Ever since the early 1970s supply chain organisations have taken on increasingly distributed structures, a shift from a long-standing tradition of vertical integration, which had been prevalent since the late 1800s. Here’s everything you need to know about vertical integration. What is Vertical Integration in the Supply Chain? In simple terms, vertical integration is a ..read more

So the topic for this week is warehouse capacity. Why? A lot of people seem to be struggling. They're running out of space. So what are some of the causes for warehouses getting clogged up? Well, a lot of it is related to inventory management. It could be inappropriate. I was going to say poor but inappropriate purchasing policies ..read more

There have been many challenges throughout my career that I had to overcome. The impostor syndrome is one of them, which I was reflecting a little bit on the topic and, you know, I think it originated in part because I didn't have strong female leaders to look up to when I began the supply chain journey back in Mexico. As you're aware, the supply chain has been and still is a male dominated field ..read more

Understanding the cost to supply is as crucial as knowing your cost to serve. It can significantly impact your strategy, pricing, and overall efficiency. You're looking at the cost of your suppliers to supply into your business. And why is that important to know? It's critical to know. It's as essential to know as your cost to serve out to your customers ..read more

So why are we talking about freight costs? Why is it important? What are the main challenges people encounter? If you like the inexperienced way to reduce freight costs is to go to your freight company, your freight carrier or whatever you call them in your part of the world and say, “Hey, our costs are going up, you know, we're paying whatever it might be $30 a ton, $80 a pallet, we need to reduce that. What can you do sharpen the pencil?” It's very rarely works and I'll tell you why ..read more

Are you considering a career in supply chain management? Step into the world of supply chain success with an expert guide from Alma Arzate ..read more

I’ve been asked two or three times this week already. How long does it take? And I suppose the simple answer is, how long has it been a strain? It depends. But let me give you a couple of very simple case studies, one where it took a very long time and one a very short time and then at the end I’ll suggest what is a reasonable time frame. Watch the video below!      How long does it take?   So we’re talking here about outsourcing, warehousing and transport. In both cases, it was a national outsourcing contract. If you think about what needs to take place through an outsourcing ..read more

Proven Tips in Elevating Logistics Performance   Every company in this field aims to enhance its business operations, especially its logistics performance. Taking this step can elevate your business to another level. Are you striving for the same? If so, here are the 10 most common strategies that have truly helped boost logistics performance. Watch the full video below!      In this video I shared 10 tips to boost your logistics performance. Because sometimes, trying it feels like juggling. How have I picked those 10 tips? I get asked a lot by people, “What’s the right sort of ..read more

We have an online coaching coming soon! If you are someone who consistently seeks knowledge about Supply Chain and Logistics, then this is perfect for you. We will be discussing a lot of topics. Help us decide what will be the first by picking the topic you are most interested in through the list below. You can also get the full information by watching this video.      Welcome to Supply Chain Secrets! This week, we’re doing something different by starting online coaching sessions. These sessions will be 20-30 minutes long, monthly, and free of sales pitches. They’ll be deep dives in ..read more

Have you ever considered entering the field of Supply Chain? Are you familiar with the steps to get started? We recently had the chance to talk with Maria Villablanca about pursuing a career in Supply Chain and her own journey in the field. During our discussion, she also shared valuable advice for those interested in pursuing this career path. If you’re intrigued, her insights could be just what you need to take that first step.      Related articles on this topic have appeared throughout our website, check them out: Pursuing a Career in Logistics and Supply Chain How to Get a ..read more