Figuring Out the Optimal Level of Product Availability and Ensuring it

If there is one thing we focus on when it comes to supply chain marketing, it is the endless chain that meets the needs of customers and businesses on its terms. The supply chain plays a critical role in ensuring that needs are met on both sides. Product availability is equally crucial as it contributes to customer satisfaction and retention, both of which are also paramount factors.

Product availability is one aspect of the supply chain that focuses on finding the right product for customer demand promptly. Let’s say you have your eye on a phone. Next, you go to a store to buy it but it isn’t available. You start looking for alternatives. To your surprise, you find an online retailer that offers same-day delivery. 

This particular experience helps you appreciate your interaction with the retailer.  Let’s read about this topic today! In the meantime, we will also cover topics such as how to determine the optimal product level, and a supply chain management course to conclude the blog.

What Is the Optimal Level of Product Availability?

The optimal level of product availability, put simply, refers to the level at which a company meets customer demands and maintains customer satisfaction. It involves establishing a balance between inventory levels to fulfil customer needs promptly while also reducing overstocking and wastage. While it is known for minimising costs associated with maintaining stock levels, it is mostly done to ensure an optimum level of product availability.

Importance of the Optimal Level of Product Availability

The importance of the optimal level of product availability lies in meeting customer demands and maximising sales all while reducing warehouse overstocking. Here is why warehouses opt for the optimum level of product:

  • Increased sales – When products are available at hand, customers are encouraged to make purchases, which ultimately results in higher sales volumes.
  • Competitive advantage – Maintaining an optimal level of products helps businesses maintain their stock and disperse it as and when needed.
  • Reduced costs – The reduced costs are a result of less inventory, which leads to better financial performance for warehouses and companies in general.
  • Increased brand loyalty – Brand loyalty is one of the by-products of maintaining an optimum level of product availability as businesses can meet customers’ demands quickly without delaying or rejecting it.
  • Improved supply chain management – The optimal level of product availability ensures that products don’t overtake the available spacing thereby reducing overstocking, and reducing resources meant for work.

Factors To Consider for Determining the Optimal Level of Product Availability

In determining the optimal level of product availability, these factors are taken into consideration by any company with an efficient supply chain management system:

  • Demand variability – Demand variability refers to the degree of variations available for certain products. All companies consider a degree of demand variability in their products. To put it simply, if the demand fluctuates, it may be necessary to restock inventory to meet customer needs. This often happens during unexpected spikes in purchasing.
  • Lead time – The lead time refers to the time taken by a company to replenish its inventory. If it is too long, companies should consider stocking higher levels of inventory to save customers from waiting time.
  • Seasonality – Companies consider the chances of their products going into seasonal fluctuations. When this happens, the demand for their products may need to be adjusted with inventory levels accordingly. This can especially help during peak periods of purchase.
  • Cost of carrying inventory – This factor involves companies considering the cost of carrying inventory such as storage, obsolescence, and insurance. While it is vital to maintain inventory levels, it cannot possibly come at the cost of putting up with excessive carrying costs.
  • Customer service level – The customer service level determines the time in which their orders can be fulfilled. This ensures that companies have enough inventory to meet the desired level targets.
  • Supply chain reliability – The supply chain to which the company has subscribed should also be thoroughly monitored for possible disruption. Companies can opt for higher levels of inventory to avoid buffers.
  • Production capacity – Companies must consider their production capacity before scaling up production. In the event of limited production capacity, maintaining higher levels of inventory can be a pressing priority.
  • Competitive atmosphere – While the optimum level of product availability is implemented, the competitive space is also considered to avail products to customers at any given point. 

Steps To Measure Product Availability

To measure the product availability, you can follow these points:

  • Define your key performance indicators (KPIs) with metrics like stockout rate, fill rate, and days of supply.
  • Determine the target levels for each KPI based on customer demand patterns and business goals.
  • Analyse historical sales data and identify seasonal fluctuations along with demand patterns and any other factors that affect sales.
  • Implement forecasting techniques like time series analysis and demand planning.
  • Assess the current levels of inventory and compare them with the target levels to identify stocks that need refilling. You can also do this for excessive inventory.
  • Exercise inventory control measures beginning with a safety stock policy followed by replenishment rules.
  • Monitor inventory levels in real time using inventory management software. Warehouse management software helps, equally.
  • Track and analyse KPIs to identify all possible deviations in the target levels.
  • Investigate the root causes of stockouts and take immediate action towards correcting them and preventing future occurrences.
  • Work on the overall morale and ensure timely delivery of products by minimising lead times.
  • Review and adjust target levels in real-time according to the changes in market conditions, customer demands, seasonal fluctuations, and any other possible factor.

Ways of Measuring Product Availability

For more information on handling product availability, join a supply chain analytics course offered by Imarticus. Here are some ways in which you can effectively measure product availability to ensure the optimum level of goods. 

  1. By counting the number of units in stock
  2. By measuring the percentage of products that are out of stock
  3. Through monitoring the frequency of backorders
  4. By tracking the fill price, which is the percentage of purchase orders that can be fulfilled immediately
  5. Analysing lead time
  6. By evaluating the accuracy of inventory forecasting and calling for planning systems
  7. Via engaging in patron surveys or gathering remarks on product availability
  8. By comparing product availability throughout various sales channels.

Factors Involving Measurement of Optimal Level of Product Availability

Factors determining the optimum size

In the product availability scenario, the optimum size holds a significant factor. The factors influencing optimum sizing include:

  1. Degree of specialisation (division of labour) – This is the level of specialisation within a production process. The higher the degree of specialisation, the larger the production scale.
  2. Mechanisation – The use of machinery level can greatly impact the optimum size of product availability. If the production costs are less, human labour may be sufficient and it would exclude the need for more machinery.
  3. Integration of work processes – The level of integration or coordination between separate task forces within a production system can impact the optimum level of product availability. The integration of work processes depends on the stage of production as well as the mechanisation utilised.

