GRA Authored whitepapers and articles*
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| S&OP Structure and New thinking |
In the same way traditional retailing is undergoing unprecedented change in the face of the online revolution, supply chain managers must now negotiate many new expectations.
This article by Carter McNabb looks at some of the qualities and capabilities these new-age leaders bring to the supply chain domain, and how the traditional role of supply chain manager is transforming from back-room cost centre manager to boardroom executive.
The entire article is available as a download below.
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| Future Supply Chain Leaders |
Supply Chain Management is transitioning from the back office to the boardroom.
Organisations now recognise the upside of effective supply chain management.
GRA Partner Carter McNabb discusses the opportunities for 'supply chain ready' companies.
The entire article is available toread here in your browser or as a download below.
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| From Cost to Advantage |
Cross-channel retailing is the new retail blueprint and logistics service providers must adapt to the new status quo.
GRA Partner Carter McNabb discusses cross-channel retailing as a solution to the issues retailers are currently facing.
"Is cross-channel the end-state or just another step towards a fully integrated online environment?'
The entire article is available as a download below.
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| Game Changer - Part 2 |
Prospects for the retail sector appear to be going from bad to worse, with far reaching implications.
GRA Partner Carter McNabb discusses the challenges and opportunities facing retail logistics service providers as the retail environment changes forever.
"Developing a multi-channel strategy can be daunting, particularly for retailers 'forced into it' by falling sales revenues.'
'Will it create a problem or an opportunity for your business?'
The entire article is available as a download below.
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| Game Changer - Part 1 |
Our lives and supply chains are frequently disrupted by natural and unnatural unforeseen event, but many remain unprepared.
GRA Partner Carter McNabb discusses the three elements of supply chain risk management.
"Taking a glass half-full approach, supply chain re-design should focus on taking a two-step strategy with re-design for optimal performance coming first, followed by protecting the optimised system from the event, which albeit random, seem to be becoming more frequent.'
The entire article is available as a download below.
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| Glass half-full |
GRA Partner Carter McNabb discusses the growing set of sourcing alternatives to China.
"China is a crucial trading partner for Australia, particularly with regard to our mineral exports and the range of imports from food staples, through electronics, household goods, automotive parts and even complex heavy-engineering items."
"...there are big changes afoot in global sourcing. Now is the time to revisit sourcing strategies...."
Australian companies are turning to Vietnam, India, Philippines and Thailand as alternative-source markets.
The entire article is available as a download below.
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| The road from China |
Demand Planning directly and significantly impacts retail business profitability. There are two main choices of approach: top-down and bottom-up.
GRA's Luke Tomkin discusses how new tools and methodologies can make Retail Demand Planning easier.
The entire article is available as a download below.
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| Retail Demand Planning |
Benefits of effectively applying inventory optimisation can include improved working capital and asset efficiency, increased service levels and reduced operating costs.
GRA's Carter McNabb discusses the range of inventory optimisation techniques available and which technique is appropriate for you.
The entire article is available as a download below.
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| Making More of Less |
Effective supply chain management can boost performance ratios, such as Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) by reducing operating costs, increasing asset turnover and improving customer service levels writes GRA’s Carter McNabb.
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| Smart Chains |
Streamlining the supply chain and improving efficiency is imperative in today’s manufacturing climate. GRA demonstrates how this can be easily achieved.
The entire article is available as a download below.
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| Supply Chain Optimisation : Strengthening the Links |
GRA's Matt Miller writes:
The focus on ‘doing the right thing with the right thing’ is the hallmark of all successful businesses, but when they look to an ERP system to help them manage their business, the selection of the ‘right tool’ is made difficult by an initial decision between ERP of best-of-breed tools.
Click 'Virtual ERP''to view as a pdf.
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| Virtual ERP - MHD |
“Inventory optimisation might determine the optimal amount of inventory to hold and replenish. And transportation route optimisation might determine which vehicle turns up to collect a load, but how do we optimise the layout of a facility and the processes within the facility?”
