IDC study suggests manufacturers have learned their lessons

As U.S. manufacturers begin to realign their supply chains with tactical and strategic initiatives, how will the recent recession inform their decisions?

That question and others is addressed in the recently issued IDC Manufacturing Insights: Supply Chain Strategies: “Top 10 Predictions.”

In putting this study together, IDC analysts Simon Ellis and Kimberly Knicle, learned that while manufacturers are ready spend again, many are still reeling from the the recession’s aftershock.

“We see a slow return to basics,” said Ellis in an interview with LM. “They are not buying ‘solutions’ per se, as they understand that there’s not really any ultimate answer to every shipping and sourcing challenge.”

Rather, he said, manufacturers are ready to invest in tactical applications which can be used for long-term strategic objectives.

Indeed, one of IDC’s predictions is that supply chain visibility will climb on the IT application priority list as manufacturing companies increasingly identify critical use cases to drive both cost savings and improved service levels.

“It was really not so long ago that S&OP was a major component in any company’s portfolio,” said Ellis. “And guess what? It’s back again.”

He added that although demand forecasting continues to be important, supply chain organizations will begin to recognize the critical role of supply-side responsiveness.

“Which means stripping out complexity and trying to simplify again. Back in my days with Unilever, this was our mantra. Now, it seems, that a lot of other multinationals are falling into line.

Among other predictions made in the study:
-Supply chain visibility will climb on the IT application priority list as manufacturing companies increasingly identify critical use cases to drive both cost savings and improved service levels.
-In the context of taking a broader view of total cost, supply chain organizations will gain a new appreciation for shortening lead times through profitable proximity sourcing strategies.
-Cost containment, and the desire for variable supply chain structures, will continue to drive outsourcing of operations, but will also bring a more enlightened perspective to SaaS and “skills resourcing.”
-Supply chain modernization will pick up speed again as manufacturing companies look to drive fulfillment excellence through transportation, warehouse, and labor management tools.
And perhaps most importantly of all, said Ellis, companies will begin hiring again.

“A jobless is recovery is an unsustainable recovery,” he said. “We are not saying that there will be a wholesale move to create a new workforce, but we do see manufacturers beginning to invest in people again.”