The Global Supply Chain Agenda

Capgemini has published the results of its annual international supply chain survey. The study is titled The 2012 global supply chain agenda. The authors find that the following topics are the key business drivers for 2012: (1) market/demand volatility, (2) economic downturn, (3) meeting (changing) customer, (4) develop emerging markets, and (5) increased material/service costs. The survey participants were asked about the measures taken to improve the flexibility of supply chains. Improved visibility and control, increased flexibility in operations, and reduced capital exposure are the measures mentioned most often. It also turns out that operational excellence, logistics contract renewal, and supply chain visibility are the top supply chain projects in 2012 and that business prioritization, IT capability, and financial/budget limitations are the main bottlenecks for supply chain strategy implementation. The survey findings mirror an observation by PRTM from 2011 that “[h]igh volatility, huge swings in customer demand, and uncertainty in supply have created a new reality for global supply chain executives”.