Optimizing and synchronizing every node in your supply network Supply chains aren’t really chains at all. They are complex networks of suppliers, co-packers, carriers, freight forwarders, logistics service providers and many other players. To thrive in the global marketplace, you have to optimize every node in these extended networks, and synchronize the flow of products and information between them. RedPrairie’s E 2 e™ suite of supply chain solutions have the robust functionality to optimize each and every node, and the workflow, visibility and control capabilities needed to synchronize the entire network. It’s the difference between a single, smooth-running machine and a bunch of disjointed parts. Which do you want running your business? Most companies won’t attempt to optimize every node all at once, however. So we have broken it down into functional groupings based on the movement, storage, people and process components of the supply network. In conventional terms, the integrated suite is comprised of: Transportation Management   – A complete solution for domestic and international transportation planning & execution, global trade management and fleet management. Warehouse Management  – Optimizing the flow of materials and goods from before they enter your gate until after they leave, ensuring the most efficient, accurate and agile distribution process. Workforce Management   – Transforming your business into a performance-focused culture through proven transformation and change management programs and industry-leading labor management technology. Business Process Integration  – Applying the latest in information capture, analysis and graphical display to understand and optimize business processes across the enterprise and extended supply networks. Individually, these robust application suites address specific supply chain challenges. Together, they optimize and synchronize every node in your extended supply network. White Papers Waste Not, Want Not How Paying Attention to Your "Waste Chain" Can Create a Sustainable Supply Chain PDF, 470KB Packaging. Packing materials. Crates. Pallets. Tires. Old Equipment. Certainly, your supply chain creates an expansive graveyard of materials. However, the "waste chain," the movement and reduction of discarded or disposed materials in your supply chain, should be a core component of any green or sustainability initiative at your company. Download Document Greenlighting Efficiency: 7 Easy Steps to Reduce the Environmental Impact of Today’s Supply Chains PDF, 189KB In addition to boosting a company’s reputation in the minds of consumers, applying a “green” mindset to supply chain processes can also deliver financial benefits, including reduced costs in key areas such as materials, labor and transportation. Balancing environmental objectives with strategic and financial goals is a tricky business, but at RedPrairie we believe there are simple, cost-effective ways for companies to help their supply chains better support their environmental goals. Creating a “green” supply chain can be easier than you think. READ MORE... Download Attachment Six Steps to Secure Global Supply Chains – Avoiding Disruptions from a Wide Range of Natural and Manmade Threats PDF, 255KB For any company that manufacturers, distributes or sells products to other businesses or consumers, supply chains are your life’s blood. But there are plenty of threats out there ready to spill that blood. And with globalization making supply chains longer and more complex, the risks keep increasing. Why should you care? According to a 2003 study by professors Kevin Hendricks of the University of Western Ontario and Vinod R. Singhal of the Georgia Institute of Technology1, companies that suffered a major disruption to their supply chains saw their stock market value decline between 32 and 41 percent over the subsequent three years. Those kinds of numbers should get the attention of C-level executives and supply chain professionals. The problem is that terrorism has been the major focus of supply chain security discussions and investment since 9/11, with an alphabet soup of new government programs such as CTPAT, AMR, FAST, and AEO. Complying with these programs entails high cost even though the associated threats to supply chains are remote. There are many more immediate and disruptive threats for which supply chain managers should prepare, however. Hurricane Katrina, Mattel toy recalls and the I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis are just a few recent examples. These and similar events are much more likely to impact your supply chain. In fact, a recent beef recall forced New Jersey-based Topps Meats out of business entirely. READ MORE...