As Western markets are starting to become saturated, companies are looking for new growth opportunities. Countries that used to be targeted for low-cost sourcing are now changing into attractive end markets thanks to their rising GDP and wages. Russia is one of these markets. However, its business environment differs from Western markets in many ways and poses specific challenges. This complicates a supply chain, because it not only needs to be globally managed but also adapted to local conditions. How can companies, entering the Russian market, overcome these challenges?
Posted on Friday, November 19, 2010
A new study reveals that responsive, flexible hospital supply chains are commonplace rather than exceptional. That’s good news – but what challenges still remain? Vast, highly complex and in a state of perpetual change, the healthcare industry is both recipient and dispenser of significant financial sums. In Flanders, hospitals alone account for some 7bn euro of annual spend. And while clinical quality and patient safety have always been paramount, today, managers increasingly face challenges brought about by rising costs (such as staff and R&D) and falling public investment. A degree of consolidation may have helped, by way of pooled resources and systems – but for many hospitals, this barely scratches the surface.
Posted on Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Companies are coming under increasing social pressure to reduce the adverse impact of their operating activities. Professor Céline Louche, whose area of expertise is sustainability and related fields, and Professor Ann Vereecke, specialising in Supply Chain Management and manufacturing strategy, set out to develop a tool to help assess to what extent a company has integrated sustainability into its supply chain.
Posted on Monday, September 20, 2010
The changing European market and increased globalisation may have consequences for current top logistics regions, such as Flanders (Belgium). New regional distribution centres to serve the local East European markets may arise, but they will not replace the economic value-adding distribution centres currently located in Flanders. In addition to helping us understand the differences between the European Distribution Centres and giving us a view on their landscape, the analysis of these centres can also guide a region in developing its logistics policies.
Posted on Thursday, September 09, 2010
The international manufacturing landscape has changed significantly over the past 10 to 15 years. Manufacturing as a percentage of GDP has been reduced in many of the industrialised countries, and we have seen a major shift in the allocation of production capacity around the world. In the period 1995-2005, manufacturing moved from 18.9% to 14.4% of GDP in the USA; from 21.7% to 14.4% in the UK; and from 23.4% to 21% in Japan.
Posted on Monday, June 07, 2010