Douglas Kent, global vice president with Avnet Velocity, talks about why there has been renewed interest in supply-chain risk management at the highest level of company operations.

New-product forecasting is occupying an increasingly large portion of the planner's job. Patrick Bower, senior director of corporate planning and customer service with Combe Inc., relates the trends that have caused renewed interest in the discipline.

Not enough attention has been paid to the human side of supply-chain and business management. Michael Birch, vice president of operations with Ping Golf, is out to correct that oversight.

John Boyer Jr., president of J.E. Boyer Co. Inc., explains the basics of sales and operations planning, and details the benefits to be obtained from embracing the process within the organization.