tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133949802012-01-24T07:40:40.287+01:00Whenever I tell a friend, colleague or family member about my job as soon as the words "supply chain" are muttered I immediately see glassy eyes followed by a yawn or two. Little do they realize that every time they discard or recycle a carton of milk they are completing the end of the supply chain cycle. Without supply chains consumers would be stuck using products that they had to make or grow with their own two hands. Still not excited, well visit often and eventually you will be.Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.comBlogger178125This is an XML content feed. It is intended to be viewed in a newsreader or syndicated to another site.tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-49818248920391021872011-12-21T14:15:00.005+01:002011-12-22T09:47:02.949+01:002011-12-22T09:47:02.949+01:00

For the first time in nearly seven years, since I started this blog, I am including a contributed article.  The article below is written by Jesse Langley, who I can only assume is a freelancer for Fifth Gear, an order fulfillment firm.  Either way, I was not paid to run this article, but since it is seasonal and since I don't cover fulfillment much I thought I would share it. ----------------

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-43043402166730934882011-11-21T17:25:00.001+01:002011-11-21T17:29:04.561+01:002011-11-21T17:29:04.561+01:00

From our friends over at Derby. Some incredible stats. Enjoy. Logistics of the Holiday Season

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-89955137056971292372011-11-04T14:20:00.000+01:002011-11-04T14:20:26.067+01:002011-11-04T14:20:26.067+01:00

I just opened up The Economist after lunch to find a strange ad with the headline "In the future, the food chain and the supply chain will merge" by HSBC a.k.a the Hong Kong Savings Bank Corp.  The ad goes on to say "HSBC is one of the world's leading supply chain organizations." WHAT????  Did I miss HSBC in the latest AMR/Gartner Top 50 supply chains?  I am not quite sure, which statement is

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-40878734507783332012011-09-29T21:42:00.001+02:002011-09-30T09:37:58.839+02:002011-09-30T09:37:58.839+02:00

For the first time since I started this blog in 2005 I will be posting an email from one of my fantastic readers. The following comes from Kaity Nakagoshi, Bisk Education, University of San Francisco (which offers a course in Sustainable Supply Chain Management).  She writes: Greetings Chris! I started to comment on your “Thinking End to End on Product Packaging” post but then I realized I

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-18059208110286373272011-09-12T15:09:00.003+02:002011-09-12T15:12:01.033+02:002011-09-12T15:12:01.033+02:00

9/11 forced a new security regime on seaports and ocean-going container ships. The U.S. and its trading partners around the world overhauled their screening and surveillance to safeguard containers without throwing off the sensitive supply-chain of the world economy. MarketWatch's Alexander Davis reports from Oakland, Calif.

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-17695139746908820402011-08-30T20:52:00.003+02:002011-08-30T20:55:41.662+02:002011-08-30T20:55:41.662+02:00

This video takes "supply chains are cool" to an entire new level.  One of the readers of this blog submitted this hysterical music video called Mr. Logistics, which if my reggae memory serves me right is inspired by the Shabba Ranks song Mr. Loverman. Hats off to IML, which manages even squeeze in a line about lean. And you gotta love the gold chain with a truck hanging from it.

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-8550723793934490672011-08-08T22:27:00.000+02:002011-08-08T22:27:42.528+02:002011-08-08T22:27:42.528+02:00

This past weekend I was at the Lumas Photo gallery in Vienna and I stumbled across an exhibit with photos from Thomas Eigel.  We can argue until we're blue in the face if this is actually art and worth the $500 fee. It certainly would look good in the office place of a logistics firm, but I'm not sure how I'd feel about it at the dinner table.  Anyway, be sure to bring your camera next time your

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-31541628706563652602011-07-11T18:48:00.000+02:002011-07-11T18:48:57.407+02:002011-07-11T18:48:57.407+02:00

Next to Apple, I'm also a big fanboy of Leica Camera If you aren't familiar, Leica is a German camera and lens manufacturer that's been around since 1913.  Amazingly, they still manufacturer their high-end cameras in Germany and by hand the same way they did decades ago.  Obviously, this comes with a high price. A very high price.  But the trade-off is several fold, including stunning photos, a

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-68017202519406813702011-07-03T10:35:00.001+02:002011-07-24T10:24:28.215+02:002011-07-24T10:24:28.215+02:00

For my fellow Americans, this graphic embodies why supply chains are not boring. Happy Independence Day. How Logistics Helped Gain America's Freedom

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-16757543529459101702011-06-29T08:41:00.000+02:002011-06-29T08:41:43.406+02:002011-06-29T08:41:43.406+02:00

Well maybe not the Oscars, but certainly the Golden Globe. Good luck. Honoring excellence and innovation within the supply chain profession, the CHaINA Awards offer organisations across all industries and sectors the opportunity to showcase the best in supply chain, sourcing, procurement and logistics projects, products, applications, services and initiatives in Asia. With a host of new

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-74259519576900404562011-06-17T16:50:00.000+02:002011-06-17T16:50:28.940+02:002011-06-17T16:50:28.940+02:00

IBM just published it's annual corporate responsibility summary for 2010 and I've pulled out the latest highlights referring to Big Blue's supply chain: - 27,000 suppliers in nearly 100 countries - Supplier Connection - a collective portal for buying from small and medium businesses reached $150B - $1.5 billion in First-Tier Spending with Diverse Suppliers - up from $1.4 billion in 2009 -

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-14139780343192944212011-05-08T10:16:00.002+02:002011-05-08T10:16:59.857+02:002011-05-08T10:16:59.857+02:00

