Focus Your Supply Chain Technology Investments to Reduce Risk and Maximize Competitiveness Lean, Six Sigma, and related approaches offer immense potential for improving competitiveness, cost, and customer experience— if you can overcome the challenges of planning and implementation. The well-targeted use of technology can dramatically reduce your risks and accelerate your progress. Until now, however, many guidebooks and consultants have treated Lean primarily as a “pen and pencil” technique. Lean and Technology is the first complete guide to integrating Lean thinking with proven, affordable, and emerging technologies. You’ll learn how companies are linking strategy, the value chain, and IT—and how they are executing on their plans to achieve real competitive advantage. Step by step, Myerson shows how to use the proven six-step SCOR Model to organize the integration of technology with all key supply chain and operations processes. You’ll discover how to: PLAN to optimize supply chain networks, demand forecasting, master production scheduling, and S&OP SOURCE more effectively with today’s MRP and procurement/e-procurement technologies MAKE higher-value “lean production” products with modern ERP, MES, and short-term scheduling systems DELIVER the right customer solutions at the right time and cost via advanced DRP, TMS, and order fulfillment systems RETURN products and materials with state-of-the-art reverse logistics systems ENABLE continuous improvement via carefully chosen measurements, metrics, and analytics Throughout, Myerson presents easy-to-use tools, methodologies, best practices, and real-world examples: all you need to improve speed, accuracy, integration, and collaboration across complex supply chains. He concludes by previewing emerging technologies for maintaining and extending the competitive advantage you’ve already built.

Table of Contents:
PART I:  INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW     1 Chapter 1  Lean Supply Chain and Technology: A Perfect Combination     3 It’s a Small World After All     3 How Big an Opportunity Is It?     5     The Extended and Often Global Supply Chain and Technology     6     Information Systems (IS) Versus Information Technology (IT)     6     Risks and Rewards     7 Linking Competitive Strategy to the Value Chain     7 Competitive Strategy, Business Processes, and IT Structure Aligned     11 Using the SCOR Model to Help Enable Lean Opportunities with Technology     13 Chapter 2  The Growing Importance of the Supply Chain and Technology to Business and Society     15 Supply Chain Defined     15 History of Supply Chain and Logistics Management     17 The Role of Information Technology in the Supply Chain     19     Supply Chain Information     19     Interactive View of Information     19     Importance of Integration for Sharing Information     21     Viewpoints of Supply Chain Information Systems     22     Supply Chain Macro Processes     22     Supply Chain Information Technologies     23 Supply Chain Technology Trends     24 Chapter 3  Lean Concepts and Their Applications in the Supply Chain     27 Lean Background     27 Value-Added Versus Non-Value-Added Activities     28 Waste     29 Lean Culture and Teamwork     35 Elements of a Lean Supply Chain Strategy     37     Basic Tools     37     Advanced Tools     42     Tools for Identifying and Solving Problems     49 Lean, Supply Chain, and Technology     50 Chapter 4  Software and Hardware Sourcing Process and Applications of Supply Chain and Logistics Management Technology     53 The Procurement Process     53     Identify and Review Requirements     53     Establish Specifications     55     Identify and Select Suppliers     55     Determine the Right Price     57     Issue Purchase Orders     58     Follow Up to Assure Correct Delivery     60     Receive and Accept Goods     60     Approve Invoice for Payment     60 Software and Hardware Selection     61     Phase 1—Planning and Budgeting     61     Phase 2—Requirements Analysis     61     Phase 3—Vendor Research     62     Phase 4—Demonstrations     62     Phase 5—Final Decision     62     Phase 6—Contract Negotiation     63     Implementation Partner/VAR Selection     63 Make or Buy     63     SCM System Costs and Options     64      “Best-in-Class” Versus Single Integrated Solution     64     Consultants     65 Project Management     65 Supply Chain Software Market     66     Supply Chain Planning (SCP)     67     Supply Chain Execution (SCE)     68     Other Supply Chain Technologies     69 Current and Future Trends in Supply Chain Software     70     Short-Term Supply Chain Technology Trends     70     Emerging Supply Chain Technology Trends     70 PART II:  PLAN     73 Chapter 5  Supply Chain Network Optimization     75 Strategic Planning Level     75 Tactical Planning Level     75 Operational Planning Level     76 Importance of the Supply Chain Network     77 The Location