SAP ARIBA
around speed , which is incredibly difficult to manage . It can be overwhelming , but it ’ s about training , coaching and understanding how to leverage the entire process in order to better understand the way that you will work with suppliers .”
Through the cultural change and the way in which work is managed , Schenecker notes that the role of the designers , buyers , planners , suppliers , right through the entire supply chain is beginning to converge .
Historically , the different suppliers throughout the supply chain process would operate as entirely separate entities . But in this time of shorter product lifecycles , which will only continue to get shorter in the near future , the whole supply network is moving from a serial to a parallel model .
“ What happens now is design , sourcing , ramp to production are all working simultaneously ,” Schenecker says . “ You , your network , your suppliers , and your buyers and planners are all working in parallel .
“ Teams don ’ t work in a serial fashion anymore , they work in parallel and it all overlaps , with each other area .”
This echoes back to the importance that Schenecker places on the planning process , as companies are now looking to reuse parts and streamline the introduction of new parts much more than ever before .
“ Today , companies are constantly cannibalizing their products in order to continue to win in the marketplace ,” he says . “ With the speed at which the market is changing , you have to , otherwise someone else will .”
In the procurement and supply chain space there is a firm understanding that you can only be as good as your supply chain . The SAP Ariba Network , which has millions of customers and suppliers from all over the world , sees beyond the realms of being just a supplier and what it means to really be a partner .
154 May 2018