Is the supply chain really that complex?
I recently posed the question 'Is the Chemicals Industry supply chain really that complex?' to a group of chemical professionals. Their responses follow. Nov. 9, 2011
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How Bonnie and Clyde can help your Sales and Operations Planning Process
There are many similarities between the story of Bonnie and Clyde and an effective S&OP process.  May. 5, 2011
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Confessions of a Runner
Life tends to provide us with defining moments, those glimpses of our soul that can sometimes be embarrassing, scary, or simply add clarity to who we are. I happen to be a runner. May. 3, 2011
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Life is a Delicate Supply Chain
I first met Louis Fastuca when he was 14. He had placed fliers in the mailboxes advertising himself as a mother's helper. We were new in the neighborhood, so my wife called him. Jul. 13, 2010
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Fall Chemical Industry SAP User's Group (CISUG) Meeting - November 2nd/3rd
The Fall Chemical Industry SAP User's Group (CISUG) Event will be held in Newtown Square on November 2nd/3rd and feature 6-8 customer-led sessions!  Jun. 20, 2010
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What Al Gore DIDN'T say at Sapphire
If I was Al Gore and I was preparing to be the key note speaker at a technology conference, what would I talk about? Al and I have a few things in common – we are both horrible public speakers for one, and we are both democrats.  Jun. 2, 2010
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Terrorism and the Chemicals Industry
Last week, I hosted the CISUG (Chemicals Industry SAP Users Group) fall meeting in Newtown Square. Over 100 people attended, representing chemical companies from as small as $750M in annual revenue to $60B. So what was the Department of Homeland Security doing at SAP??? Nov. 18, 2009
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The Petro-Chemical Supply Chain and Product Quantity Values
Every day, more than 50 million barrels of oil and products are produced, stored and transferred. At each transfer point, exact measurements must be taken to determine product quantity and value. The folks at QuantityWare leverage the SAP infrastructure with a unique integration to the Quantity Conversion Interface to automate these transactions. Jun. 4, 2009
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Collaborative Demand and Supply Planning for Chemicals
The following is a short excerpt from an interview conducted by Kieran O'Conner. The attached podcast represents the full content and describes the CDSP scenario that enables a responsive supply chain. The chemicals industry continues to become more and more complex, and business processes must shift in order to keep pace with this change. Jun. 4, 2009
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CISUG 2009 Annual Conference Sneak Peek
Join the ASUG CISUG Community for its upcoming Webcast, CISUG 2009 Annual Conference Sneak Peek.  Apr. 5, 2009
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Help Shape SAP's Future Solution for Geo Tracking!
Geo Tracking brings a graphical representation to Event Management. For the chemical industry, this could be very interesting for transportation management, where tracking highly hazardous (or expensive) shipments could soon be a requirement. We are actively collecting requirements from our customers on this application. Mar. 16, 2009
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Pricing in a Downturn: How Chemical Companies can Protect Margins with Effective Pricing
Now more than ever, chemical and process companies must turn to the most influential and yet overlooked driver of profits: active management of price. March 26th at 2 pm EST, Web-cast.  Mar. 12, 2009
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Manufacturing Customer Value Network Event, March 24th-March 25th in Newtown Square, PA
SAP Newtown Square will be hosting the Manufacturing Customer Value Network Event on March 24th-March 25th. This is a free event open to all SAP customers. Mar. 11, 2009
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Process Industries Supply Chain Roundtable
The Chemical Industry Supply Chain Roundtable was initiated in 2008 as a forum for chemical supply executives to network and share technology and business process experiences. The next Roundtable web-ex is Monday February 16th.  Feb. 13, 2009
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Holiday Horror Stories - Santa and Technology
Tracking shipments during the Holidays reveal the weaknesses in the systems. Panic sets in quickly when the toy from Santa is not on his Big Brown sleigh... Jan. 6, 2009
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How can the Chemical Industry Respond to this market?
SAP hosted a supply chain customer value network event this week (December 8/9th). The Chemical Industry hosted a special half-day session just for chem customers. Following is a short recap of some of the insights gained during the 2 day event. Dec. 11, 2008
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Supply and Demand Planning in a Volatile Market Place
Register now for a new Chemweek webcast on how to address supply and demand planning in a volatile marketplace - Tuesday December 9th, 10:00 a.m. EST! Nov. 26, 2008
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Chemical Industry SCM Event in Newtown Square, December 8th-9th
Now entering its second year, the Customer Value Network for supply chain management has pointed hundreds of supply chain and information technology executives to business best practices and the SAP solutions which enable them. Please join us for our third biannual meeting, December 8 and 9, at SAP Americas headquarters in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.  Nov. 21, 2008
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Beyond Forecasting: Responsive Supply Networks in Action
The chemical industry has never been good at forecasting for many legitimate reasons. As a result of the value chain, point-of-sale (POS) information does not exist like it does in consumer goods. This article explores alternative strategies that you can deploy when you are hampered with poor forecasting. Oct. 6, 2008
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What is the definition of the Perfect Plant?
Have you ever been asked to define something that is perfect? It is one of those subjective questions with no right or wrong answer, or maybe there is a right answer. So, what is the definition of the Perfect Plant?  Oct. 6, 2008
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Transportation Costs Suck
Transportation costs are escalating to the point of driving LSP's out of business (Jevic) and to the point of shippers issueing mass surcharges (Dow - $300 per shipment). Jun. 27, 2008
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