Decision and Its Impact on Value     77 How and Why Network Optimization Technology Can Help Enable a Lean Supply Chain     80 Network Optimization Technology     80     Technology Options     82 Supply Chain Network Optimization Technology Case Studies     83 Chapter 6  Demand Forecasting Systems     87 A Lean Approach to Forecasting     88 Typical Forecasting Process     89 Lean Forecasting Process     90 Forecasting Technology Options and Requirements     94 Lean Forecasting Technology Case Studies     96 Chapter 7  Master Production Scheduling     101 Master Production Schedule (MPS) Defined     101 Lean Scheduling     102 MPS/Production Planning Technology Options and Requirements     104     Lean and ERP for Production Planning: A Fine Balancing Act     104 Lean Production Planning and Technology Case Studies     105 Chapter 8  Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP)     111 Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) Defined     111 S&OP and Lean     113     Working Together     114 S&OP/Aggregate Planning Technology     115 Lean S&OP/Aggregate Planning and Technology Case Studies     117 PART III:  SOURCE     123 Chapter 9  Material Requirements Planning (MRP)     125 Procurement and Purchasing Defined     125     The Purchasing Process     126     Types of Business Purchasing     127 Material Requirements Planning Described     128 Lean and Material Requirements Planning     130 Material Requirements Planning Technology     133 Lean MRP and Technology Case Studies     135 Chapter 10  Procurement (and e-Procurement) Systems     139 The Procurement Process     139     Automation of Procurement Documents and Processes     139 Lean and Procurement     140 Procurement Technology     143 Lean Procurement and Technology Case Studies     145 PART IV:  MAKE     149 Chapter 11  Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems     151 Lean Supply Chain and ERP Systems     152 ERP Technology     154 Lean Supply Chain and ERP Systems Case Studies     156 Chapter 12  Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)     161 The Role of MES in Today’s Competitive Environment     162 Manufacturing Execution Systems and Lean     163     MES, Lean, and Visual Management Systems     164 Lean Supply Chain and Manufacturing Execution Systems Case Studies     165 Chapter 13  Short-Term Scheduling     171 Short-Term Scheduling Process     172     Continuous Versus Discrete Industry Scheduling     173 Scheduling in Service Industries     175 Lean Short-Term Scheduling     176 Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) Systems     176 Advanced Planning and Scheduling Systems Technology     178 Advanced Planning and Scheduling Systems Technology Case Studies     178 PART V:  DELIVER     183 Chapter 14  Distribution Requirements Planning (DRP)     185 Lean and DRP     187 DRP Software     188 DRP Case Studies     189 Chapter 15  Transportation Management Systems (TMS)     195 Lean and TMS     196 Types of Savings and Improvements Resulting from the Use of a TMS     197 Transportation Management System Technology     198 TMS Case Studies     199 Chapter 16  Order-Fulfillment Systems     205 Warehouse Management System (WMS)     205 Order Management Systems (OMS)     206 Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems     207 Lean and Order Fulfillment     208     Order Placement     209     Order Processing     209     Order Preparation and Loading     210     Order Delivery     210     Faster Fulfillment     211 Order Fulfillment Case Studies     212 PART VI:  RETURN     217 Chapter 17  Reverse Logistics Systems     219 Lean Reverse Logistics     220     Elements Key to a Lean Reverse Logistics Process     220 Lean and Reverse Logistics Technology Cases     226 PART VII:  ENABLE     231 Chapter 18  Measurements, Metrics, and Analytics     233 Measurement and Analysis Process     233 What and Where to Measure     234     Using the SCOR Model to Measure and Control     234 Supply Chain Analytics     236 Supply Chain Decision Support and Analytics Technology     238 Lean and Supply Chain Analytics Technology Case Studies     240 PART VIII:  WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?     243 Chapter 19  Collaborative Supply Chain Systems     245 The 80/20 Rule     246 Collaboration for a Lean Supply Chain     247 Integrated and Collaborative Technology for a Leaner Supply Chain     250 Lean and Collaboration Technology Case Studies     251 Chapter 20  Emerging Technologies and Their Potential Impacts on the Lean Supply Chain     255 General Supply Chain Trends     256 Supply Chain Software and Connectivity Technology Trends     257     Supply Chain Software Best Practices     258 Supply Chain Hardware Technology Trends     261     Hardware Technologies for a Competitive Advantage in the Next Decade     265 Future Supply Chain Technology Spending     265 Looking Ahead     266 References     269 Index     279