Challenges
Your supply chain can be a powerful tool for driving growth and creating competitive advantage, enabling you to deliver the products your customers want faster and more cheaply than your competitors. Even better, supply chain advantages are hard to copy, so the competitive edge is sustainable.
Optimization requires a clear sense of what really matters to customers and a clear view of the cost/benefit trade-offs. Success means answering key questions such as these:
Is our supply chain aligned with our business strategy?
How should we manage the complexity of global distribution and logistics?
Could we segment our products and customers more effectively to better balance costs and service levels?
How can we better meet demand with lower inventory levels?
How can we optimize the end-to-end supply chain to improve performance?
BCG Competencies
To improve supply chain performance, companies must approach it holistically rather than address functional silos. This requires the involvement of senior management, armed with the right data and an end-to-end perspective.
Besides supply chain strategy and redesign, BCG supports all aspects of implementation, including pilot programs and ramp-up, evaluation of technology platforms, and third-party orchestration. We also look for “quick hits” that can deliver fast results in high-impact areas.
Key client service areas include these four topics:
Strategy and Redesign. We drive growth and competitiveness by cutting costs, reducing complexity, and increasing speed, service, and flexibility. We look for ways to rationalize and streamline the network of fixed assets.
Process Optimization. We rethink and redesign the order-to-delivery process for faster, more effective operations, seeking to optimize the flow of all goods.
Inventory Management. To keep inventory costs low, we optimize production and demand planning, fine-tune stock and service-level policies, and trim the SKU portfolio.
Organization Redesign. As companies become more global, we work with them to develop the new capabilities, knowledge, governance models, and incentives they need.
BCG’s global network of experts and extensive supply chain experience span all industry sectors and regions.