Factors determining the need for products and services

The need for products and services is another factor affecting the optimum level of product availability. Read about the factors that work in determining the same:

  1. Tastes and preferences of the consumers – Consumer’s personal preferences can greatly affect how a product or service is shaped by affecting demand.
  2. Income of consumers– The product is also based on the purchasing power of the consumers and their current ability to afford the products and services offered.
  3. Prices for related goods – Changes in the cost of alternative or complementary goods may affect demand for a particular product.
  4. Spending on advertising – The amount spent on advertising and promotional activities plays a role in shaping consumer attitudes and demand.
  5. Variety of consumers – The size of the customer base in the market can affect the overall demand for a service or product.
  6. Government guidelines and policies – Guidelines, including taxes, subsidies, and regulations, can influence demand by either encouraging or inhibiting consumption. It can directly encourage or discourage consumption.

Factors determining the level of supply

Changes in non-price factors that cause a shift in the overall supply curve (increase or decrease in market supply). These include:

  1. The number of traders in a market must be high to ensure opposition and wide choice for buyers, resulting in the highest possible level of product availability.
  2. The level of time used in the production of a large product should be advanced to increase efficiency and productivity, resulting in higher availability of goods.
  3. Lower cost of inputs used in the production of a product promotes better production areas, leading to higher availability of the product in the market.
  4. Government legislation can give rise to honest competition and protect buyers, leading to a balanced market with good product availability.

Three Measures of Product Availability

The three common metrics of product availability are order fill rate, product fill rate, and cycle service level (CSL). Let’s discuss this in detail.

  1. Order fill rate: It is the percentage of customer orders that can be fulfilled from existing inventory.
  2. Product fill rate: It is the percentage of individual products within an order that can be fulfilled from available inventory.
  3. Cycle service level(CSL): The cycle service level focuses on the probability of a product being available for immediate shipment or pickup at a specified location within a specified time frame.

Methods for Ensuring Optimal Product Availability

Here are some of the methods implemented by companies to maintain the optimal level of product availability:

Safety stock

  1. Calculating safety inventory – This includes estimating the amount of more inventory needed to mitigate potential stockouts. It can also involve calculating desired carrier levels and demand variability.
  2. Replenishing inventory at reorder point – Inventory must be replenished at a predetermined level to ensure a non-stop supply and keep away from stockouts.

Inventory management systems

  1. Using demand patterns and forecasting methods – This involves using inventory control structures and software to track stock levels and analyse demand styles and forecast reports.
  2. Automatic reordering: It imposes systems to generate purchase orders or production orders when stock levels reach a predefined threshold.

Collaboration with suppliers

  1. Organising verbal exchange channels – Organising effective verbal exchange channels with providers affects overall communication. This can help the professional gain knowledge on forecasting, supply constraints, and existing production schedules.
  2. Coordinating manufacturing schedules – Companies can participate with suppliers to align production schedules and ensure timely delivery of products.

Just-in-time (JIT) inventory management

  1. JIT stock control – It involves adopting an approach that minimises inventory tiers by using receiving and generating items only while wanted. This also reduces the overriding charges related to maintaining extra stock.
  2. Real-time information and quick response logistics – Utilising real-time data from agile logistics systems can aid in optimising delivery chain performance. One can also adjust to changes on demand.

Examples of Companies Successfully Managing Product Availability

Let’s discuss some of the companies implementing the product availability feature in real time. For more case studies, opt for a career in supply chain management. Here are our top picks and the use cases involved.

Walmart’s efficient supply chain management

Walmart is a globally recognized retailer with a fast, cost-effective, and highly integrated supply chain. Additionally, Walmart’s retail and supply chain management strategies offer competitive advantages that accelerate the company’s growth relative to its competitors. The store utilises Information technology and AI initiatives to increase its supply chain management efficiency.

Implementations:

  • Utilising advanced analytics and forecasting techniques

Walmart uses a variety of analytics to ensure that it attracts more customers on its online and offline platforms. This analysis gives them an upper hand in ensuring the availability of the right products at the right time with reasonable price tags. This, in turn, results in better company revenues and customer satisfaction. 

Walmart uses its vast database to get a competitive advantage over other stores. With the Internet Of Things(IOT) everywhere, Walmart integrates its big data technology and analytics platform to predict fundamental customer needs. For instance, it can recommend basic household things like groceries — milk, eggs, bread, etc.

  • Collaborating with suppliers for real-time inventory visibility

By sharing real-time sales data and demand information, Walmart has kept their company going. Furthermore, they have adopted Vendor-Managed Inventory as part of their technology-driven initiative. Through this method, Walmart empowers its suppliers to take on the responsibility of managing their inventory stored in the warehouses.

Amazon’s fulfilment centres and inventory tracking systems

Amazon.com’s warehouses are called “fulfilment centres” because their services include both storage and distribution. Fulfilment centres are where orders are picked, packed and shipped to customers. Amazon took its first initiative toward cloud computing with the public launch of its Amazon Web Services, allowing companies to use its cloud storage space. 

Additionally, with the launch of this programme, Amazon has managed to rake in third-party vendors to store their products in its warehouses and sell them through Amazon’s portal.

Implementations:

  • Utilising robotics and automation to improve inventory accuracy

Amazon.com purchased Kiva Systems in 2012, also known as the basis of its automation initiative. Kiva was renamed Amazon Robotics in 2015. In 2019, Amazon acquired Canvas Technology, a company that builds robotic vehicles with computer-guided vision. In the same year, the company began working with other vendors such as CMC, and Soft Robotics for shipping and similar processes involved.