GRA's Carter McNabb writes about warehouse performance and the potential for Australian organisations to learn and benefit from global market leaders.
Read the entire article online or click 'Shed Ahead' to view on your browser.
“Over the last ten years in Australia, supply chain management has started to transition from the back office to the boardroom. Historically seen as a ‘necessary evil’ or simply part of the ‘cost of doing business’, supply chain was the realm of trucks, warehouses and burly men in fluorescent safety vests."
"But this is changing and changing fast. Leading organisations have recognised that effective supply chain management can boost performance ratios such as Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) by reducing operating costs, increasing asset turnover and improving customer service levels."
Click 'Supply Chain From Cost to Advantage' to view on your browser, or download the print magazine version below.
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| From Cost Centre to Competitive Advantage - Fast Thinking |
"We are told that the constant increase in computer processing power (one version of Moore’s Law states that computing power/dollar doubles every 2 years) is changing the way the world, and supply chains, operate. This article looks at some of the ways the Internet and other computer enabled technologies have created ‘best practices’.The question for you is whether or not you are keeping up!"
Click 'Supply Chain & Logistics Best Practice' to view on your browser or download the pdf below.
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| Supply Chain and Logistics Best Practices - Are you keeping up? |
"Few would argue that demand planning directly and significantly impacts retail business profitability. Just think, how often can missed sales or excess inventory holdings – leading to lost revenue and wasted investment – be traced back to poor forecasting?"
"The quality of decision making in the areas of purchasing, replenishment and sales planning has a direct and undeniable impact on business ROI. While employing effective demand planning processes in a retail environment is increasingly considered essential, the best approach is not always clear."
This 5-part series on demand planning, published in Logistics Magazine examines the various demand planning techniques used by retailers and recommends those that will help practitioners achieve the best results for their business.
Click 'Retail Demand Planning article series' to view on your browser or download the pdf below.
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| Retail Demand Planning Article Series |
“There have been vast tomes written on performance measurement frameworks, the characteristics of a good performance measure, sales & operations planning (S&OP) and the like. So rather than attempting a comprehensive dissertation on performance measurement that fits neatly on a single page, following are some readily digestible, low kilojoule tips for the day. Happy snacking!”
GRA’s Carter McNabb is the author of this 'Expert's Note' on supply chain performance measurement frameworks.
Click 'Supply Chain Performance Measurement'to view in your browser, or download the print magazine version below.
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| Logistics Magazine Performance Measurement Feb/March 2008 |
Supply chain modelling and optimisation provide opportunities for assessing and choosing amongst strategic options in a risk-free environment, driving business value through cost reduction and managing supply chain risks.
Practitioners who are not using simulation/optimisation techniques are potentially missing significant opportunities to improve competitiveness, making longer term supply chain investment decisions without all the facts and/or exposing themselves to unforeseen yet real-world risks.
Those who use supply chain modelling and optimisation techniques however are able to make informed investment decisions, capitalise on competitive opportunities and mitigate supply chain risks.
Click 'Supply Chain Network Optimisation'to view in your browser, or download the print magazine version below.
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| MHD Network Simulation and Optimisation Jan/Feb 2008 |
"We all know that goals are essential for projects or change initiatives. Goals are meant to provide clear direction and certainly can if defined
properly. As such, it’s worth investing a bit of time up front to make sure our goals achieve that aim."
GRA Partner Carter McNabb illustrates the
importance and process of goal development and refinement in this article.
Click 'Supply Chain Goals'to view in your browser, or download the print magazine version below.
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| Logistics Magazine Goals April 07 |
Further articles authored by GRA.
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| The Impact of Globalisation on the Australian Supply Chain | |
| GAINS & Lean Manufacturing |
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| Inventory Chain Optimisation: The Next Dimension For Supply Chain Management - GAINSystems |
GRA permit the reproduction of GRA authored whitepapers and articles so long as the entire credit details are included at the end of the paper, including author’s name(s), company contact details and GRA website. If you have any queries about reproducing a GRA article or whitepaper, please contact GRA Marketing.

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