Supply Chain Management

SIRVA is attending the 2013 National Relocation Conference in San Diego, CA from May 15^th to 17^th. Be sure to come see us at booth #400 to play “SIRVA Sommelier” for a chance to win a one year membership for wine of the month club!

Also join SIRVA employee, Michelle Cicen, and Michael Westphall from Abbott for their session, “I’d Rather Turn You Down Than Let You Down—Formalizing Your Pre-Decision Program”. This session will be held on Thursday, May 16^th from 3:15-4:15 pm.

Two SIRVA employees will...

The 98^th Annual International Supply Chain Management Conference will be held in Dallas, TX from April 28^th to May 1^st.

Come visit SIRVA at Booth #501 to talk with our industry experts and test your luck for a chance to win $500!

Questions about this event? Contact us at events@sirva.com. 

During the holidays you likely heard familiar music of the season, such as Handel’s Messiah. The choirs and orchestras performing these pieces consist of high quality musicians who were selected based on auditions. Perhaps they were selected by a blind audition with an audio file of the voice or instrument being played. The evaluating person or group is limited to the sound being produced, unaware of the musicians’ experience, connections to a sponsor, physical appearance, etc., allowing the...

During the holidays, my sisters and I would do the same thing that my own children do today – count the presents under the Christmas tree (and of course make sure that the number of gifts is equal amongst the siblings!). I reflect on how my concern was the quantity of the gifts then, not really giving much thought to the quality.

But today, concerning myself with the quality of mobility services coupled with suitable cost is what I do every day in supply chain. Cost of mobility services is...

These days, competition is no longer just between organizations.  It’s not uncommon for competing companies to rely on the same supplier(s) for their product or service.  In those instances where two companies use the same supplier for their product or service, it becomes critical to ensure the supplier is providing you with better service and quality than your competitor.  In effect, the competition exists  between supply chains and how those supply chains are managed.

When we talk about supplier...

The Olympics remind us that successful assimilation can lead to assignment victory!

Every four years, we experience a sense of ethnocentrism rarely demonstrated at other times. This sense of pride causes us to do unusual things like buy swim trunks flanked in red, white and blue stripes, zone out in front of the television on a 90 degree day or even belt out the national anthem like we were Celine Dion (without the pitch accuracy, unfortunately).

What the Olympics remind us of, besides the...

The supplier selection process is critical, and a poor choice can cost organizations millions.   Here are some steps that can be utilized to be sure that the right supplier is selected upfront.

1. Understand your requirements: Often sourcing events are led by procurement, but procurement can’t do this alone.  A cross-functional team is recommended, and should include members of all departments with a vested interest in the decision that can easily define the requirements. One of the biggest mistakes...

Technology devices continue to become faster and more capable of amazing things.  The recent release of the 3^rd generation iPad is just one example of a flood of computing devices that provide a tremendous amount of information. 

The options and capabilities seem to be endless. 

However, when you ask an iPad, Amazon Fire, or other tablet or smart phone user what features they actually use, the list is much shorter.  Similarly, only about 10% to 15% of sports utility vehicle owners actually take...

Are you attending the 97th Annual International Supply Management Conference next week in Baltimore?

We are!
Stop by and see SIRVA in the Exhibit Hall at Booth 200 to play SIRVA Slots for a chance to win a Kindle Fire, and join us at our session on supplier management!

Also, join us as we discuss a topic that is becoming increasingly important to the success of global relocation programs – managing suppliers. Supplier management plays a key role in providing an exceptional customer...

SIRVA  launched MyMoveConnection®, an online portal that simplifies the mobility experience for relocating employees.

 “At SIRVA, we innovate to deliver simplicity for our customers. MyMoveConnection® is another testament to this,” said Matthew Dickerson, SIRVA Relocation’s Chief Information Officer. “The platform delivers unmatched visibility into a relocation and allows employees to collaborate in an asynchronous fashion with their relocation counselor and other constituents within the supply...

When choosing a global moving services provider for your company, there are many options to think about. To help you understand the decisions that are to be made, SIRVA’s Global Moving Services team is sharing the facts regarding the types of providers, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and some things to consider when evaluating providers for your company.

Types of Global Providers

With the growing emphasis on cost containment over the last decade, many companies have begun to outsource in...

Rounding out the breakout sessions this morning was a presentation about managing suppliers, given by Tracey Gatlin, Manager, Global Supply Chain at SIRVA.

Her discussion began by discussing supplier relationship management:

“SRM, or supplier relationship management, has been an emerging trend in the supply chain industry since the 1990’s. It has since been embraced by organizations large and small around the world. However, the meaning of SRM varies widely; the definition is really in the eye of...

Also this morning, Tracey Gatlin (Manager, Global Supply Chain) and Dena Ostrander (Director, Supply Chain Management) spoke about applying procurement practices to mobility.

They began the topic as follows:

"Generally speaking, the concept of supplier management is in its infancy in the mobility industry when compared to industries such as technology or retail. One of the most glaring reasons for that is because relocation is a service industry. 

Although the end goal for any industry is a...

Does the word “procurement” conjure fears of a slap on the wrist for paying too much for something, or feelings of uncertainty that you may be working with the “lowest bidder?”

While the perception of procurement may still be that of a tactical and administrative process that causes road blocks, there is a great deal that mobility specialists can learn from the world of procurement.

Historically, mobility was not an area in which procurement became heavily involved. But, given the attention that...

Join SIRVA’s CIO Jason Birnbaum on CIO Talk Radio as he discusses the potential advantages of a “demand-driven” supply chain.

A demand-driven supply chain could reduce inventory levels while providing the flexibility to better respond to market changes. But what costs and challenges would it bring? Would it produce a positive ROI? What are the opportunity costs of not moving to a demand-driven supply chain?

Birnbaum will join a panel of IT experts to discuss all this and more.

Date: Wednesday,...

What is the second-highest HR expense?

Mobility! Yet gaining clear insight into total relocation costs is challenging.

Because mobility costs are often scattered throughout the organization, they are frequently overlooked during a spend analysis. Adding to the complexity, mobility services are predominantly procured based on service fees alone, which only amount for three percent of the total cost – while major costs associated with the home sale, temporary living and household goods are often...

What does "enterprise cloud computing" mean for the HR function?
 
How can it help HR professionals do more for less financially?

How can cloud computing help alleviate the strain on HR’s IT resources and help the IT department create scalable solutions?

For the answers to all of these questions and more, register for Brian Richard’s upcoming webinar with IHRIM today. Brian will share how cloud computing can help nearly every area of HR—including recruiting, talent management, on-boarding and...

Once a company decides upon a strategy for outsourcing its moving needs, the next step is to select the appropriate provider. Among the available providers, many operate within a structure that focuses on their own specific attributes. However, the best work to provide value across the complete supply chain by implementing empirical controls.

Companies need to ensure these key performance controls are in place when evaluating potential providers:

·        Employee satisfaction survey conducted by...