Is Ford's auto-xchange the "Real Deal?" (Survey Response 2)
Is Ford's auto-xchange the "Real Deal?" (Survey Response 2)
Jon, frankly I think FMC is on its last legs. They face the same problems today as they did 10 years ago when they had a real opportunity to address them.
True, they are a big company (as Jim smirked); but in reality it is about $160 billion in cost and very little profit. That makes them a very small company in my mind. Their problem is that they have historically relied on "industry insiders" and shunned anyone from the outside with innovative ideas. A-X could be the first crack in their armor of letting fresh innovation inside.
They sound like their moving to a marketing company more than a manufacturing company.
I don't think I'm onboard with your view:
“The key starting point is to recognize that the term supply chain is a misnomer in that it implies a sequential order of events (in the spirit of your question, a non-deterministic set of algorithms which aligns with the equation-based modeling used by most software vendors).
Forward thinking companies have always see the supply chain as non-sequential. They didn't always have the best solutions, but the approach was correct.
My Response:
I am inclined to agree with you that "forward thinking companies have always seen the supply chain as non-sequential." But given the high rate of initiative failure, companies that have recognized this fact are definitely in the minority.
The fact that Ford, one of the "big" automakers, having suffered significant set-backs first as a member of the Covisint consortium, and then with their own Oracle-based Everest program is now talking about synchronization and the need for real-time, simultaneous interaction at multiple stakeholder levels is telling.
Especially in a world where models such as SCOR and Six Sigma continue to carry unwarranted weight in terms of mainstream acceptance as "standards" by which supply chain efficiency is measured.
Like Vendor Rationalization in which its broad application across an enterprise's entire spend has been largely discredited, is still be championed in some accreditation courses.
Whatever Ford's motivation might be for allowing this first "crack in their amour" as you put it, they are still a high profile company whose move will undoubtedly be a bellwether of things to come.
And that is why this is the most exciting periods in the evolution of supply chain practice.
Rick's Closing Comment
So true Jon. I wouldn't bet on their success. Sad that the legacy of the man who gave us such concepts as vertical integration and the assembly line would end up in such a mess.
Is Fords autoxchange the Real Deal Survey Response 2 - To learn more about this author, visit Jon Hansen's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
Rick, Principle - The SUpply Chain Center, Denver, U.S.
Jon, frankly I think FMC is on its last legs. They face the same problems today as they did 10 years ago when they had a real opportunity to address them.
True, they are a big company (as Jim smirked); but in reality it is about $160 billion in cost and very little profit. That makes them a very small company in my mind. Their problem is that they have historically relied on "industry insiders" and shunned anyone from the outside with innovative ideas. A-X could be the first crack in their armor of letting fresh innovation inside.
They sound like their moving to a marketing company more than a manufacturing company.
I don't think I'm onboard with your view:
“The key starting point is to recognize that the term supply chain is a misnomer in that it implies a sequential order of events (in the spirit of your question, a non-deterministic set of algorithms which aligns with the equation-based modeling used by most software vendors).
Forward thinking companies have always see the supply chain as non-sequential. They didn't always have the best solutions, but the approach was correct.
My Response:
I am inclined to agree with you that "forward thinking companies have always seen the supply chain as non-sequential." But given the high rate of initiative failure, companies that have recognized this fact are definitely in the minority.
The fact that Ford, one of the "big" automakers, having suffered significant set-backs first as a member of the Covisint consortium, and then with their own Oracle-based Everest program is now talking about synchronization and the need for real-time, simultaneous interaction at multiple stakeholder levels is telling.
Especially in a world where models such as SCOR and Six Sigma continue to carry unwarranted weight in terms of mainstream acceptance as "standards" by which supply chain efficiency is measured.
Like Vendor Rationalization in which its broad application across an enterprise's entire spend has been largely discredited, is still be championed in some accreditation courses.
Whatever Ford's motivation might be for allowing this first "crack in their amour" as you put it, they are still a high profile company whose move will undoubtedly be a bellwether of things to come.
And that is why this is the most exciting periods in the evolution of supply chain practice.
Rick's Closing Comment
So true Jon. I wouldn't bet on their success. Sad that the legacy of the man who gave us such concepts as vertical integration and the assembly line would end up in such a mess.
Is Fords autoxchange the Real Deal Survey Response 2 - To learn more about this author, visit Jon Hansen's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 | |
 |
No article feedback found. |
| |
Leave Your Feedback |
 | |
| |||
David BarrDavid Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website |
|||
Staging DivaDebra Gould, aka The Staging Diva®, is President of Six Elements Inc., an internationally recognized home staging company. Inspired by many requests from aspiring home stagers wanting to start similar businesses, Gould created the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program. Gould has trained over 1000 Staging Diva Graduates worldwide to start staging businesses. Buying decorating and selling six of her own homes in four years lead to an interest in real estate staging which she turned into a career with the launch of sixelements.com in 2002. Since then she has staged hundreds of homes in addition to teaching home staging training. Gould is the author of several home staging resources including a series of popular ebooks made up of a Design Guide, Color Guide and Portfolio Guide. For more information about Debra Gould visit stagingdiva.com. - Visit Staging Diva's Website |
|||
Jay Kubassek(Jay's Full Bio: EvanCarmichael.com/jaykubassek) In five years, Canadian-born entrepreneur Jay Kubassek went from selling mufflers at a Midas franchise to revolutionizing Internet marketing with the 2004 launch of CarbonCopyPRO, a online marketing education company, now worth over $20 million with customers in over 160 countries.
As an independent film producer, his upstart film fund Aliquot Films is currently producing a films with Spike Lee and Abel Fererra (starring Ethan Hawke and Dennis Hopper.)
Jay's entrepreneurial spirit is irrepressible. He’s the owner of five companies, a professional speaker and trainer, international real estate developer/investor, extreme sport enthusiast and emerging philanthropist. Jay resides in NYC with his wife Jamie, son Milo and dog Cooper. Visit Jay's official website: www.JayKubassek.com - Visit Jay Kubassek's Website |
|||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. | |||
 | |
|  |
Subscribe to Jon's articles
 | |
|
|  |
 | |
|
| |
 | ||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
|
| ||
 |
| Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details. |
|
|
 |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
 |
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"
Click Here To Learn More |
|
|
|
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
|
 |
 Coaching System 10 Areas of Differentiation Intentional Leadership Integrity 11 Ways to Build Business Think Networking |
|
 | ||
 |
Top 50 Marketing Blogs
Top Blogs To Watch In 2008 | |
 |
Top 50 Geek Business Blogs
Top 50 Geek Business Blogs | |
| ||
 | ||||
| ||||
|
| ||||
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||