Following a comprehensive information management research study on over 745 companies examining maturity, trends and direction, Ventana Research has released its results and announced an upcoming webinar to discuss findings.

“Our research found that organizations are striving towards more accurate and comprehensive information on which to base their important business decisions. The research shows businesses are ready to transform into information driven organizations in 2007 and beyond through advanced use of technology.” said Mark Smith, CEO and EVP of Research at Ventana Research.
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The mobile employee is opening new opportunities for mobile enterprise application (MEA) providers worldwide as they demand more solutions for a expanding set of needs. Research firm IDC has released a study reviewing the expanding need and booming market for mobile enterprise applications. According to the study, the mobile reached and IDC forecasts that the market will grow enterprise application market will grow from $1.2 billion in 2005 to $3.5 billion in 2010, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23%.
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Store Execution meets consumer driven retail operations optimization as RedPrairie Corporation announces its acquisition of StorePerform Technologies, Inc.. This acquistion, as part of RedPrairie’s Retail Productivity Solutions division (formerly BlueCube Software), will provide RedPrairie the unique ability to address the expanding market demand for highly integrated workforce management solutions. The combined solution based on Red Praries’ best-in-class BlueCube Workforce Management will offer integrated store execution management solutions with optimized labor scheduling, time and attendance, learning management, and employee self service solutions, enabled through StorePerform Store Execution Management solutions.
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Tom Zosel Associates, Ltd. (TZA) has combined its deep distribution operations and workforce management experience to launch a Training Division.

Available on-site at the client’s facilities or at TZA University in Long Grove, IL, the programs focus on the integration of logistics best-practices with human resource management and development and are targeted for associates, supervisors and managers. The curriculum has been designed, developed and facilitated by training specialists with extensive consulting and operational experience to provide participants with the tools they need to achieve the optimal performance levels. Through live presentations, case studies, thought-provoking exercises, and guided discussions, participants will be exposed to new tools, strategies and concepts that they can implement immediately on return to their businesses.
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Data Sharing Partnership: Unilever Partners With RedPrairie In EPCIS Data Sharing Trial
11/20/2006
RedPrairie Corporation announced a partnernership with Unilever in the company’s trial of EPCIS (Electronic Product Code Information Service) to collect and access information from within the company’s logistics environment and from trading partners in the supply chain. Highlighting more effective data exchange and simplified interoperability, Unilever anticipates enhanced value in the areas of promotion management, supply chain visibility and metrics and RFID readability through RFID enablement and its integration with EPCIS.
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Oracle customers worldwide can now extend the capabilities of Oracle’s existing Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) suite through the two new modules, Oracle Strategic Network Optimization and Oracle Production Scheduling. Through a long-awaited marriage of Oracle’s JD Edwards and PeopleSoft Supply Chain Planning suite with Oracle’s Supply Chain Management applications, manufacturing companies can now optimize supply and distribution networks, mitigate risk, maximize shop floor throughput and dramatically reduce supply chain costs.
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Lockheed Martin has established the Savi Group to aligns Lockheed Martin’s decision support system expertise for large government In-Transit Visibility (ITV), cargo security and asset management efforts with Savi Technology’s real-time, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-based data collection and management capabilities for supply chains.
“This unique combination of capabilities under our Savi Group will accelerate the development of turn-key solutions for our government and commercial customers to make their supply chains more efficient, dynamically responsive and secure,” said Stan Sloane, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Integrated Systems & Solutions (IS&S) business area.

The new organization will provide integrated real-time information solutions and services for securing and managing global supply chains. Vic Verma, previous chief executive officer of Savi Technology, acquired by Lockheed Martin in June, will lead the new group and serve as chief executive officer of Savi Networks. Verma highlighted that the newly formed Savi Group will leverage its expertise to address the development and delivery of integrated ITV, Cargo Security and Mobile Asset Management solutions for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Defense (including the U.S. Transportation Command and the Defense Logistics Agency), as well as other government agencies, port and terminal operators, and commercial customers.

“We will offer customers complete, integrated solutions, including powerful analysis tools that will enhance their situational awareness, security, and decision making in tracking and managing shipments every step along the way as they move through global supply chains from point of origin to destination,” Verma said. “To meet these significant challenges for our customers, Savi Group is being ‘turbocharged’ with Lockheed Martin resources, technical expertise and seasoned leadership in managing large complex systems integration projects.”

An important charter of the Savi Group will be to leverage the Savi Networks joint venture between Savi Technology and Hutchison Port Holdings, the world’s largest port operator. Savi Networks provides information services based on wireless data transmissions on the location, security and condition of cargo shipments as they are transported end-to-end throughout the global supply chain.

The Group will also support corporate initiatives for Secure Freight and Logistics. “We are actively participating in Lockheed Martin-wide efforts to offer the best integrated solutions to address our customers’ significant and complex asset management and security challenges,” Verma said.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 /PRNewswire/ — The Supply-Chain Council (SCC) has
added more speakers to its roster of high-level executives and supply-chain
experts who will attend the 2007 Supply-Chain Executive Retreat,
Globalization: Getting It Right!, to be held at the Boca Raton Resort &
Club, in Boca Raton, Fla., from Jan. 22-24, 2007. The event focuses on the
evolution of supply chain practices to effectively penetrate global
markets, build global organizations and drive global supply. (more…)

Online Shopper Priorities Market research firm, Harris Interactive (www.harrisinteractive.com) conducted a recent survey on behalf of Newgistics, Inc. (www.newgistics.com), a provider of product return management services. Results of the study offer insights into consumer priorities when ordering products online.
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Self-study program can be completed in six months for Green Belt, 12 months for Black Belt
By Editorial Staff, Supply and Demand Chain Executive

Davenport, IA — November 17, 2006 — Kaplan University announced today the introduction of an online Six Sigma Certificate program for professionals interested in leading complex process improvements.

Six Sigma methodologies are designed to help businesses improve productivity and generate savings. “In today’s global economy, large companies increasingly rely on process improvement to maintain quality and manage costs,” said Kristina Belanger, vice president of continuing and professional studies at Kaplan. “As the demand for the Six Sigma method grows, so too does the demand for Six Sigma-certified professionals.”
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Manufacturers can gain competitive advantage within the supply chain through product design and lifecycle management strategies

Quite often a small- or medium-sized business (SMB) that is looking to gain a competitive advantage within its supply chain will do so by improving its products and streamlining operations. Decision makers often look toward product design technology such as product lifecycle management (PLM) to support these changes. By implementing a product lifecycle management system, companies can simplify and shorten each phase of the product development process. Selecting new technology is a challenge for any organization but can be especially difficult for the SMB, since most software (particularly PLM software) is designed to meet the needs of a large enterprise. (more…)

Written by: David Drickhamer
11/14/2006

Key results areas determine key metrics and measures, as well as key performance indicators.

Defining supply chain measures starts with identifying key result areas (KRAs) where performance has a significant impact on organizational success, says Dr. Edward Marien, professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin. These KRAs are further defined with specific metrics. For on-time delivery, for example, the metric might be customer delivery within plus or minus 30 minutes of the promised delivery time. (more…)