Supply Chain Planning Newsletter

August, 2015

Lead Article:
Predictive Analytics
 
Performance management (PM) has gained a lot of momentum lately. Management rely on KPI's in order to monitor the health of their business and find areas where they need to improve and make changes. This is a huge step forward. However, much more can be done if one had access to a predictive model. PM deals with the past and present to change the course of the business. It is like looking in your rear view mirror and trying to find your way ahead. Big data analytics also does the same, it relies on existing data in order to predict the future. It is more like a cause-effect analysis. However,  A "model-based" Predictive Analytics (which we shall refer to as PA*) allows you to look into the future and figure out what works and what does not based on realistic models of the world (operations). It helps one to make the right decision and see what to expect before a mistake is made or a bad decision is made. As expected,  PA* requires a comprehensive model of the supply chain to predict the future. In the absence of that, one cannot possibly look into what the consequences of one's actions are or what the outcome might be, when an undesired event occurs.
 
To this end, the more comprehensive the model of the supply chain the more accurate would be the predictions. It resembles a simulation model with an optimization brain. A simple example would be the impact of adding a new Distribution Center. Unless you have an operational and financial model of the supply chain with optimization algorithms, there is no way that one can accurately predict what the real impact would be. One needs to take into account, where the products are made and transported, the quantities that can be made available (capacity), related cost information for sourcing raw material, alternative suppliers, making them and transporting them and then decide on potential demand models, revenue and delivery in order to  get the true picture of what the trade-offs are and what the best strategy might be. A spreadsheet cannot do this! Even an LP engine by itself with all the "right constraints" cannot do this! The latter does not have a model to reflect product interactions and routings as well as equipment interdependencies and exceptions. 
 
Performing predictive analytics without a supply chain model is useful only to the extent that it shows what caused a higher or lower output or what contributed to lower profits based on past data, which may be useful to know. However, with a supply chain model one can predict what can be done in the future, how much more or less can be produced, what is needed to make the change, the change in cost and profit based on different demand data and product mix and so on. All looking into the future not the past data!
 
As it is obvious by now, for many of our customers they can perform predictive analytics not just on the demand side but also on the supply side based on their models of supply chain or factory in order to decide where to make products, how to transport them and how the demand should be met so that they can predict what revenue/profit will be accomplished, where and when,  where the potential risks are, and what the best profitability option would be. All in the context of their supply chain model! And the best part is, as the world changes the model changes accordingly, always giving an up-to-date picture of what to expect.

Adexa Webinette

Supply Chain Predictive Analytics: Part 1 - The Supply Side of Predictive Analytics
 
Supply Chain Predictive Analytics is most commonly used trying to incorporate causal factors into Demand Planning.  Most people do not realize that it can also be effective for predicting the performance of a supply chain on the supply side.  This webinar introduces the use of Predictive Analytics for Supply Planning.  It uses comparisons to Demand Planning to talk about how you can predict future KPI's based on a set of measures for supply planning.  The follow on webinar to this one will get into details of the best measures that should be tracked.  
 
Please click on link to "Supply Chain Planning Channel" to become a subscriber so you will be not miss out on any of the upcoming webinettes.   
Adexa Happenings

Come join us at the 3rd Annual Global Supply Chain Excellence Summit hosted by the Center for Global Supply Chain Management at USC Marshall School of Business.

Each year, the event offer the opportunity for industry executives to not only share insight on how they have managed to navigate the world of supply chain in a rapidly changing environment but also recognize industry best practices. A slate of C-level leaders in business and distinguished Marshall faculty will present on a series of thought-provoking panels while offering guests the opportunity to ask questions to dig further into topics. Dr. Cyrus Hadavi will be a panelist on the Technology and Supply Chain Solutions panel this year.  

The Summit will feature global leaders across vertical markets and supply chain competencies. The event have been showcased to over 366,000+ USC worldwide network and expect 400+ attendees from industry and academia at the event this year.

For more details, please visit http://globalsummit.uscsupplychain.com/
 

For more information contact us at any time:

Ron Wilson

Marketing Director

888-300-7692 (Ext. 122)

rwilson@adexa.com