Logistics
Supply Chain Optimization | APICS standards inplementation
Supply Chain Optimization
Business consulting as a separate and independent product is fairly new in my offer. My past experience in the area of logistics in the SAP environment is quite big, therefore on its basic I build a broader business competencies encroaching beyond the scope of the SAP system. Logistics is the universal science, detached from IT system , focused on optimizing processes and maximizing the financial performance of companies. Of course, SAP as the largest and leading provider of business solutions determine the standards and directions of development. The solutions appearing in SAP systems often become industry standards and are copieded by other players what makes them universal. Besides logistics solutions in SAP are strongly correlated with the standards of logistics in the world including APICS which further proves their versatility.
Many times in my career I was doing business consulting, it was a task usually preceding the implementation of an integrated IT system in the company or the initial stage of implementation. Using a different tools like ARIS, Visio or ADONIS I was mapping and optimalizing business processes. I should also mention about my knowledge of international SCOR standard as reference model, that can serve as a base for building new logistics solutions, or as a model for the so-called bunchmarking, or to evaluate the effectiveness of logistics processes with other companies in the industry.
Common elements related to business consulting in logistics are developing and implementing grid business indicators (KPIs) for measuring the effectiveness of whether supply chain, distribution chain, integrated inventory management, supplier evaluation etc. International indicators of Cash to Cash Cycle Inventory Turnover Days of Supply ROI etc. are typical examples of KPI area.
In recent years, I also worked extensively with companies specializing in the field of business consulting or optimizing logistics processes, eg. Deloitte DGA or E & Y. Often, the result of the co-work with these companies was the basis to start implementation work system. Sometimes I came across with incomprehension of designed computer solutions(business and IT speak different language). It is not easy to standardize concepts and lead to a situation that at the end of the project business receives a product that actually was expected. I see my competitive advantage here. Preapred by me Business Solutions in logistics will certainly be understandable for people involved in their implementation (SAP or other ERP system / SCM).
Another aspects that I would like to pursue as a business consultant in the area of logistics are all kinds of projects related to changes in ownership or organizational enterprises. Mergers, acquisitions and divisions swaps associated with the ownership structure often generate complex logistics projects that require an individual approach for their design and implementation. Construction of new factories, warehouses, change the location of this complex logistical tasks often go beyond the borders of enterprises involved as logistics companies, suppliers, customers etc. Let`s consider a simple relocation of the warehouse. Technical, it’s very easy task about migrating inventory system. But in business it`s a complex undertaking, requiring precise management when it comes to human resources, legislation, health and safety, organizing the fleet to transport and many other aspects. My current, diverse experience in all kinds of logistics enterprises have allowed me to gather a unique experience in this field. Many times I have witnessed neglect in the area of business planning that later reflected on the quality of the entire project. I know what to pay attention to, what approach to use to business solutions to meet enterprises expectations of customers.
APICS standards implementation
I have started my adventure with APICS from 2014. The reason for my interest in the organization andCPIM standard was the experience of cooperation with US corporations, where terminology, way of describing business processes and general approach to project implementation are quite different from European projects. After a broader recognition of the topic it turned out that most people on both: business customers and consultants has had training on the CPIM standard (Certifield in Production and Inventory Management) carried out by the APICS organization from the 60s of the last century. My later experience of working with Japanese corporations strengthened my conviction that APICS is the universal business business in logistics . As it turned out,this standard is also present in Europe, including Poland, although not as popular as overseas. Given the strength and the leading role of the US and Japanese in the global economy, I`ve decided to built not an easy path in my business competencies. Those informations are particularly useful during the construction phase concept solutions or in training, because it is easy to precede , for example the formula for the EOQ (Economic Order Quantity) tohether with business justification of its individual components. CPIM is the most recognized standard of logistics in the world. It consists of five modules, for which are offered dedicated courses . Each module ends with an exam in the center authorized by APICS. At the moment of this writing (August 2015) I had a 4 out of 5 courses and I passed 3 out of 5 exams. My plan is to pass all the exams and get the CPIM title in the first quarter of 2016 .
Offering on the market consultations from implementation of APIC standards in enterprises I mean their implementations in the SAP environment. As part of such projects implementation is usually taken as integrated planning model from strategic planning / business through S & OP (Sales and Operations Planning), MPS (Master Production Scheduling), MRP (Material requirment Planning) and DRP (Distribution requirment Planning) or DM (Demand Management ). I rather mean: both establishing mechanisms for planning in line with APICS company (not necessarily in SAP, eg. MS Excel) and subsequent mapping models of planning, but also the culture of planning in accordance with APICS to the tools offered by SAP and its partners.
As in the case of business consulting, SAP SCM is no boundary condition – APISC solutions are universal and most ‘serious’ ERP systems are able to implement them as part of the standard functionality. In my business career, I’ve seen enough advanced systems, which users did not want or could not us them. By promoting APICS standard, which in my understanding is the best continuously developing enviroment, I would like to describe the universal principles prevailing in logistics as basis of optimization projects and implementations in logistics.
I believe that every logistician should have at least one (BSCM) APICS training, because it opens horizons, it makes logistic valuable tool that generates added value rather than cost in enterprises. I hope that, despite of my ongoing responsibilities I will get CPIM certification and will be able to promote this standard together with you, my clients on the Polish and European market.
