A conversation with Hector Granda, director of global procurement policies and learning and development within the Integrated Supply Chain at IBM, Armonk, N.Y.
Site location for supply-chain facilities is a strategic priority for the world's largest companies that increasingly rely on technology, outsourcing and extended business processes.
Shippers can look forward to continuing capacity constraints and price increases for this year and beyond. The solution? Try everything, including redesigning your supply-chain network.
Preaching the gospel of Six Sigma, the company takes a global approach to the coordination of after-market parts planning, inventories and distribution.
The impetus to examine and tweak business processes may stem from pressures from government regulation, Wall Street or any of a number of market forces. Regardless, those who have no BPM initiative are at a competitive disadvantage.