  • Optimising order fulfilment and delivery processes

Amazon order management handles customer orders on the Amazon marketplace effectively and in a systematic manner. This system manages various essential processes such as order processing, inventory management, shipping, and customer communication. With Amazon order management, one can ensure timely and accurate order fulfilment that maintains optimal inventory levels and provides a seamless buying experience for customers.

Challenges and Potential Risks in Managing Product Availability

While the advantages of calculating and working on an optimum level of product availability are many, we must also consider its disadvantages. 

Supply chain disruptions and unforeseen events

  1. Natural disasters, strikes, or political instability impacting production or transportation – Natural disasters and the political nature of things can create a huge impact on the supply chain system. Political strikes can lead to factory shutdowns, and hurricanes and floods, a similar impact. Natural disasters can affect the areas in which they occur, disrupting the flow of products. These include obstacles in routes and damaged manufacturing plants and warehouses.
  2. Implementing contingency plans and building resilient supply chains – Companies must follow contingency plans for identifying alternatives. These include finding a different location altogether or diversifying their inventory storage. 

Unpredictable customer demand

  1. Managing sudden spikes or drops in demand due to market changes or consumer behaviour: Market changes can be unexpected, and as a result, disrupt the supply chain. Companies can use forecasting methods to foretell the events including seasonal fluctuations and economic downturns.
  2. Deploying flexible inventory management strategies and proactive monitoring: Companies must adopt flexible inventory solutions to respond to changing situations. The proactive monitoring of customer trends can also tell a lot about demand patterns and sudden shifts in demand.    

Conclusion

Optimal product availability is crucial for all sizes of businesses and can play a major part in enabling customer satisfaction and maximising profits. So far, we have only read about how this feature works. With a practical course, you can take an approach towards initiating efficiency.

If you are interested in supply chains and the analytics that help support and manage these supply chain systems, you can enrol in the Advanced Certificate in Supply Chain Management and Analytics offered by CEC, IIT Roorkee (Continuing Education Center) along with Imarticus Learning. The Supply Chain Management course relies on empowering individuals with the basics of supply chain management along with the latest developments in the industry.

With the help of this supply chain analytics course, enthusiasts can get hands-on training and learn about customer behaviour, market trends, and operational performance. With this knowledge, learners can make data-driven decisions, and enhance the supply chain management system. Sign up for this course today! Delay no further.

5 considerations before building an effective supply chain management policy

A supply chain is the backbone of a business. The success of the e-commerce industry depends on supply chain management systems. The supply chain allows us to order anything from anywhere. The items get delivered right to our doorsteps. A business with a great supply chain management system can have a great advantage over others.

The demand for online goods and e-commerce is on the rise. Consequently, the demand for supply chain management professionals is increasing too. A supply chain analyst is a key supply chain profession. Let us see how you can become a supply chain analyst through a supply chain management course with analytics. But first, let us go through some brief insights about the supply chain.

What is Supply Chain?

A supply chain is a network of people or organisations involved in the creation and sale of products. It can also deliver the provision of services. All the technology and resources used in this process form part of the supply chain.

How to Build an Effective Supply Chain Management Policy?

5 important considerations should be kept in mind for building an effective supply chain management policy.

Dependable Suppliers

Suppliers are your allies. Therefore, it is important to have dependable allies. This allows the efficient functioning of a supply chain management system. Suppliers should be capable enough to deliver high-quality and timely deliveries. Therefore, you should do thorough market research to identify high-quality suppliers. They should be reliable and have a high reputation for packaging, quality, customer care and ethics.

Inventory Management

An inventory management system is important for building an effective supply chain management policy. You should strive to achieve a perfect order rate. This means that you should receive deliveries on time. You should also keep an eye on the inventory-to-sales ratio. This will help you determine how often inventory is rotated during the year. An efficient inventory management system will help you avoid overstocking and stock-outs.

­Increase the Supply Chain Visibility

While you focus on building your business, it is important to know how efficiently your supply chain systems are operating. You should be aware of the inefficiencies to be able to improve the system. Thus, you need end-to-end supply chain visibility. This includes suppliers, partners, warehousing, distribution, shipping centres and delivery. You should establish systems for real-time data sharing of the supply chain. This will help you get updated information and enable tracking.

Focus on Order-to-Pay Process

It is also known as the procure-to-pay process. It consists of all the steps from making the order to the final payment. Order-to-pay involves the functioning of all the departments of the company. These include procurement, sales, warehousing, logistics, finance, etc. Keep in mind that all these departments may be using different systems. This can cause a lack of coordination. Therefore, it is important to automate the procure-to-pay process of the organisation. This is where the last part comes in.

Leverage Technology

Technology is enhancing every industry. It has radically changed the way businesses operate. Technology is reducing human intervention, thus increasing the efficiency and speed at which tasks are performed. To build an efficient supply chain, you need to determine the processes that should be automated.

The technology should be advanced enough to coordinate between different departments. This allows any change in one department to be automatically communicated to another department. This can reduce manual intervention and prevent delays. Predictive analysis, automation and digitisation are important for ensuring an efficient supply chain.

Incorporating technology may involve certain costs initially, but the benefits will far outweigh the costs in the long run. You can also expect a reduction in operational costs as the processes become more efficient in the future.

Learning to Build an Efficient Supply Chain Management Policy

Now, we need to look at the basics of the supply chain. A formal supply chain management course with analytics can provide you with deep insights into supply chain management systems and how they function.

You can enrol in the IIT Roorkee Supply Chain Management Course by Imarticus Learning. It is a comprehensive supply chain management course with analytics. It will help you gain relevant job skills. You will also gain certification from one of the prestigious IITs. The curriculum is designed by the CEC, IIT Roorkee. It provides the opportunity for campus immersion. You get to learn from real-life industry projects that include:

ALKO’s annual inventory policy

Supply chain management with 7-Eleven

Minimising uncertainties in the supply chain

Predictive analytics for demand forecasting

The doors odd opportunities will open for you after completing the IIT Roorkee supply chain management course. You can become a supply chain analyst, demand planner, inventory analyst or lead manager in a reputed organisation.

