AMR Research – Top 25 Supply Chains
May 29, 2009 by Splatty
Filed under Featured, Supply Chain Management
It’s that time of year again. AMR Research recently released their list of the top 25 global supply chains and for the second year in a row Apple Computer has claimed the top spot.
The methodology for ranking the top 25 is based on something AMR calls Demand Driven Performance. Which, according to their website, “means global supply chains built to serve customers with both operational and innovation excellence”. The Demand Driven Performance is made up of various financial metrics including inventory turns, revenue growth, and the opinions of AMR analysts and company peers.
The Supply Chain Top 25 ranking comprises two main components: financial and opinion. Public financial data gives us a view into how companies have performed in the past, while the opinion component provides an eye to future potential and reflects future expected leadership, a crucial characteristic. These two components are combined into a total composite score, with the financials accounting for 60% of the total score and the opinion piece 40%.
Dell took the second spot for 2009 up one place from last year’s rankings. 2008′s number two, Nokia, fell four spots to number six.
Spots 3 through 10 are as follows:
3. Procter & Gamble
4. IBM
5. Cisco Systems
6. Nokia
7. Wal-Mart Stores
8. Samsung Electronics
9. PepsiCo
10. Toyota Motor
For a full report of the AMR Research top 25 click here.
To compare how the companies performed in prior years click here.
Consumer Products: A primer on entering the Chinese market
February 24, 2009 by SwizStick
Filed under China, Supply Chain Management
ChinaLawBlog links to a very handy guide from Silk Road International on how to import into China. They also provide their own tips from their own experience working with some U.S. food companies. I won’t bother to excerpt all the very useful points from these two links, but simply pass on the advice that if you are interested in importing and distributing product into China you should definitely check out both links.
CBP expected to issue final ruling on 10+2 proposal soon
November 10, 2008 by SwizStick
Filed under Supply Chain Management
….now that the OMB (Office of Management and Budget) has given them authority to move forward:
Customs is expected to move quickly to issue the final rule. The rule has been under review for months by the administration. The delay has forced Customs officials to remain silent on the issue while OMB deliberated, and left members of the trade industry with nothing to do but speculate.
Leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee have urged Customs and Border Protection to take an intermediary step that would allow the 10+2 rule to be tested in a pilot program before it becomes final.
The word from one of my 3PL contacts is that they expect long, gradual implementation. I hope they are right.
Africa seeks 26 country Free Trade Area
November 7, 2008 by SwizStick
Filed under QuickNews, Supply Chain Management
If they are successful – and they do it right – this will be a huge boon for Africa’s economy as a whole:
26 African countries have signed an agreement in Uganda that aims to create Africa’s largest free trade area within the next six months.
The plan aims to merge the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) into one regional economic market.
Local reports said the merger would create a free trade area comprising over 527 million people and a combined GDP of $624 billion.
Leaders said they asked a tripartite task force to work on a ‘roadmap’ to implement the merger within six months.
That’s an ambitious time frame and I wish them success. This is a grand and historic undertaking.
Hat tip to World Trade Magazine.
