3 conseils pour la gestion de la chaîne d'approvisionnement : mise à l'échelle

Right now, manufacturers are more aware of their supply chains than ever before. That awareness has raised many questions about how to improve efficiency and resiliency. I’ve spent nearly three decades as a distribution and supply chain professional so I understand the challenges of balancing supply continuity with customer demand. Supply chain managers are navigating increased complexity as COVID-19 has exposed vulnerabilities in even the most secure supply chains. Knowing how to simplify complex areas and stabilize weak links will allow you to scale up or down quickly as demand evolves. Below are some evergreen tips to rationalisez votre gestion des pièces for a stronger, more resilient supply chain.

3 conseils pour rationaliser la gestion des pièces

Points clés à retenir : recherchez un fournisseur offrant une visibilité et une sécurité dans ses lignes d'approvisionnement, soutenu par la technologie nécessaire pour gérer la demande future quelle que soit la pandémie.

1. Trouver une source unique pour les pièces standard

La sélection d'une source unique pour les pièces standard est une première étape solide vers la réduction de la complexité de la chaîne d'approvisionnement. Recherchez un partenaire suffisamment expérimenté pour évoluer à la hausse ou à la baisse pour répondre à vos besoins, idéalement avec des partenaires étroitement gérés dans plusieurs régions.

2. Choisissez la vitesse et l'accessibilité

Once you’ve consolidated your supplier network, make sure that everyone who’s staying onboard has the resources (technology, people, and financial stability) to meet your output as you scale up. Your supply chain partner should be highly-dependable, highly-accessible, and focused on your needs. They should be able to deliver on the promise of fast, easy ordering for your most commonly-used parts. Whether it’s a face mask or a hockey puck, having confidence your partner can deliver is a bedrock quality. (And yes, we’ve met emergency calls for hockey pucks. It happens.) That’s what partners do.

3. Exigez des données en temps réel

Along with consolidating your suppliers and vetting them for speed and reliability, ask them how they can support you with real-time visibility into your supply chain. Real-time production and shipment visibility can help you be proactive about gaps or potential disruptions to your supply chain–both critical to scaling up. Knowing where your parts are, what you’re running low on, and what you’re overstocked on will help you streamline your parts management and avoid costly disruptions to your supply chain.

Astuce bonus : trouvez un fournisseur avec une stabilité financière éprouvée

Even the most responsive, customer-focused partner can be vulnerable to outside forces. Sadly, I’ve seen many suppliers go out of business since the pandemic started. The last thing you need is to develop a relationship with a supplier only to see them out of business when the market takes a sharp left turn. Look for a partner with stabilité financière avérée qui peut non seulement résister à la tempête à vos côtés, mais aussi vous aider à avancer lorsque les choses deviennent difficiles.

Un mot rapide sur la relocalisation de votre gestion des pièces standard

Le COVID-19 a toujours un impact sur la gestion des pièces et les fabricants manifestent un intérêt accru pour la relocalisation, la régionalisation ou l'utilisation d'un modèle Chine + 1 pour leurs chaînes d'approvisionnement.

As a matter of fact, Optimas recently opened a new distribution center in St. Louis to support manufacturing customers who need reliable, fast delivery of standard parts. This strategic location, in the middle of the country, along with a robust supply chain and vendor portfolio, has proven invaluable to customers. It has allowed them to scale with customer demand, improve cash flow, and minimize risks in a time when their competitors are struggling with lockdowns in Europe and delays from China.

Préparer votre chaîne d'approvisionnement pour tout ce qui vient ensuite

If there is one thing that 2020 has taught me, our world has evolved and it will continue to in the future. Manufacturing plants on every continent will continue to observe increased safety protocols even after there’s a vaccine. This means there will be continued demand for other consumables too–like PPE and sanitization products.

Vous pouvez rationaliser encore davantage vos opérations en vous associant à un partenaire capable de fournir des pièces standard et EPI et MRO to stay safe and operational. Have a look at what Optimas is doing with all three of these consumables at us.optimas.com.