A proper certification course can help you develop an efficient supply chain management policy for your business. It will help you become an expert supply chain analyst. The practical insights from real-life industry projects will provide ground-level understanding of the issues of a supply chain. You will thoroughly understand how a supply chain management system works.

How does designing the supply chain work

Designing the supply chain is a critical aspect of any business that involves the movement of goods and services from the manufacturer to the end customer. It involves the coordination and management of all the activities and resources required to plan, source, produce, and deliver goods and services to customers.

The value of the global market for supply chain management (SCM) was USD 18.446 billion in 2021. It is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 10.9% from 2022 to 2030.

The increasing use of technology and new advancements are making the supply chain better and helping the market to grow.

Meanwhile, SCM is a dynamic field. It comes with many challenges for companies to navigate. These challenges include:

Complexity

Volatility

Transparency

Risk management

Sustainability

Cybersecurity

Talent and skill shortages

Cost reduction

Efficiency

In this article, we will take a closer look at the key components of designing an efficient supply chain. It also covers how to become a certified supply chain analyst and future-proof your career.

How to design an efficient supply chain management?

Designing the supply chain involves understanding and optimising the flow of goods and services from the manufacturer to the end user. It encompasses various activities such as:

Planning

This includes forecasting demand, determining production schedules, and setting inventory levels.

Sourcing

This involves procuring raw materials, components, and finished goods from suppliers.

Manufacturing

This includes the production of goods and services.

Logistics

This contains the movement of goods and materials from one location to another. It also concerns itself with the coordination of transportation and storage.

Inventory management

This covers managing the flow of goods and materials in the supply chain. This includes the storage and distribution of inventory.

Distribution

This comprises the physical delivery of goods and materials to customers. As well as the coordination of returns, and reverse logistics.

Customer service

This includes addressing customer complaints, tracking orders, and handling returns.

An effective supply chain design requires balancing these different activities in a timely, cost-effective, and efficient manner.

Overall, a successful SCM design involves ongoing analysis, optimization, and adaptation to changing market conditions. Businesses must be willing to invest in technology, data analytics, and employee training to stay competitive. That’s the only way to meet the demands of their customers.

To delve deeper into how to design an efficient SCM, you can explore a supply chain management course with analytics certified by IIT Roorkee.

Features of supply chain management course with analytics

best supply chain management and analytics training

Imarticus Learning is offering a supply chain management course with analytics certified by IIT Roorkee. The highlights of the course are as follows:

Curriculum design

This cutting-edge curriculum, designed by the IIT Roorkee, will give you a comprehensive understanding of SCM and analytical skills. These skills include problem-solving, technical, communication, project management, technology, and many more.

Through the use of Python, you will learn how to analyse data. And you will be able to make better supply chain decisions.

Pedagogy

Learn from the best faculties in India through interactive online sessions and discussions.

Led by the IIT faculty, you will gain a solid foundation in the key concepts of SCM. The industry experts will provide practical learning for SCM processes, tools, and techniques.

Campus immersion

Get a chance to participate in a 3-day campus immersion module at IIT Roorkee. You can interact with peers and learn from the IIT faculty in person.

You can also visit the Delhi or Noida campus. Here, you will work on a capstone project under the guidance of industrial mentors.

Experiential learning

Tackle complex, real-world problems in the SCM industry through projects. And create a portfolio of your projects to showcase to future employers.

Combination of SCM and big data

Modern supply chains generate a large amount of data, often referred to as big data. Build strategic global supply chains of the future by combining traditional supply chain techniques with data-centric decision-making.

To enrol for this course, you must have:

Basic understanding of Operations Management and Programming.

Interest in learning SCM.

Why choose Imarticus Learning?

With the increasing trend of e-commerce, there has been a significant increase in the movement of goods. This results in a corresponding rise in the number of job opportunities. Especially, for those skilled in SCM.

The SCM program offered by Imarticus Learning helps you capitalise on this opportunity. It also helps you advance your career in the field. Click here to know more about the course. Or you can get in touch with a representative.

Imarticus Learning is a global premier ed-tech platform. They specialise in technology-driven training. Moreover, they have a decade of experience in the industry. They provide career-enhancing education across several key industries. Some of them are banking and finance, data science and analytics, new technology, and digital marketing.

Supply chain drivers can either make or break the forecasts – How?

In supply chain management, forecasting is crucial to planning and managing the flow of goods and materials. By understanding future demand, supply chain managers can make better decisions about inventory levels, production schedules, and transportation needs. Forecasting can help managers anticipate and mitigate disruptions to the supply chain.

How do supply chain drivers impact forecasts?

Supply chain drivers are the key factors that influence demand and supply in the supply chain. These drivers play a crucial role in shaping the overall performance of the supply chain and, as a result, have a significant impact on forecasts.

  1. Consumer Demand: Consumer demand is a significant driver of supply chain forecasts. It determines the number of products and services that must be produced and delivered to customers. Changes in consumer demand can significantly impact forecasts, mainly if they are unexpected or rapid.

  2. Lead Time: Lead time, or the time it takes to receive goods from suppliers, can significantly impact forecasts. Long lead times can result in longer wait times for customers and reduced inventory levels, while shorter lead times can improve inventory management and customer satisfaction.

  3. Capacity Utilization: Capacity utilization refers to the extent to which a company’s resources are used to produce goods or services. Changes in capacity utilization can impact forecasts, as they affect the speed and efficiency of production processes and, therefore, the ability to meet customer demand.

