GREAT BUT NOT NEWTOOLS

摘要

As I read and reread the article "Forecasts Demand Change" (May 2010), I was impressed with how companies like Paramit, Dow Chemical, Del Monte, HP and others are coping with the demand and leadtime volatility brought upon by the recession.rnAt the same time, I am also aware that some of the tools and concepts being used have, in fact, been available and taught as good supply chain practice for years. For example, the practices of requesting a rolling forecast from major customers and sharing the potential longer term future needs for materials with key suppliers have been "good" practices for some time. The utilization of consignment inventory (Paramit) and the use of postponement of final product configuration well into the distribution network (Hewlett-Packard) are also great, but not new, tools.