It's getting harder and harder to keep air-cargo freighters profitably aloft.

The supply chain represents about 25 percent of a healthcare facility's operating budget, and industry trends strongly indicate that this percentage will continue to grow. Thus, supply chain optimization is not an option, it's a must. Here are some solid best practices that can help your facility build a "new" supply chain focused on efficient processes and maximized outcomes.

Fast and innovative: that's the image conveyed by the air cargo industry. So why is it lagging so badly when it comes to automating documentation and standardizing key procedures?

Analyst Insight: As the concept of supply chain risk management matures into a discipline, we witnessed that most disciplines need frameworks to ensure initial success and sustainability. This is holding true for the growth and maturity of SCRM. The Association for Operations Management, or APICS, has embraced SCRM by working with the Risk Consortium to create a first-of-a-kind certificate in SCRM, providing a solid baseline for what a framework is and how it supports a successful supply chain journey. – Gregory L. Schlegel, Founder, The Supply Chain Risk Management Consortium, Adjunct Professor, Supply Chain Risk Management, Lehigh University, and Adjunct Professor, Enterprise Risk Management, Villanova University

Analyst Insight: Supply chain risk management is an evolution of business processes, techniques and focus over a multitude of elements. As supply chains have evolved to value chains, so too have the methods for supply chain risk management. Value chain risk management requires a broader integrated strategy, focused on reducing the risk at each point in the value chain, while balancing risk and resiliency. – Mickey North Rizza, BravoSolution

Analyst Insight: There needs to be a clear line of sight between what is in the contract (and the contractual obligations of both parties), the performance metrics or KPIs, and the relationship, including a 360º perception of the relationship. However in practice this is rarely the case. – Alan Day, Chairman & Founder, State of Flux

Analyst Insight: Alignment is the number one strategy to increase business value. Alignment is realized when the business strategy, functions, employees, business processes and technology are optimized for growth and profitability resulting in substantial shareholder returns. Procurement’s opportunity for excellence begins with alignment to the business and the broader enterprise strategy. – Mickey North Rizza, BravoSolution

Anheuser-Busch InBev has laid out a five-year path to sustainability.