  4. Pricing and Costs: Pricing and costs are key drivers of supply chain forecasts. Changes in the cost of raw materials, labor, and transportation can impact the cost of goods and, therefore, the pricing of products and services.

  5. Government Regulations: Government regulations can have a significant impact on forecasts. Changes in laws can affect the cost of goods, the availability of raw materials, and the ability to transport goods to customers, all of which can impact demand and supply.

  6. Market and Economic Trends: Market and economic trends can also impact forecasts. Economic recessions, for example, can lead to reduced consumer spending and lower demand for goods and services.

Supply chain drivers significantly impact forecasts and are critical to understanding and predicting the performance of the supply chain. Companies must monitor and respond to these drivers & maintain accurate and reliable forecasts and ensure the success of their supply chain operations.

Supply chain drivers that have a positive impact on forecasts

Some Supply Chain drivers positively impact forecasts, making them accurate & reliable.

  1. Stable Consumer Demand: Stable consumer demand is a key driver of accurate forecasts. When demand is stable, companies can better predict the number of products and services that will be needed, allowing them to plan production, procurement, and distribution activities more effectively.

  2. Efficient Capacity Utilization: Efficient capacity utilization, or the extent to which a company’s resources are being used to produce goods or services, can positively impact forecasts. When capacity utilization is efficient, companies can better meet customer demand and maintain inventory levels, reducing the risk of overproduction or stockouts.

  3. Stable Pricing and Costs: Stable pricing and costs are also key drivers of accurate forecasts. When prices and costs are stable, companies can better predict their margins and profits, allowing them to make informed decisions about production, procurement, and distribution activities.

  4. Predictable Government Regulations: Predictable government regulations can positively impact forecasts. When regulations are stable and predictable, companies can better plan their operations and activities, reducing the risk of unexpected disruptions or costs.

  5. Favorable Market and Economic Trends: Favorable market and economic trends can also positively impact forecasts. For example, a strong economy can lead to increased consumer spending and higher demand for goods and services, allowing companies to make more accurate demand forecasts.

Learn and Grow with Imarticus Learning:

For those searching for a leadership program for supply chain professionals, enrolling with Chief Supply Chain and Operations Officers online training from Imarticus Learning can be an excellent idea to advance your career in the Supply Chain and Operations industry. The program at IIM Raipur is tailored to senior supply chain professionals, offering a comprehensive set of skills, including strategic, operational, personal, and technological, to help you become a successful SCM manager. Students connect with other industry professionals throughout the course and embark on a unique learning journey.

Course USPs:

  • Equip individuals with the necessary skills & knowledge for the SCM industry
  • Knowledge and understanding from innovative leaders
  • Chance to network with former students from IIM Raipur
  • Be a part of the Alumni community of professionals at IIM Raipur

The nuances of operation planning supply chain management

Operation planning in supply chain management is a complex task. This is because the operation planning factors impact the production process. These factors include the availability of raw materials. They also include production facility capacity, demand for final product, and disruptions in the supply chain. Operation planning must also consider the company’s objectives. This blog post discusses the nuances of operation planning. It also shares how to overcome some challenges.

1. Forecasting

A challenge in operation planning is forecasting. Forecasting estimates future demand for a product or service. This is difficult because many factors impact demand. They are the economy, changes in consumer preferences and new competitors.

AI and ML are used to help forecast demand. They analyse data to see trends. This can then be used to predict more accurately.

2. Production Capacity

Another challenge is production capacity. It is the maximum amount of a product or service produced by a manufacturing process.

There are two types of production capacity. They are theoretical and practical. Theoretical capacity is the maximum output that can be achieved. That is if all the machines in a production system are used to their full potential. Practical capacity is the maximum output that can realistically be achieved.

Practical capacity is often lower than theoretical capacity. This is because of many factors. They are downtime, maintenance, and employee breaks.

To overcome this challenge, firms need to assess their production capacity accurately. They can do this by doing production capacity analysis. This is a process that assesses the capacity of the production system. This also identifies constraints.

Constraints need to be identified. Then, firms put try to improve production capacity. This could mean investing in new machinery. Training employees to use the existing machinery can be done too.

3. Supply Chain Disruptions

Another challenge is supply chain disruptions. It is an event that disrupts the flow of goods and materials in the supply chain.

Supply chain disruptions occur due to many reasons. They are natural disasters, political unrest, and transportation problems. They can also be caused by suppliers going out of business. Failing to meet delivery deadlines is another reason.

Supply chain disruptions have a major impact on businesses. They can cause production to stop entirely. They can also lead to shortages of raw materials and finished products.

Firms must address supply chain disruption risks. This could involve diversifying the supplier base. Having alternative sources of raw materials is there. Making contingency plans can also be done.

4. Miscellaneous Challenges

It is important to think of other challenges impacting operation planning. They are quality issues and regulatory changes.

Quality issues can occur when products do not meet the required standards. This could lead to customer returns, production delays, and financial losses.

Regulatory changes can impact operation planning if the products or services being produced are subject to government regulation. For example, if the government introduces new environmental regulations, this could impact the production process and the materials used.

New product development can also impact operation planning. This is because new products often require different production processes and materials. This can lead to supply chain disruptions and production capacity changes.

It is essential to consider all of these potential challenges when operation planning. By doing so, companies can be better prepared to deal with them if they do occur.

Conclusion

Operation planning is a complex process that must take into account many factors. The challenges discussed in this article are just some of the challenges that need to be considered.

Companies must overcome these challenges to ensure that their operation planning is successful. They can do this by conducting a production capacity analysis, implementing measures to mitigate the risks of supply chain disruptions, and considering all potential challenges.

If you want to learn more about operation planning, overcoming these challenges, and embark on a career in this field, consider enrolling in Professional Certification in Supply Chain Management & Analytics by the prestigious IIT Roorkee. This program will give you the skills and knowledge you need to become a successful supply chain analyst.

