Operations leaders’ agenda

Companies further along their transformation journeys can respond quicker to changing customer demands and disruptive forces. With only 25% of companies digitally networked and even fewer autonomous, enterprises must move from linear to connected ecosystems of partners, suppliers and alliances, and then toward fully autonomous supply chains that are resilient and sustainable. Integrated business planning, transport and warehouse logistics, product innovation and customer collaboration must be part of the mix for improved supply chain operations management.

Procurement is no longer simply about cost savings: it is a strategic endeavor that includes collaboration and finding new ways to add value. Organizations should consider an analytics-driven sourcing strategy to optimize supplier portfolios; adopt new technologies, such as AI for contract management and cloud-based supplier collaboration tools; and improve working capital through supply chain finance and supply chain optimization.

Operations management and strategy for Industry 4.0 is about improving productivity and decreasing waste and cost. One powerful way to transform the manufacturing function is through the adoption of the smart factory — where cyber-physical systems monitor factory processes, provide analysis, and automate or support decision-making and controls. With digital manufacturing, enterprises can gain on-demand visibility into performance across the production chain, lower costs and improve collaboration with suppliers and customers.