A renewed emphasis on profitability leads the company to synchronize operations across its supply-chain network. Staff vice president Randall Wood reveals how it's being done.

A company's approach to strategic supply-chain planning might not be as innovative as it thinks. Shekar Natarajan, director of supply chain at Pepsi, shows how to make sure that you're considering all the angles.

To keep pace with changing consumer demand, companies are embracing strategies that require a much broader set of skills on the distribution end, says Dave Kilzer, principal of Consultleague.

A sales and operations planning approach can yield big benefits to the organization, says Karen LaBombarda, principal at TMG Associates. But first, companies must overcome people's natural resistance to change.

Sales and operations planning systems, coupled with good business processes, can help companies to achieve a common internal "language" when tackling issues of supply, demand and customer service, says Oracle Corp.'s Guy Yehiav.

Every company needs the kind of people who handle day-to-day management tasks, says Joe DeSantis of Office Depot. But there's also a critical need for true leaders, who can inspire an organization to achieve more.

Emerson, a global technology giant, has a complex supply chain with multiple vendors. Andre White, division manager of performance excellence, reveals how the company manages product quality from both ends.

Companies stand to realize some major efficiencies in their supply chains if they act now to automate their inventory storage and retrieval systems, says Gary Frank, vice president of automated systems with Westfalia Technologies.

In good times or bad, companies can find value in taking a close look at where they are siting manufacturing plants and distribution centers. Mike Jones, president of St. Onge, offers some tips on how to derive maximum value from that effort.

Everyone scrambles to survive in a recession. But that's no reason to treat logistics services as a commodity, says Dave Malenfant, vice president of global supply chain at Alcon Labs.