Some key features of the operation planning course in supply chain management include Certification by IIT Roorkee, hands-on learning with real-world SCM projects, and live sessions with IIT Roorkee faculty and industry experts.

If you need assistance regarding the program, contact us through chat support or drive to our training centres in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Gurgaon, or Ahmedabad. We will be happy to assist you.

Effects of Demand Forecasting Errors on Operation Planning in Supply Chain

Demand forecasting is the procedure of predicting future customer demand for a product or service. Demand forecasting can be accomplished in three ways: top-down, bottom-up, and middle-out. In each approach, the goal is to analyze historical data and make predictions. 

However, there are a lot of techniques to do this, and some methods are more effective than others. Through this blog, we will explore how inaccurate demand forecasts affect operation planning in the supply chain.

What is a Demand Forecast?

Demand forecasting estimates future customer demand over a predetermined period using historical data and other information.

For managers to make wise decisions about pricing, business growth strategies, and market potential, effective demand forecasting provides valuable information about their potential in both their current market and other markets.

Without demand forecasting, companies risk making wrong decisions about their products and target markets. Wrong choices can significantly affect inventory maintenance costs, customer satisfaction, supply chain management, and profitability.

What are the Causes of Demand Forecasting Errors?

Distributors may believe that the same demand for the same goods will occur simultaneously and in the same amount every year when planning demand. This complacency can lead to forecast errors, which are detrimental to the business and its clients. 

Reducing forecast error is even more crucial when an external shock significantly shifts demand, like the global COVID-19 pandemic. Distributors can no longer solely rely on past sales to predict future ones.

The gap between expected and actual demand is known as the forecast error. The impact on your money increases with the size of the difference. 

The Effects of Demand Forecasting Errors on Operation Planning in Supply Chain

  • Effect 1: Complexity in Operations Planning

Operations planning involves the management of an organization’s resources to achieve desired output levels. Operations planning requires accurate forecasting of demand, supply, and other related variables. The success of operations planning depends on the accuracy of demand and supply forecasts. However, demand forecasting errors will always exist, even with sophisticated supply chain management techniques.

  • Effect 2: Poor Performance in Forecasting Demand

Subtle changes can occur, like a break in the supply chain. Or they could be significant, like when new laws drastically alter the playing field. Over-reliance on outdated data is a typical cause of forecasting failure because historical patterns can diverge from current events.

  • Effect 3: Increased Variability in Supply Levels

 Variability in the context of the Supply Chain refers to the degree of irregularity or volatility in the movement of materials from one end to the other.

 

  • Effect 4: Change in Scheduling of Operations

The order of operations gets specified on the production route. The scheduling sets aside space for the resource groups based on the defined operation times for the production route.

Discover a Career in supply chain management with Imarticus Learning

Managers will benefit from taking the best supply chain certification program when making tactical, operational, and strategic decisions. 

Course Benefits For Learners:

  • By integrating conventional supply chain management certification courses with data-driven decision-making, get ready to contribute to creating more innovative and tactical global supply chains in the future.
  • Students who complete the IIT supply chain analyst course can get ready for highly sought-after careers as demand planners or data scientists!
  • Python will help students make better supply chain decisions by teaching them to be data-centric.

Visit one of our training centers in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Gurgaon, or Ahmedabad, or contact us via chat support. 

Learn supply-chain compliances and leverage a competitive advantage

Learn supply-chain compliances and leverage a competitive advantage

It’s no secret that supply-chain management is a complex and ever-changing field. With new regulations and standards being enacted all the time, it can be hard to keep up. But if you want your business to remain competitive, it’s important to stay on top of the latest changes. One area that has seen a lot of recent activity is supply-chain compliance. Understanding the various compliance requirements and how to meet them can give your business a significant advantage. In this blog post, we’ll look at some of the most important compliance issues to be aware of and how you can ensure your supply chain is up to date.

Significance of Supply Chain Management for new-age businesses

The internet has disrupted nearly every industry, and the business world is no exception. In the past, businesses could get by with a linear supply chain, taking raw materials, turning them into products, and then selling them to customers.

However, the internet has made the world more connected than ever before, and customers now expect businesses to be able to meet their needs on a more personal level. This means that companies need to have a more complex and efficient supply chain to succeed.

Supply chain management coordinates all the different moving parts of a business’s supply chain to ensure everything runs smoothly. This includes everything from sourcing raw materials to manufacturing products to distributing them to customers.

There are many benefits of having a well-managed supply chain. Perhaps most importantly, it can help businesses save money. A well-run supply chain can source materials at the best possible price and then get them quickly and efficiently to where they need to go. Additionally, a well-managed supply chain can help businesses respond quickly to changes in customer demand.

In today’s business world, having a strong supply chain management strategy is essential for any company that wants to be successful. By taking the time to understand all the different aspects of supply chain management and putting together a solid plan, businesses can put themselves in a great position to succeed in the years ahead.

Leveraging competitive advantage through supply-chain management?

To leverage a competitive advantage through supply-chain management, businesses must ensure compliance with all relevant regulations. This includes rules governing the procurement of materials, the transportation of goods, and the disposal of waste. By complying with these regulations, businesses can avoid costly fines and penalties and improve their overall efficiency. In addition, by maintaining a compliant supply chain, businesses can build trust with their customers and partners, leading to improved relationships and increased sales.

What are the basic skills needed to be a Supply Chain Manager?

To be a successful supply chain manager, certain basic skills are needed. These include strong analytical and problem-solving abilities and good communication and interpersonal skills. The ability to effectively manage and motivate teams is also essential. Additionally, supply chain managers need to have a good understanding of technology and how it can be used to improve efficiency and effectiveness within the supply chain.

