Optimising and Digitising Supply Chain Processes

Production and logistics companies can achieve significant competitive advantage with their supply chain and production processes. This book provides managers, practitioners, consultants and students with a comprehensive understanding of process optimisation. It covers a wide range of tools, methods and tried-and-tested procedures for improving performance in these areas. The methodological toolbox from the various optimisation philosophies - Lean Production, Supply Chain, Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement Processes and Theory of Constraints - is presented and evaluated. Digital tools for process analysis, such as process mining, are described. Procedures and approaches are described for the individual steps of comprehensive process optimisation. These include process analysis methods such as ARIS, value stream mapping, the supply chain operations reference model (SCOR), and numerous process evaluation methods. One focus of the book is the presentation of pragmatic implementation approaches and procedures, including agile project management methods. Three project examples from the author's consulting practice are used to describe the results of complex changes. The book contains many hints and tips for extensive process improvements. The author has many years of industry experience and has been advising leading companies in various sectors for over 25 years. It presents end-to-end improvement approaches for systematically increasing supply chain and production performance. Using tried-and-tested tools and examples, the reader learns how to successfully handle supply chain projects from the initial idea to implementation. Based on the author's implementation experience, a set of methods covers all aspects of production and supply chain process optimisation. With the detailed procedures, the book offers recommendations on running supply chain projects efficiently and successfully and which tools effectively support the work in the individual project phases.