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-14856639583209575222011-04-28T21:06:00.001+02:002011-04-28T21:08:18.480+02:002011-04-28T21:08:18.480+02:00

I recently came across an interesting post at Warehouse Management Systems Guide on the topic of supply chains and social media.  The author, Luciano Cunha, paints a nice picture of using social media to link the customer and the retailer. But I'd like to flip this on its head and say, what about social media within your supply chain sans the end user? Sure its great to know and understand

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-14689330874777751452011-03-27T12:44:00.000+02:002011-03-27T12:44:00.279+02:002011-03-27T12:44:00.279+02:00

I was recently listening to a panel session from SXSW on Brand Journalism and in the discussion the panelists used the Moms Quality Correspondents campaign as a good example. The concept is simple -- through the use of videos, McDonald's found some pie and apple sky moms to take a look behind Ronald's secret curtain including the fast food chains suppliers.  The concept is all about transparency

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-27038841655597500912011-01-26T11:37:00.002+01:002011-01-26T11:42:50.436+01:002011-01-26T11:42:50.436+01:00

This year IBM celebrates its centennial.   In doing so we have lots of activities planned, but my personal favorites are looking at our rich history.  Across the year we will honor 100 IBM innovations.  Today, we honor the IBM Data Processing System 1401.   When it was announced in Octover 1959 IBM was shocked to receive 5200 orders for the 1401 computer in just the first five weeks after

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-83223555177773433982011-01-04T17:26:00.000+01:002011-01-04T17:26:34.145+01:002011-01-04T17:26:34.145+01:00

If you haven't heard automaker Mini, owned by BMW, has developed a larger, four-door version of its popular Mini Cooper called the Mini Countryman. Being an avid fan of Mini and the previous owner of one of the first Mini Coopers in New York I went to my local dealership in Switzerland and purchased one a few months ago.  Why? Uh, I needed the four wheel drive in snowy Switzerland?  Do you

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-25257829253440044322010-12-17T10:41:00.000+01:002010-12-17T10:41:17.968+01:002010-12-17T10:41:17.968+01:00

Just a quick note, this blog has just been ranked number 21 on the Top 50 Industrial Engineering Blogs. Thanks for the recognition and happy holidays to all my readers.  

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-22305249877053779092010-11-26T10:20:00.001+01:002010-11-26T10:24:15.421+01:002010-11-26T10:24:15.421+01:00

This morning I read the news that Gary Smith from IBM's Internal Supply Chain has joined long term partner Geodis as executive vice president.  While I am always disappointed to lose a fellow IBMer, this is a great opportunity for Gary and Geodis. I had the pleasure of working with Gary for around five years, most recently handling the communications around the acquisition of IBM's logistics

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-82832665722657612222010-11-03T09:30:00.000+01:002010-11-03T09:30:22.204+01:002010-11-03T09:30:22.204+01:00

I have never taken an email and just reprinted it before, but in this case I think its appropriate.  Good Luck. Imagine you’re a senior in college.  An ambitious, successful college senior, ready to take on the real world.  You graduate, move back in with your parents, and begin your job search.  Wouldn’t $5,000 be helpful?  $5000 and your dream internship to help you get started?  I wish I had

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-34601989260270318372010-10-18T16:55:00.000+02:002010-10-18T16:55:21.226+02:002010-10-18T16:55:21.226+02:00

Last week I was visiting friends in San Francisco, where they are doing an extremely good job in cutting down carbon emissions by buying local products.  Local equals less shipping, sorry logistics guys. While doing my own to support this, at the farmer's market I stumbled across this cranberry juice.  In reading the label I came across something you don't see often on consumer packing -- an

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-11741253452282339142010-09-22T21:39:00.002+02:002010-09-22T21:39:37.795+02:002010-09-22T21:39:37.795+02:00

Dictaphone Parcel from Lauri Warsta on Vimeo.

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-13134416076311662092010-09-14T18:08:00.000+02:002010-09-14T18:08:18.269+02:002010-09-14T18:08:18.269+02:00

A consortium of six major corporations (IBM, AT&T, Citigroup, Bank of America, UPS & Pfzier) today announced a new way for small businesses to compete with greater ease to sell goods and services to large globalcompany supply chains, which could potentially lead to the creation of new jobs and economic growth. Earlier this month President Obama reminded Congress and the nation that more needs to

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-64051080897772082822010-08-31T09:32:00.000+02:002010-08-31T09:32:45.582+02:002010-08-31T09:32:45.582+02:00

Two new TV ads from IBM highlight smarter supply chains.  If these don't convince you that supply chains are everywhere and kinda cool, then I don't know what will. : )

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-66201253776565707392010-08-15T14:31:00.001+02:002010-08-15T14:34:01.000+02:002010-08-15T14:34:01.000+02:00

Granted it took a few years and several blog posts of me complaining, but finally Gap Inc has partnered with a global logistics company to ship it's clothing lines from Banana Republic, Gap and Old Navy to 50 countries worldwide, with more coming soon. The company called FiftyOne doesn't, ring a bell, but no matter, they seen to be playing the role of 3PL. If any readers have worked with

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13394980.post-16310972078767744582010-06-28T10:54:00.002+02:002010-06-28T10:54:45.489+02:002010-06-28T10:54:45.489+02:00

I met Ed Miller not long after I joined IBM in 2001.  It was my job to work with him so he understood the strategies of IBM’s 3D CAD and PDM products at the time.  CIMData had coined the term cPDM or collaborative product data management.  Some say this eventually turned into Product Lifecycle Management or PLM.  Either way, its the design and development aspect of the end-to-end supply chain and

Christopher Sciaccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00780044156231457785noreply@blogger.com0