Learn and Grow with Iamrticus Learning:

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Future-proof your career new-age curriculum offered through professional certification in the supply chain & Analytics program from Imarticus Learning.

Industry leaders have designed this IIT Roorkee supply chain management course to provide a cutting-edge experience to candidates willing to make a career in operations and supply chain. The course makes you an expert in managing uncertainties in a Supply Chain system. 

Supply Chain Analytics enables management to make data-driven decisions at strategic, tactical, and operational levels.

Certifications for supply chain professionals are significant with increasing need for professionals with process and analytics skills. This course prepares you for high-demand job roles such as Data Scientist, Demand Planner, Supply and Operations Planner, and Supply Planner. 

Course USPs:

  • Learn in-demand tools and projects with six real-world projects.
  • Master new-age SCM and Analytics skills
  • Best trainers and faculty in India
  • Attend 1:1 mentoring sessions with industry stalwarts 

For further details, contact the Live Chat Support system or visit our training centers in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, Gurgaon, and Ahmedabad.

Scaling the supply chain management: Giving technology its due.

Scaling the supply chain management: Giving technology its due

Supply chain management (SCM) has been one of the most important topics in the business world for years. As businesses have become more globalized, optimizing and streamlining supply chains has become more pressing. However, while SCM is a critical function for any business, it is also an area that needs to be addressed regarding technology investments.

Role of Technology in supply chain management for digital transformation.

Technology plays a vital role in today’s supply chain management as digital transformation becomes an increasing reality for businesses. Automation, data analytics, tracking, and collaboration tools are ways technology changes how supply chains operate.

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Digital transformation affects every aspect of business today, and the supply chain is no exception. To stay competitive, companies must embrace new technologies that can help them streamline their operations and improve efficiencies. One of the most critical aspects of this is data analytics.

Data analytics allows businesses to track their inventory levels, production rates, shipping times, and more in real time. This information is critical for making decisions about where to allocate resources and how to optimize the supply chain. In addition, data analytics can help businesses predict future demand trends and anticipate potential problems further down the line.

Another key area where technology is having an impact is collaboration tools. To effectively manage a supply chain, businesses need to be able to communicate and collaborate seamlessly. This is often easier said than done, but various software platforms now allow businesses to share information and work together more efficiently.

Technology is also changing the way shipments are tracked throughout the supply chain. GPS tracking devices attached to loads allow businesses to monitor their real-time progress and identify potential delays. This information can then be used to adjust the route or schedule if necessary.

Benefits of using technology for SCM?

Technology has revolutionized the way businesses operate and manage their supply chains. In the past, supply chain management was a manually intensive process that was often error-prone and inefficient. However, with the advent of new technologies, businesses have been able to automate many of the processes involved in managing their supply chains. This has significantly improved the supply chain’s accuracy, efficiency, and visibility.

Implementing technology solutions has dramatically reduced costs, which is very valuable for businesses.

How can Supply chain management course with Analytics help make a career?

A career in supply chain management is demanding and challenging, but it can be gratifying. A successful career in this field requires strong analytical skills and business acumen.

A supply chain management course with analytics can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this field. The course will teach you how to use data to identify trends and optimize the supply chain. You will also learn how to manage risk and create plans for dealing with disruptions.

After completing the course, you will be well-prepared to enter the workforce or advance your career in supply chain management. With the knowledge and skills you’ve acquired, you’ll be able to impact your organization’s bottom line positively.

Learn and grow with Imarticus Learning

The Professional Certification in Supply Chain Management and Analytics from Imarticus Learning will prepare you for high-demand job roles such as Demand Planner, Data Scientist, or Operations Planning Manager. This IIT Roorkee supply chain management course prepares you to become supply chain analyst and attain skillset by providing the cutting-edge experience necessary due to the shortage of professionals with process & analytics talents in today’s industry landscape.

Course USPs:

Master SCM skills in analytics through with cutting-edge curriculum designed by IIT Roorkee. 

Learn from the best faculties in India through live online sessions and discussions.

The course offers a campus Immersion module at IIT Roorkee. This allows interaction with peers and faculty from the IIT campus.

Learn to solve complex problems demanding a thorough understanding of concepts, mastery over skills & knowledge of the business context.

Participate in building smarter, strategic, and tactical global Supply Chains of the future by combining traditional Supply Chain techniques and overlaying them with data-centric decision-making.

For further details, contact the Live Chat Support system or visit our training centers in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, Gurgaon, and Ahmedabad.

Imarticus Learning’s supply chain management course. The foundation of your successful supply chain management career.

A supply chain is a network of facilities and distribution options that starts with producing goods and ends with the delivery to the final customer. The main aim of supply chain management (SCM) is to reduce inventory costs while maintaining high levels of customer service. To manage a supply chain effectively, you need to have a strong understanding of how each link in the chain works together. You also need to know the latest trends and developments in SCM. The Imarticus Learning supply chain management course is designed to give you a comprehensive overview of SCM, from strategy and planning to execution and control. By the end of the period, you will have all the knowledge and skills you need to build a successful career in SCM.

What is Supply chain management? Scope of growth of the Supply Chain Management industry

Supply chain management (SCM) is the process of planning, executing, and controlling the supply chain’s operations to ensure customer satisfaction and achieve a competitive advantage.

The scope of supply chain management has grown in recent years as businesses have become more global and complex. The industry is expected to grow as companies look for ways to improve their operations and increase their competitiveness.

Who is a Supply Chain Manager? Tasks and Duties of Supply Chain Managers

A supply chain manager is a professional responsible for coordinating and managing the various activities and resources involved in the movement of goods or services from supplier to customer.

The main tasks and duties of a supply chain manager include the following:

– Planning and developing strategies for the efficient and effective movement of goods or services from supplier to customer.

