Supply Chain Planning Challenges

40 Questions

What is the primary reason for supply chain managers to think in new ways and explore new solutions?

To adapt to the VUCA world's uncertainty and unpredictability

What is a major limitation of traditional root-cause analytics in supply chain planning?

Inability to account for uncertainty and unpredictability

What is a key requirement for supply chain managers operating in a VUCA environment?

Adopting a novel and innovative perspective

What is the primary goal of supply chain planning in a VUCA environment?

To prepare for and respond to supply chain issues

What is the result of the complexity and interconnectedness of modern supply chains?

Confusion and uncertainty

What is the primary reason for the lack of supply chain visibility in today's global planning organizations?

Growing ambiguity within global planning organizations

What is the main challenge faced by companies due to weak supply chain visibility?

Reduced supply chain performance

What is the primary consequence of the growing lack of supply chain visibility?

Increased demand volatility

What is the root cause of the challenges faced by supply chain organizations today?

The VUCA world

What is the main reason for supply chain leaders to find new solutions to address the key pain points?

The failure of old solutions to master volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity

What is the primary reason why supply chain planners need to have a comprehensive view of total demand?

To avoid blind spots in the planning process and prevent shortages or excessive inventory

What is the main limitation of lean principles in today's VUCA environment?

They are oversimplified and unable to handle complex planning scenarios

What is the goal of LEAN Supply Chain Management (LEAN SCM)?

To combine the best of both lean and traditional approaches to supply chain planning

What is the main challenge that supply chain planners face in today's VUCA environment?

Dealing with complex planning scenarios and turbulence

What is the primary benefit of establishing flow and demand-driven supply chains?

Improving supply chain agility and responsiveness to changing demand

What is a critical component of supply chain management in process industries?

Coordinating material, information, and financial flows

What is the ultimate objective of supply chain management in process industries?

Maximizing customer satisfaction

What is a key characteristic of the modern supply chain environment?

Volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity

What is a critical function of supply chain management in process industries?

Coordinating supply and demand

What is a key challenge faced by supply chain managers in process industries?

Coping with volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity

What is a major limitation of traditional planning approaches in the VUCA world?

Inability to address variability and volatility

What is a key failure of traditional planning systems in managing supply chain variability?

Ineffective use of inventory buffers

What is a major consequence of the limitations of traditional planning approaches?

Inefficient use of supply chain resources

What is required to successfully master the quest for balanced flows in the VUCA world?

A combination of traditional planning and lean approaches

What are the three major root causes of poor supply chain performance in traditional planning systems?

The planning loop trap, the bullwhip effect, and one-sided variability management

What is a major pitfall of traditional planning systems like MRP and APS?

Overreliance on unrealistically high levels of forecast accuracy

How do traditional lean approaches like kanban and heijunka fall short?

They fail to provide end-to-end synchronization along supply chains

What is a key benefit of the LEAN SCM approach?

Holistic planning that adapts to the VUCA world

What is a key characteristic of the VUCA world that affects supply chain planning?

Unstable and uncertain market conditions

What is the primary goal of LEAN SCM?

To achieve end-to-end synchronization along supply chains

What is the primary challenge faced by supply chain managers in terms of variability?

Reacting to a widening array of demand and supply scenarios

What is the main difference between variability and volatility in supply chain management?

Variability refers to the difference between market expectations and customer requirements, while volatility refers to the statistical spread between future demand expectations and actual customer orders

What is the primary consequence of the widening statistical spread between future demand expectations and actual customer orders?

Supply chain managers need to anticipate and react to a widening array of demand and supply scenarios

What is the primary role of buffering in inventory and capacity in supply chain management?

To reduce variability and volatility in supply chains

What is the primary challenge faced by supply chain managers in terms of demand forecasting?

Anticipating and reacting to a widening array of demand and supply scenarios

What is the primary goal of capacity requirement planning in supply chain management?

To match capacity with actual customer requirements

What is the primary objective of material requirement planning in supply chain management?

To determine the material requirements based on actual customer orders

What is the primary role of ERP-based sequencing in supply chain management?

To optimize the sequence of production and logistics activities

What is the primary challenge faced by supply chain managers in terms of supply chain orchestration?

Coordinating and integrating multiple supply chain processes and activities

What is the primary consequence of the growing complexity and interconnectedness of modern supply chains?