Author Archives: Julian Blumenthal

Nov 16

The Case of the Missing Lean

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Julian Blumenthal

Why is “lean” missing. “Lean” like the goal to minimize inventories, removal of inventory waste. Why are the 2015 statistics for inventories up in an environment where everyone is told to minimize inventory. Why is the “lean” missing? Who brought … Read More →

Posted in Inventory planning, Sales in the supply chain, Sustainability | Tagged Growing inventories | Leave a comment

Nov 09

Staying current

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Julian Blumenthal

Small and medium businesses try to exist in world where many of their customers and suppliers are big time buyers and suppliers with their sophisticated requirements. The supply chain / logistics managers in these firms can best benefit their firm … Read More →

Posted in Inventory planning, Learning from failure, Management, Process Management, Supply Chain, Supply Chain / Logistics career, Sustainability, Uncategorized | Tagged Keeping current in a complex supply chain world | Leave a comment

Oct 22

Telling the story

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Julian Blumenthal

I attended the Loyola Supply Chain Summit in Chicago on October 20, and in listening to the speakers at the event, it has inspired this and the next blog post. If there was over-riding theme to the conference, it was … Read More →

Posted in Learning from failure, Logistics, Supply Chain, Sustainability | Tagged Supply Chain Visibility | Leave a comment

Oct 09

Software Sales

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Julian Blumenthal

Efficient and productive are not terms utilized with software implementations. And there are so many reasons why. Supply Chain Managers trying to resolve the problems of the day have to turn that aside for short while to contemplate the future … Read More →

Posted in Learning from failure, Logistics Software, Process Management, Supply Chain, Useless data | Tagged Supply Chain Software sales people | Leave a comment

Sep 25

Carrier sales personnel, the value proposition

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Julian Blumenthal

Recently, walking out to his car, after work, a transportation management person of a large company with many shipments, was stopped by a carrier sales person, asking who was the transportation management of the company. “Gosh, I really don’t know” … Read More →

Posted in Sales in the supply chain | Leave a comment

Sep 13

Coming in from the cold

Posted on September 13, 2015 by Julian Blumenthal

Quite often a person is transferred into the Supply Chain department with no previous experience in the field. What is important in training somebody who comes into the cold. My answer would be the routine but also the holistic view. … Read More →

Posted in Supply Chain, Supply Chain Education, Sustainability | Tagged Teaching a new employee about the Supply Chain | Leave a comment

Aug 30

A Kind Word about Ego in the Supply Chain

Posted on August 30, 2015 by Julian Blumenthal

Perhaps it may be time to write some positive words about your personal ego in the supply chain. I have watched Donald Trump attract a lot of media attention by being flamboyant and telling off everyone who is not agreement … Read More →

Posted in Learning from failure, Management, Supply Chain | Tagged Useful Ego in the Supply Chain | Leave a comment

Aug 10

That blank stare

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Julian Blumenthal

I was emailing with a well known consultant about reducing transportation costs. His response was if you cut inventory you will cut your transportation costs. In other words, take a holistic view of the supply chain. Almost anybody’s jobs involves … Read More →

Posted in Logistics, Process Management, Supply Chain | Leave a comment

Jul 27

Plant visit

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Julian Blumenthal

Much of the literature of the supply chain is on the exciting stuff of grand overviews and the latest amazing software tools. There is a place for that. Little is written in most of these book, articles and web blogs … Read More →

Posted in Inventory planning, Learning from failure, Logistics, Logistics IT Security, Logistics Software, Management, Process Management, Supply Chain, Sustainability | Tagged Supply Chain plant visits | Leave a comment

Jul 13

Sondheim’s philosophy works in the supply chain too

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Julian Blumenthal

Recently before the Grant Park Concert in Chicago which features works by Stephen Sondheim, I heard a presentation before the concert. The conductor of the program, Paul Gemignani said that Sondheim was the most collaborative composer, he knew. He was … Read More →

Posted in Learning from failure, Logistics, Management, Supply Chain, Training | Tagged Listening Manager | Leave a comment

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