Global Supply Trends

2011

GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN TRENDS

Achieving Operational Flexibility in a Volatile World

AN ANNUAL SURVEY by PRTM MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 Executive Summary

4 The Case for Change: Securing Flexibility in a Volatile World 6 Five Key Levers for Operational Flexibility 13 The Financial and Performance Benefits of Improved Operational Flexibility 15 Taking the Next Steps for Your Company’s Operational Flexibility 16 Methodology

Authors:

Reinhard Geissbauer, rgeissbauer@prtm.com Joseph Roussel, jroussel@prtm.com Jim Takach, jtakach@prtm.com Michael D’heur, mdheur@prtm.com

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Global Supply Chain Trends 2011

Achieving Operational Flexibility in a Volatile World

Executive Summary

High volatility, huge swings in customer demand, and uncertainty in supply have created a new reality for global supply chain executives. As a result, maximizing flexibility in the supply chain is now the pre-condition for growing company revenues while keeping supply chain costs under control.

In preparing PRTM’s 2010–2012 Global Supply Chain Trends report last year, we noticed that attention to flexibility has become a constant. Hence, this 2011 supplement is dedicated to explaining which levers can increase supply chain flexibility, as well as what leading companies are doing differently from their industry peers. Drawing from interviews conducted with 150 global executives across a broad range of industries in the spring of 2011, we have identified five key levers. To achieve the higher operational flexibility needed to mitigate volatility risks, supply chain leaders must: 1. Focus on supply assurance and proactive capacity management for critical resources. Close partnerships with key...