Analyst Insight: As new software and technologies gain market entry and alternative sources of information come into play for improving the process of demand planning and forecasting, it is vital that companies embrace this rampant invasion of methodologies and information with a focused, retrospective view of the basics"”to achieve a successful demand planning and forecasting strategy. A strategy that goes back to the basics can help companies ensure they apply universal and effective principles for success. - Jorge García, TEC Senior BI and Data Management Analyst, Technology Evaluation Centers

Analyst Insight: Despite extensive writing from IDC Manufacturing Insights last year extolling the virtues of supply chain responsiveness "” and that in many cases investments in responsiveness might well be better served than investments in forecasting "” manufacturing supply chains continue to rate "making improvements in planning and forecasting" among their top investment priorities. Not that responsiveness isn't important, just that companies believe there is still more progress to be made in things like forecast accuracy. - Simon Ellis, Director, Supply Chain Strategies Practice, IDC Manufacturing Insights

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Analyst Insight: It's no secret that companies in logistics-intensive industries are facing a variety of commercial and operational challenges. For example, consumer products and goods companies experience "margin squeeze," in which they pay more for commodity raw materials but typically are not able to pass along corresponding price increases to retail customers. High fuel prices, increasing wage rates in low-cost countries and concerns over supply chain disruption are causing manufacturers and retailers alike to rethink global sourcing strategies. - Ryan Godsil, Tony Ross, Alex Bajorinas and Jim Morton, all of Ernst & Young LLP

Analyst Insight: The food and beverage industry will see many changes this year. To stay ahead of the curve, food retailers will have to understand that the environment is changing and innovate toward a more flexible omnichannel supply chain. - Tim Pyne, Vice President of Retail, Consumer & Food, Tompkins International

Analyst Insight: The lack of understanding of the supply chain by the financial team is the third-highest obstacle in achieving supply chain performance. The supply chain is a complex system with increasing complexity. Many unknowing financial leaders try to manage it through Excel spreadsheets which is inadequate to truly understand the trade-offs. - Lora Cecere, Founder of Supply Chain Insights

Nearly all employer firms in the U.S. are private (with listed companies representing less than 1 percent), so the performance of private manufacturers is a key barometer of the sector as a whole, according to a report from Sageworks, a provider of financial analysis solutions. In the six-month period ending in January 2013, private manufacturing companies were seeing 9.5 percent annual sales growth, up slightly from the six-month period ending in December 2012.