re-/onshored roles. How can this play out to the benefit of US-based manufacturing? And what would we say to these CFOs? Well, we'd start by reminding them that experienced build-to-print #fabrication companies like #KLINGERIGI are already situated in the USA. We are well-staffed plus well-equipped with automated manufacturing machinery to minimize labor cost. Such factory #automation helps us scale output rapidly to meet the anticipated increase in #madeinusa demand. Next, we'd ask that they consider the strategic value of a close-in partnership -- especially if their manufactured products, compositional assemblies, and custom parts are intended to serve highly regulated industries (like #aerospace and #defense). Finally, we'd share the higher values that 'ride for free' with every customer relationship, and which are further documented by our elevated quality systems, IP control practices, and cybersecurity certifications (like #AS9100, #ITAR, #CMMC). So, in 2024, we hope those CFOs and their sourcing management teams think of words like "compact" (in terms of a shortened and more efficient line of supply) and "robust" (in terms of a solid infrastructure for execution) when crafting their #onshoring plans. And to give us a call because we're here -- in the USA -- to help. #manufacturing #klinger https://lnkd.in/epQmBecn

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Leveraged Supply Chains As the The White House convenes task forces to forge new strategies, we at Leverage have already observed a pivotal transformation in the supply chain dynamics of mid-market industrial manufacturers. This is not just a change—it's a generational shift, exploiting market imbalances as strategic opportunities. During a recent visit to a client in the heating and cooling sector, it became evident how new legislation and policies promoting clean and efficient energy are rapidly driving demand. This surge necessitates advanced #supplychain automation solutions to cope with the increased scale and complexity. Moreover, the global trade landscape is evolving. This evolution is prompting a crucial diversification of suppliers and stressing the importance of maintaining visibility throughout the entire supply chain—from production to port and port to warehouse. We are committed to ensuring that our clients can track their purchase orders and shipments with unprecedented clarity and efficiency. These are indeed exciting times for the industry. Join us as we navigate these transformative currents. Learn more about the White House's latest initiatives

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Are you facing semiconductor shortages that are disrupting your production lines?🤷🏼‍♂️ Look no further! S2P Inc. is here to help you keep your operations running smoothly. With our expertise in sourcing and procurement, S2P Inc. offers a streamlined solution to find the semiconductors you need. We connect you with reliable suppliers, ensuring you get the components you require, when you need them. Say goodbye to production delays and supply chain headaches. Simply fill out the form at: https://lnkd.in/gD6s-kGX S2P Inc. will take care of the rest. Don't let semiconductor shortages hold you back. Partner with S2P Inc. today and keep your business moving forward! #smallbusiness #giveback #makingadifference #digitaltransformation #canadianinnovation #leadership #mindsetchange  #supply #supplychain #procurement #procurementleaders  #strategicsourcing #sourcing #logistics #management #business #linkedin #saving #supply #thinking #technology #tech #techcommunity #tech4good #techforgood #cleantech #sustainability #sustainabilityleadership #thankyou #timeconscious #buy #sell #ollow #followus #canada #canadians

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Fictiv Premium is now Fictiv Teams and it simplifies your custom #mechanical sourcing even more now. Here are all the new/added benefits for both #engineers and #supplychainmanagers who ALL need to collaborate: 🤝 Team collaborative workspaces - Organize your team’s #engineering activity, share #quotes, and see order history all in one place. 🚄 #Leadtime optimizer - Optimize orders and which changes to make to hit your delivery dates. 👀 Multi-team controls - Gain oversight of #purchasing activity and data access by project, team, or department. 💲 Team #spend analytics - Centralized visibility into spend history for each project. 🔌 #ProcuretoPay (P2P) suite integrations - Seamless integration with #P2P systems like #coupa, #ariba, #dynamics and many others; expedites and streamlines purchasing workflows. 🚫 And absolutely NO SUBSCRIPTION fees. Get more information here: https://lnkd.in/gTnSkYqP

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A recent report by Kinaxis shows that only 17% of global supply chain leaders believe their companies are amply prepared to mitigate disruptions. That's a strikingly low number. There are multiple strategies for enhancing supply chain resilience, and it's really up to each individual company and what works best for them. Options such as diversifying supply chains, focusing on supplier communications, or considering localization or near-shoring initiatives are good places to start. However, when trying to manage volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), it's also important to rethink one's approach to managing supply chains. Constantly reflecting and improving is key to narrowing the performance gap that we're seeing really take a hold on supply chain success. #SupplyChains #SupplyChainManagement #SupplyChainDisruption

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