Analyst Insight: Data has become as consumable as a box of crackers. As a society, we expect information about product origins, ingredients, allergens and other information will be available at our fingertips prior to purchase. However, data inconsistencies often frustrate consumers on their quest to learn more and can stop them from completing their purchase. As a result, consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies are focusing on data quality to satisfy the demands of increasingly empowered consumers. - Angela Fernandez, Vice President of Retail Grocery and Foodservice, GS1 US

A lot of companies are falling short in their efforts to derive full value from the sales and operations planning (S&OP) function. But the main reason for their failure might surprise you.

Analyst Insight: Consumer perceptions of a company's supply chain have a big impact on how consumers feel about a company and its corporate brand. Research provides insight into how supply chain reputation impacts the overall corporate reputation and how supply chain strategies can be used to boost consumer perceptions of corporate brands. - Viktoria Sadlovska, Research Director, Reputation Institute

Analyst Insight: Cost cutting by itself is not fun for most employees and does not inspire them. But getting lean and cost cutting in some areas to make the company "Fit for Growth" is motivational because the goal is to reallocate resources and invest in capabilities that will help the company win. Once supply chain professionals embrace that the purpose of the cost cutting is smarter investment to become more competitive, they will rally around the cause. - Rodger Howell, Principal, PwC's Strategy&; John Plansky, Principal, PwC's Strategy&

Food manufacturers across the globe have admitted failing to put in place basic safeguards to protect vulnerable workers in their supply chains - almost one year on from laws to stop slavery, child labor and unethical working practices.

Ford Motor Company North American World Headquarters facilities now send no waste to landfill – another major step in the automaker's quest to reduce its environmental impact globally. Sites in Dearborn, Michigan, Oakville, Ontario, and Santa Fe, Mexico, are diverting more than 240,000 pounds of waste from landfills annually.

There's a good chance that your corporate training program isn't up to snuff.

Enterprise resource planning systems, once regarded as a marvel of technology, have turned out to be anything but.