It’s in the Cards
By Kathy Pelto, CPIM, CPM, and Bob Mueller

Paired-cell overlapping loops of cards, or POLCA, was created as an alternative to kanban. Kanban is not intended to operate in environments of low volume or custom products, but POLCA is designed specifically to meet these needs.

Speak a Foreign Language
By Anne van de Heetkamp

Paired-cell overlapping loops of cards, or POLCA, was created as an alternative to kanban. Kanban is not intended to operate in environments of low volume or custom products, but POLCA is designed specifically to meet these needs.

Quitting Time
By David Aquino, CPIM

The unemployment rate currently is 8.3 percent, which goes up to 15 percent when underemployment is considered. Yet many leaders are losing key staff people and keeping positions open for uncomfortably long times.

Universal Supply Chain Truths
By Michael Ford, CFPIM, CSCP

Just like Pareto analysis says, 20 percent of the customers make up 80 percent of the complaints and 80 percent of the late payments. Some people are never satisfied.

The Broken Chain
By Jonathan Thatcher, CSCP

Frequent supply disruptions are challenging and frustrating, and they make it difficult to focus attention where it belongs. Breaking the cycle requires a proactive approach wide in scope.