Operations & Supply Chain Management

Designing A Supply Chain Network

Objectives

The optimal design of a supply chain is both an important and complex decision. It is important, because it can have a powerful impact on the total supply-chain cost and customer service. Besides, this is not a decision that a company can revisit repeatedly: once a supply-chain is designed, and in place, it is difficult to change it soon after.

The decision is complex because it involves balancing many cost and customer-service factors, and because there can be an astronomical number of alternatives to consider. Except in the simplest of cases, the use of a mathematical model is inevitable. Till some years ago, only a handful of professionals were equipped to employ these techniques, but recent advances in hardware and software have changed this. Simple optimisation solutions are now within the reach of managers proficient in Excel, and special software that is available for solving large problems.

This programme will introduce participants to the principles and practice of optimisation. It will equip them with specific skills needed to solve small-to-medium sized network-design problems on their own, and it will educate them on how to approach large problems.

Key Topics

• Introduction: Basics of optimisation taught on a PC in a practical session
• Applications: network-design problems
• Problem complexity: problems that can be solved and problems that cannot
• Lessons: pitfalls in supply-chain design and how to avoid them
• What-if analysis: the importance of building scenarios
• Large-scale optimisation: network-design software

Who will benefit

Companies in manufacturing, distribution, retail and logistics all need to optimise their network design. This course will benefit any manager or consultant involved in designing a supply-chain network.

Duration

3 days.

Optimal Supply-Chain Planning

Objectives

Problems of planning procurement, production and distribution lie at the core of tactical decision-making in supply chains. Building an optimal network is only one part of making the maximum profits. Month after month, products must be purchased, transformed, distributed and sold in a manner that earns the company the largest possible profit. Like network-design problems, these problems can be extremely complicated and they will only yield to sophisticated techniques.

Optimisation methods are best at delivering results and they lie at the core of all supply-chain-planning software. This programme will enable participants to become proficient in such specific techniques and their application.

Key Topics

• Introduction: the problem of supply-chain planning
• ERP and supply-chain planning: where does ERP end and supply-chain planning begin?
• Techniques: learning linear programming under Excel
• Data issues: the interface between ERP databases and supply-chain planning systems, and the limitations of ERP
• Real life: cases from India
• Software: supply-chain-planning software available

Who will benefit

This programme will benefit senior and middle-level manager involved in planning supply-chain activities, as well as consultants in information technology, ERP, and the management of supply chains.

Duration

3 days.

Demand Forecasting and Planning

Objectives

A perfect forecast is the holy grail of supply-chain management, but there is nothing like a perfect forecast. And yet forecasting is an essential first step in almost every supply-chain process. How do we resolve this paradox?

The answer lies in giving forecasting its correct place. First, demand forecasting is not just the application of statistical techniques; it is equally the result of managerial efforts. A correct blend of statistics and manual intervention can work wonders. Second, a forecast is not the end of supply-chain management; it is the start. Third, and this is the most important point, a company’s management has a significant role to play in the implementation of a demand-planning system – by way of setting expectations, establishing roles and monitoring progress.

This course will be a mix of theory and practice. It will introduce participants to statistical methods of forecasting, giving them hands-on experience of simple models. Next, it will take them through a complete demand-planning exercise, which includes the statistical methods, manual inputs and the roles of the various people in the organisation. Finally, it will educate participants on the correct expectations to set and the issues they are likely to face in implementation.

Key Topics

• Basics of statistics for forecasting
• Forecasting models
• Demand planning
• Implementation
• Exercise: using a demand planning solution
• Software: what is available off the shelf?

Who will benefit

This programme will benefit senior and middle-level managers in sales and marketing, and supply-chain planning. IT managers will also gain from this course, and so will consultants in related fields.

Duration

3 days.

Supply Chain Management - Planning for Excellence

Objectives

In this world of hyper competition, the role of Supply Chain Management is changing from simple “procurement-distribution cycle” to a process that involves contribution from all stakeholders in a supply chain. As the level of outsourcing increases, the need for managing the entities and processes involved in the Supply Chain increases.

This programme aims to help the participants to identify key areas of improvement in the SCM, by using SW tools like ARIS tool set and SCOR Model.

Key Topics

• Nature of supplier partnerships
• Measuring supplier performance: tools and their uses
• Process mapping using ARIS Tool Set
• SCOR Model
• Supplier base rationalisation
• Managing change
• Projects

Who will benefit

This programme will benefit senior and middle-level managers involved in supply chain management

Duration

3 days.

Supplier Performance Measurement

Objectives

Of late, Supplier Performance Measurement is getting a lot of attention. The Aberdeen Surveys in 2002 and 2005 have identified SPM as an area of opportunity. Almost half the firms surveyed do not have any SPM activity for a variety of reasons. If suppliers have to function as the extended arm of an enterprise, a robust and transparent SPM system is necessary.

This programme aims at familiarizing the participants with the current trends in SPM and helps to evolve or improve their SPM model.

Key Topics

• SRM and role of SPM in SRM
• Current trends
• Knowing SCEM
• SPM Tools, Balanced Scorecard
• Excel Based Tools
• Evolving and improving the SPM process

Who will benefit

This programme will benefit senior managers involved in managing supplier networks.

Duration

1 day.

Excellence in Business Process Management using ARIS

Objectives

Change has become an integral part of every business and an organisation’s success is measured today by its ability to predict and adapt to change. Business process management (BPM) provides an organisation with systems for improving processes and aligning them with business goals, giving it the flexibility to adapt to change. ARIS 6.2 is a worldwide, leading BPM software tool developed to assist the BPM initiative with various phases of process mapping, process modeling and optimizing. This training programme is designed to give participants a conceptual understanding of BPM and to equip them to be skilled users of ARIS.

Key Topics

• Introduction to BPM
• Introduction to ARIS
• Process chain analysis
• Modeling with ARIS
• Optimizing on ARIS

Who will benefit

This training is of critical importance to business process managers, business analysts, entrepreneurs and any other individual involved in organisational improvement initiatives.

Duration

3 days.

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Training Program (Train & Test)

Objectives

The overarching learning objective of this course is to develop a comprehensive set of skills that will allow you to function effectively as a Six Sigma Green Belt. The Green Belt body of knowledge includes techniques for both quantitative and non-quantitative analysis, as well as the team leadership skills necessary to get projects across the goal line.

Key Topics

• Project management basics
• Defining phases
• Measuring phases
• Analysis phases
• Improvement phases
• Control phases
• Team dynamics and performance
• Strategy

Who will benefit

This programme will benefit managers in operations and beyond to with a general knowledge of theory, composition and implementation of lean six sigma, by offering solutions that enhance alignment of organisational elements and procedures by effective time and cost management and reduced defects.

Duration

6 days.

Project Management

Objectives

PM is a key integrating mechanism for projects. As pressure builds to improve project success rates, many organisations are realizing that training is not an option but a necessity for competing in a constantly changing and increasingly complex business environment. This workshop uses concepts, prevalent industry practices, and best practices to equip participants with the knowledge, skills and tools for effective project management.

Key Topics

• Project time management
• Project communications management
• Project planning and tracking
• Project execution – executing across shifts
• Resource utilization Management: availability forecasting and tracking
• Risk management
• Skills management
• Enhancing team productivity

Who will benefit

This programme will benefit managers in product development and operations, by offering solutions that enhance alignment of organisational elements and procedures with features of products and operations.

Duration

2 days.