– Coordinating and managing the activities of all the stakeholders involved in the supply chain, such as suppliers, manufacturers, logistics providers, etc.

– ensuring that all processes in the supply chain are running smoothly and efficiently.

– Monitoring performance indicators such as cost, quality, delivery, etc., and taking corrective actions as required.

– Identifying opportunities for improvement in the supply chain and implementing solutions to address them.

How can a supply chain management course with analytics help you establish a career in Supply Chain Management?

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A supply chain management course with analytics can help you establish a career in Supply Chain Management by teaching you how to manage and optimize the supply chain effectively. The course will cover topics such as supply chain planning, execution, and control; transportation management; inventory management; warehousing and distribution; and customer service. In addition, the course will provide you with the skills and knowledge necessary to use analytics to improve decision-making in the supply chain.

Learn and Grow with Imarticus Learning!

The Professional Certification in Supply Chain Management and Analytics is an innovative program designed by CEC, IIT Roorkee, and industry leaders to provide a cutting-edge experience that can help launch your career into operations.

Supply Chain Analytics empowers decision-makers with data-driven insights to make strategic, operational, and tactical decisions. The certification prepares you for high-demand job roles such as Demand Planner or Data Scientist. Your process expertise will be invaluable with another talent with a robust analytics background.

Course USPs:

  • Learn Job-Relevant Skills
  • IIT Roorkee supply chain management course certification
  • Learn from IIT Faculty
  • Get Mentored by Industry Experts
  • Certifications for supply chain professionals
  • Campus immersion at IIT Roorkee
  • Curriculum designed by CEC, IIT Roorkee

With the ever-increasing trend of e-commerce, you need to be prepared for a change. This six-month program will help prepare students with what they’ll face in their future careers as those who work or plan on working within SCM industries such as Amazon and Walmart start implementing this technology more widely across all departments internally too. With this course you have a great scope to prepare and make a career in Supply Chain Management

For further details, contact the Live Chat Support system or visit our training centers in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, Gurgaon, and Ahmedabad.

Related Articles 

How Supply Chain Analytics Help Managers Predict Future Demands 

A look at sustainable supply chain management roles for 2023

A look at sustainable supply chain management roles for 2023

The rapid growth in technologies has remarkably changed the face of supply chain management. Over the last two decades, it has seen enormous growth and the future is likely to be more prosperous and promising. Hence, becoming a supply chain analyst in the upcoming time is one of the booming career paths.

In today’s times, innovation has a great role to play in sustainability in supply chain management. Along with this, there will be more focus on sustainability to uphold environmental and societal values. Therefore, trends like the circular economy come into action. As per this, the company will build products to have a less environmental footprint and products will be long lasting as well as reusable. To complement this trend, companies can use data drive supply chains to leverage cloud-based supply chains that will provide detailed analytics. This gives a deeper understanding of business operations, and so, one can make strategies depending on them to be more sustainable in the future. To get in-depth knowledge about this, one must pursue a supply chain management course with analytics

Now let us take a quick look at the meaning of sustainable supply chain management. Further, we will discuss the opportunities that the field offers in 2023. 

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Sustainability is the addition to the entire supply chain management system which addresses global issues like climate change, deforestation, human rights, and many more. 

Nowadays, businesses are getting more considerate about the environment around them. Thus, they are taking steps to lower their carbon emissions and enhance the waste management system. 

Through sustainable supply chain management, organisations can make a huge difference in their business operations.  

Sustainable Supply Chain Management Roles

best supply chain management and analytics courses

One can have a booming career path in sustainable supply chain management. In order to opt for such a job role, one needs to pursue beneficial courses like the IIT Roorkee supply chain management course

Now, let’s jump on to the roles that 2023 offers, in the field of sustainable supply chain management. 

 

  • Logistics Manager

 

In brief, the role of a logistics manager is to monitor the supply chain throughout the entire process. He is responsible for organising, storing and distributing goods from the place of supply to their destination. Nowadays, automation has made this job role far more interesting to handle. It has made late-stage custom packaging easier than ever. Besides that, now you can plan and deliver the shipment over any channel like Uber, and even by drones. Along with this innovation in the job, it is customer satisfaction that will help the business grow. 

 

  • Sustainability Leader

 

Sustainability in business operations is one thing that the world needs. It has been in use for quite a long time but with better technologies, its impact has come to notice. For example, newer technologies like automation bring out precision, and AI coupled with machine learning monitors resource consumption. As a result, resource utilisation is at its optimum level and benefits the organisation in the long run. Further, it also strengthens the financial impact of the business operations. 

 

  • Demand Planning Manager

 

The demand planning manager bridges the gap between the business and its customers. He becomes a commercial troubleshooter that is empowered to solve issues like demand-supply balancing problems. He also analyses the problems that have arisen at transaction levels. This way one can evolve in their career path as well, from demand planning to business creation. With newer automation technologies, the demand planner will get acquainted with cloud-based planning systems and learning algorithms.

 

  • Production Planner

 

In this job role, the production planner takes care of the production unit and looks at the bigger picture for the company. He predicts the level of manufacturing, keeping in mind the predictions for sales and other company goals. He takes care of various actions such as creating a production plan, and grouping products into product families. As a result, it turns one into a master craftsman. While managing all of these, they become one of the essential factors behind the profitability of the business. 

Conclusion

While managing one of the most important functions of a business, there are several challenges that one needs to tackle. To run smoothly during rough times, it is essential to be trained in a particular way that prepares you for real-world problems. 

To become a supply chain analyst with all the needed skill-set and knowledge, one must pursue a supply chain management course with analytics. It will not only build you into a professional but prepare you for the future as well. Attending the IIT Roorkee supply chain management course will transform you into an asset that can benefit a business in the long run in the future. 

Developing and gaining skills as per technological advancements makes one stay in the business for a longer time.