The upside is that this slip in discipline triggered this post regarding the significance of SAP routine and discipline that is crucial to keeping demand and supply in balance.
Here are 8 steps you can follow to instil routine using the SAP tools you have already paid for:
Set the time of the day, every day, when supply chain role-players will "connect" to address supply chain imbalances.- Run these sessions in your live SAP system, using SAP’s supply chain exception monitors to set the direction for the day.
- Manage your MRP generated supply chain exception messages - at the start of the day, every day.
- Address the data integrity issues (housekeeping) that cause exception messages - at the start of the day every day.
- Address the behaviour that cause exceptions - at the start of the day every day.
- Address the master data issues that cause exception messages - at the start of the day, every day.
- Avoid drawing up action lists in your daily gatherings. These gatherings (or forums) are to address imbalances, straight away. If you like: To do today’s work today.
- Use these forums and your live SAP data to continually seek out the next supply chain optimisation activity.
Blogging is an important part of SweetThorn’s brand management, but the articles cannot be sporadic and infrequent, otherwise the impact and opportunities are lost. The same applies to supply chain routine and discipline, without which you run the risk of falling into frenetic firefighting.
As a final note, you will most likely need a coach to help you instil routine; after all it was my Partner who reminded me that I am behind on my blogs!
