Article originally appeared in Smart Device Central (a reprint of CIO Insight article). Electrolux China, a group that manufactures kitchen, cleaning and outdoor appliances for consumers and business users, set up its supply chain system in 2002, after it had been in China for a few years. Since then, the company has restructured its APS (Advanced Planning Schedule) system in the logistic network and installed an ERP system. “We increased the service level by 15 percent, we decreased the inventory by 65 percent, and we kept the same logistics costs as in 2002,” said Jean Luc Laboucheix, supply chain director at Electrolux China. Read full article. … Read more »

This article originally appeared in Smart Device Central (reprint of CIO Insight article). The Chinese economy has been growing rapidly despite an underdeveloped supply chain network. Most Chinese manufacturing companies do not yet rely on supply chain systems, but the environment is becoming increasingly competitive and many enterprises will find it difficult to survive if they do not make their sourcing, production and distribution more efficient. That makes the supply chain management market potential enormous.China’s underdeveloped transportation infrastructure, fragmented distribution systems, limited use of technology, shortage of logistics talent, regulatory restrictions and local protectionism still limit the efficient distribution of domestic and imported products. Yet, the growing number of foreign invested companies and multinationals entering China are aware of the importance of supply chain. Read full article. … Read more »