Feb
6
Role of Lean in improving the supply chain
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While the benefits of the systematic method of Lean is well versed in the land of manufacturing, Supply Chain teams have much to gain from its approach.
The key mantra of Lean, and it’s principles of Value and Waste can bring key insight into Supply Chain improvement opportunities.
I’m not going to cover the key principles as they are covered in some excellent details at sights like https://www.isixsigma.com/ and lean.org but instead consider how they are applied to our particular industry.
Supply Chain by its very nature is very process orientated. Consider the humble purchase order and its process. From the origins of the requisition through to delivery of the goods themselves there are various steps to be taken (and often further steps within those). Such processes are ripe for value analysis with a view to honing the process to drive benefit.
Understanding the difference between steps that add value and create waste is at the heart of where you’ll get benefits.
I’ve been lucky enough to work for clients who have undergone value stream assessments where each area of the process is critiqued (through tools such as 5 why and 5s) to ensure that value is derived and when comparing processes from businesses that haven’t undergone such process transformation the difference is often stark.
If we think about the broader supply chain reducing waste creates both efficiencies and usually cost reduction (and who doesn’t want both of those). Consider for example how lean principles can impact elements such as:
- Lead Time reduction
- Product Quality
- Inventory
- Visual Management/Analytics
Consider Inventory, for many companies, it’s a buffer against supplier lead time, schedule adherence and an inability to forecast properly. Yes that’s right it’s a waste. And a particular waste that comes at a significant cost to the business.
Understanding the route cause of why that waste is there, breaking it’s contributory factors down and then honing/correcting can provide a systematic approach that can shed light on all areas of the supply chain.
One of my favorite aspects of using lean is visualization. I guess many of us will have seen visual management boards on shop floor areas of manufacturing centers but these fantastic tools can also be put to effective use in an office based environment. For example, visual management boards can be used to highlight critical actions / performance or visual tools used to identify the flow of work.
Fundamentally, it’s all about the benefits. Through implementing lean tools you can get quicker, reduce costs and improve quality. The trick is getting there. While there are plenty of “self-help” websites that can teach you the basics part of the problem if often understanding what “great” looks like and understanding how to get there. Because of this, it’s worth drawing on professional practitioners, people who have been there and done that, who can take you on your lean journey whilst improving your skills and knowledge at the same time.
Looking for further inspiration? Take a look at this article which explains how one hospital used lean tools to trim it’s supply chain costs by 2% and you know what they say, if they can then so can you.
Feb
5
10 CV tips for Supply Chain Managers
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Supply Chain managers are some of the more sought after people working in supply chain today. The role typically involves a range of tasks from organizing the acquisition and movement of goods and materials through to negotiating deals with suppliers.
So if you’re looking for a supply chain managers role and you are looking to spruce up your CV, here are 20 tips you can use to give you a laser sharp supply chain resume.
1/ Keywords
Make sure your CV stands out by including the relevant keywords that relate to the role and your experience, for example, consider the key tasks that a supply chain manager does, how does your CV relate to this does it cover the key tasks? Remember that many recruiters use scanning systems that pick out appropriate keywords and link them to potential vacancies.
2/ Presentation
Is your CV logically presented? with sections cover the key elements of your experience, qualifications, job history? Or is it a messy mishmash of information that might be difficult to understand?
3/ Length
One of (good) problems to have with supply chain jobs is that they cover lots of ground. You might have tons of experience relating to wide-ranging tasks. While you want to convey this don’t get carried away and remember to keep your CV to an appropriate length (2 to 3 pages)
4/ Keep things appropriate
All roles are different, ensure your CV is tailored to the role you’re applying for. Supply chain manager jobs can be very different from one company to another. Make sure you make an attempt to understand what the one you’re applying for is looking for so you ensure your CV matches expectations.
5/ Research, Research, Research.
Ensure you read up on what potential employers are looking for buy studying supply chain manager job advertisements online and in trade magazines. Armed with this information you can hone your resume.
6/ Don’t overlook professional qualifications (but keep them relevant)
If you’ve gone down the route of getting yourself qualified (through courses like CIPS etc) then ensure you bring these out. These can be real discriminators between you and other potential candidates.
7/ Don’t resort to cliches
Avoid the old favorites such as
“I work hard”
“I’m a good communicator”
“I work well under-pressure”
too many others resort to these tactics and you won’t stand out.
8/ Put the right focus on recent positions
I’m sure like many you’ve had a full and varies career. Don’t, however, put the focus on jobs from early on in your career that may not be relevant. Instead, use the valuable page space to capture what you’ve done in your most recent roles and how it relates to the Supply Chain Manager jobs you’re looking for.
9/ Demonstrate career progression
When you are structuring your career history look to how you can demonstrate progression. Do the roles show increasing levels of responsibility, do the job titles make sense in the context of Supply Chain.
10/ Make every second count
Treat your CV like real-estate and ensure you make the most of it. Consider the reader and focus on:
* Format
* Structure
* Chronology
* Responsibility/Leadership
* Keywords
So that was our top 10 list, have any tips? Be sure to leave them in our comments section below.