Supply chain is often the first area of operation companies look to find efficiencies. As shipping costs grow and sales growth peaks, companies are getting ready for a downturn, whether it’s brought on by another global recession or trade restrictions in an increasingly protectionist world. When companies turn to their supply chain managers to find cost-saving solutions, it’s often the last chance to get back into the black.
How can supply chain managers deliver efficiencies and improve the company’s bottom line?
- Just-in-Time Delivery
Just-in-time delivery is a supply chain strategy that cuts down inventory costs by only receiving goods as needed. That means less cash is held up in inventory and can be deployed elsewhere across the company. It’s used in contrast to the older “just-in-case” strategy in which companies held bloated inventories in the event of increased demand. Just-in-time is a growing strategy that keeps production runs short and means that companies can be more flexible and pivot to new products faster.
- Minimize Warehousing Costs
Supply chains need to minimize warehousing costs in both shipping and receiving. Warehousing has a big footprint and big costs. A more efficient supply chain has smaller warehousing costs. But minimizing space isn’t the only way to reduce warehousing costs. New technology such as more efficient lighting and energy use, more efficient fans, and storm water runoff reduction (and associated fees) can cut the long-term costs of warehouse operation. Better technology and equipment management can also have cost benefits in the supply chain.
- Better Inventory Data
Information is the most powerful tool supply chain managers have. Without accurate data, supply chain managers can’t execute just-in-time delivery or keep warehouse costs to a minimum. They need to know exactly how much inventory they have coming in and going out and where shipments are at all times. To do that, they need better technology on the ground.
Industrial PDAs with resistive touch screens should be in the hands of every supply chain worker. Industrial PDAs make inventory counts and location tracking quick and efficient. But these devices also face some harsh conditions. They need resistive touch screens that can weather the elements, whether it’s rain, snow, heat, or freezing temperatures.
Touch screen manufacturers A D Metro specialize in resistive touch screens tough enough to handle supply chain and industrial conditions. In order to save money in the supply chain, companies need durable equipment, including touch screens that won’t break when they’ve been dropped or banged up. The ULTRA resistive touch screens made by A D Metro are also impact and scratch resistant. In the supply chain business, everybody is in a rush. You can’t slow down because you’re worried about breaking equipment.
As a supply chain manager, it’s time to learn about the latest in touch screen technology built for tough environments. You need top of the line equipment that can collect data on the ground floor. Save money with tough equipment while you find new efficiencies with unprecedented levels of data.
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