Visual Analytics aid Supply Chain Management (SCM)

The changing marvels we see in today’s globalized world are brought about by major social and economic change agents like the web 2.0, the financial platforms utilizing Swift technology, and an increasing integration of world economies through outsourcing practices, major logistics industry overhauls and the barriers of language being minimized. Behind the scenes of this new world is a management discipline that continues to play a vital role in the success, growth, and versatility of a firm in the global economy. The field of supply chain management continues to increase in complexity as capabilities are shipped around the world and developed in more niche geographical locations like manufacturing personal computer chips in China, etc. 

Depending on the industry, supply chain management can be very complex. For example, industries like aerospace, automobile manufacturing, and medical device manufacturers can have numerous tiers of suppliers all over the world that are susceptible to risks including weather changes, government stability/regulation, and economic factors like shortages of key resources. Supply chain managers are beginning to find immense value in the use of Visual Analytics because it makes a complex discipline more visible, and thus makes it easier to analyze.

This is an exciting blend of practices and is being spearheaded by researchers at the Supply Chain Responsiveness SCRiP institute at Cranfield School of Management the UK. Last June, SCRiP hosted a talk showcasing the progressive practice of visual analytics in supply chain management using two case studies in the British American Tobacco Company and Shell’s lubricant division. To follow these developments you can access documents and research on the SCRiP website listed below.

http://www.som.cranfield.ac.uk/som/scrip

http://alumni.som.cranfield.ac.uk/public/Event.aspx?Id=740