Few manufacturing sectors are as dependent on good traceability practices as the food and beverage industry. In this article, we look at why traceability is so important for food manufacturers and which features should be foremost implemented.
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An exchange of information is necessary to trigger any kind of action and as such, communication is an essential part of any manufacturing business. Improving your communication process and practices can therefore have a significant effect on the efficiency of your business.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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In distributed manufacturing, production facilities are scattered throughout an extended geographical area, each one serving their local market, with their work coordinated with the help of cloud-based software. Distributed manufacturing is gradually gaining ground thanks to providing benefits such as shorter lead times and lower distribution costs.
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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.
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Push systems 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.
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