Senior executives responsible for significant change may wish to complement their already strong business skills with supply-chain management competency awareness and appreciation. This is found to be especially powerful in providing advice and support when embarking on major supply-chain initiatives. Services can be provided in the following areas:

• Driving improvement through the supply-chain:

  – improved risk management
  – robust commercial relationships with suppliers
  – streamlined operations
  – resource alignment
  – ‘what if’ optimisation
  – Kaizen (continuous improvement)

• Maximising benefits from information systems and ERP

  – key stakeholders identified
  – business needs clear
  – business partners engaged
  – deliverables aligned with benefits
  – implementation timescales met
  – budgets controlled

• Delivering ‘best value’ from CRO’s and CMO'S

  – improve ‘value for money ‘
  – shorten lead times
  – improve integration of activities
  – clarify lines of communication
  – upgrade collaboration
  – reduce delays

• Building a robust supply-chain for a successful product launch

  – reduce risk vulnerability
  – increase supply-chain agility
  – minimise lost sales
  – meet cost of goods target
  – minimise obsolescence
  – motivate people