Manufacturing Supply Chain Management: Best Practices

Purchase Order Management – Achieving Consistent Deliveries

For any manufacturing company that relies on components and raw materials from suppliers, purchase order management constitutes an important set of practices that can significantly simplify the procurement process. In this article, we look at how to achieve consistent success with your procurements using the best purchase order management practices and solutions.

By Mattias Turovski 9 min read

Manufacturing TipsSupply Chain

What Is Co-Packing or Contract Packing?

Co-packing means having a specialized packing company package your manufactured goods into their final selling form. Using a co-packer helps small manufacturers focus on their core competencies, save money on packaging equipment, labor, and logistics, and sell their products in higher-quality packaging.

By Madis Kuuse 6 min read

Manufacturing TipsSupply Chain

Procurement Planning – A Simple Guide

A thoroughly planned procurement process helps to ensure that a company’s purchases arrive in a timely manner and in the right quantities, from the best vendors and with good prices. A well thought out procurement plan helps businesses stay in control of the product manufacturing cycle and avoid last-minute surprises.

By Mattias Turovski 9 min read

Supply Chain

Distribution Management Basics for SMEs

Distribution management is an integral part of any well-functioning business that sells physical products. Although the actual shipping of goods takes a central role in the process, distribution management includes many other processes that support timely and cost-effective deliveries.

By Madis Kuuse 7 min read

InventoryManufacturing TipsSupply Chain

What Is Pipeline Inventory?

Pipeline inventory consists of goods that a company has ordered but which have not yet arrived in the facility. Managing this type of inventory can help schedule production or shipments in advance, reduce standing inventory levels, and avoid stock-outs.

By Mattias Turovski 8 min read

Supply Chain

Incoterms – A Simple Guide

Incoterms or International Commercial Terms are used to facilitate and standardize trade processes, especially logistics and shipping. As of today, there are 11 different Incoterms that all allocate different responsibilities to both parties of a transaction.

By Madis Kuuse 9 min read

InventoryManufacturing TipsSupply Chain

What Is Decoupling Inventory?

Decoupling inventory is the strategic buffer stock of subassemblies and WIP that could be used when suppliers are unavailable, when there are internal disruptions like machinery breakdown, or when demand is greater than expected. It allows companies to prevent all-around stoppages and mitigate the bullwhip effect.

By Madis Kuuse 7 min read

InventoryManufacturing TipsSupply Chain

How to Keep Perfect Batch Records?

Batch records are documents that detail the journey of raw materials becoming batches of finished goods. Even though the term is mostly associated with process manufacturing, especially the pharma industry, every company that manufactures its products in batches or series can benefit from keeping batch records. Here is how to do it.

By Madis Kuuse 7 min read

Production planningSupply Chain

Push System vs. Pull System in Manufacturing Management

Push and pull systems are supply chain management strategies that are used depending on the uncertainty of the demand for a product. While push and pull are very different approaches, many companies also adopt a hybrid push-pull strategy.

By Madis Kuuse 8 min read