And a redesign can give your chain an advantage over its competing chains.

Recent projects have cut wool delivery times from farm gate to consumer in half and increased wool sale prices 14%. Revenue rose 400% for one chain in the metal manufacturing sector with production output up 4 times. A printing chain cut copy preparation and print time from 6 weeks to three days. Another manufacturing project cut 25% cost from the production process. Inventory holdings were cut 12%.

In an ideal world you would produce product only for those who want it and in the exact quantity they require. Unfortunately the real world isn't that simple. But you can optimise your business's supply chain using clever management practices.

The method used includes:

• Select your preferred suppliers and customers for the chain project
• Create a chain Vision
• Get some "quick win" improvements from talking together
• Analyse what customers want and measure how the chain performs in meeting those needs
• Identify problems which create cost, slow the chain and prevent in full on time delivery.
• Create plans and involve work teams in implementing them
• Establish incremental, achievable goals supported by a process of continuous improvement.

A redesign of your supply chains doesn't mean more cost either. On the contrary, supply chain redesigns can help you reach your profit and growth goals faster by:

• Dealing with fewer better suppliers (at reduced prices!)
• Getting better, faster information so you can safely cut buffer stock
• Reducing inventories by better understanding what customers want (and when) and by speeding stock turns
• Better delivery in full on time creating more sales, faster payment and less disputes
• Cost savings on product development and faster response time to demands
• Faster sales to cash time through use of e-commerce