Resources > APICS Magazine > November-December 2003

APICS—The Performance Advantage
November-December 2003
Volume 13, Number 10

Feature Articles:

Automation Takes Center Stage (Members Only)
By Christopher M. Wright
Supplier networks are on the move, evolving from being merely auction and pricing tools to actually automating key business processes. We document the transformation by taking a close look at the network used by a major supplier to Harley-Davidson.

COVER STORY
Spotlight on the Electronics Industry
Manufacturers of high-tech and electronic items may be on the cutting edge in terms of their product lines, but that's no guarantee their operations are up to snuff. Our spotlight section examines tools and methodologies that are producing results for players in the electronics arena. Included is a discussion of open industry standards for critical information elements; a look at the next great moneysaver—an underutilized area of potential cost reduction; and a real-world example of a computer manufacturer that dramatically increased productivity and customer satisfaction by implementing a manufacturing execution system.

A Match Made in Mexico (Members Only)
By Christopher B. Anderson, CPIM
You might not use Six Sigma and physical distribution in the same sentence, but the two have more in common than many people would think. Join APICS member Chris Anderson, a planner at Indiana-based Therma Tru Doors, as he lays out for us the ways in which his company realized big benefits by applying DMAIC to freight utilization.

Recovering Value from IOS (Members Only)
By William H. Sell, CIRM
Following up on part one of his two-part look at IOS inventory, Bill Sell is back with guidelines for deciding which items should get the boot. Just as important, he offers pointers on actually getting some kind of return on the stuff. And make no mistake: It's a team effort-an organization's disposition rules must be defined by key players from finance, marketing and manufacturing.