IN SUPPLY CHAINS

5 W A Y S T O C R E A T E

INNOVATION

Decrease production lead times

Minimize risk

Cut costs & drive growth

Innovations in supply chain operations are

helping top companies to…

Here are 5 emerging ways top

companies are creating

innovation in their supply

chains

{ }1 Partnering with Competitors

While this may seem counterintuitive, partnering

with competitors yields several unique

advantages:

While this may seem counterintuitive, partnering

with competitors yields several unique

advantages:

• Gain new visibility across industries

While this may seem counterintuitive, partnering

with competitors yields several unique

advantages:

• Gain new visibility across industries

• Increase production capacity, thus driving demand

While this may seem counterintuitive, partnering

with competitors yields several unique

advantages:

• Gain new visibility across industries

• Increase production capacity, thus driving demand

• Build up the industry as a whole

{ }2 Joining Industry Clusters

Industry clusters are geographic concentrations of

businesses that bring about a competitive advantage

through pooled resources:

Industry clusters are geographic concentrations of

businesses that bring about a competitive advantage

through pooled resources:

• Drastic streamlining of the supply chain through

geographic proximity

Industry clusters are geographic concentrations of

businesses that bring about a competitive advantage

through pooled resources:

• Drastic streamlining of the supply chain through

geographic proximity

• Ability to source parts and services locally

Industry clusters are geographic concentrations of

businesses that bring about a competitive advantage

through pooled resources:

• Drastic streamlining of the supply chain through

geographic proximity

• Ability to source parts and services locally

• Concentrations of workers with in-demand and

relevant skills

{ }3 Sharing Technology

46% of manufacturers

alone reported limited

operational and

financial resources as

the biggest blocker to

their efforts to innovate

“ “-KPMG

Sharing technology is allowing businesses to bypass

financial restrictions and drive innovation. This allows

business to:

Sharing technology is allowing businesses to bypass

financial restrictions and drive innovation. This allows

business to:

• Access key research equipment and applications

Sharing technology is allowing businesses to bypass

financial restrictions and drive innovation. This allows

business to:

• Access key research equipment and applications

• Develop strong and long-lasting relationships through

mutual benefit

Sharing technology is allowing businesses to bypass

financial restrictions and drive innovation. This allows

business to:

• Access key research equipment and applications

• Develop strong and long-lasting relationships through

mutual benefit

• Increase communication between your suppliers, partners

and customers

{ }4 Establishing R&D Partnerships

Generate a much greater benefit from research efforts

by spreading research-related costs across multiple

businesses.

Generate a much greater benefit from research efforts

by spreading research-related costs across multiple

businesses.

• Get a much higher return on investment

Generate a much greater benefit from research efforts

by spreading research-related costs across multiple

businesses.

• Get a much higher return on investment

• Expand your R&D focus

Generate a much greater benefit from research efforts

by spreading research-related costs across multiple

businesses.

• Get a much higher return on investment

• Expand your R&D focus

• Bolster your industry as a whole

{ }5 Collaboration with Suppliers

Collaboration with suppliers allows for increased

visibility in the market and key information sharing:

Collaboration with suppliers allows for increased

visibility in the market and key information sharing:

• Share real time capacity and demand data

Collaboration with suppliers allows for increased

visibility in the market and key information sharing:

• Share real time capacity and demand data

• Greater security in sourcing

Collaboration with suppliers allows for increased

visibility in the market and key information sharing:

• Share real time capacity and demand data

• Greater security in sourcing

• Will lead to shorter and more reliable supply chains

…removing a day of

information lead time out

of [the] planning and

execution processes can

drive as much benefit as

removing a day of

physical lead time.

“ “-KPMG

In summary, supply chain innovation will:

In summary, supply chain innovation will:

• Decrease lead times

In summary, supply chain innovation will:

• Decrease lead times

• Create stability

In summary, supply chain innovation will:

• Decrease lead times

• Create stability

• Ultimately, encourage continued collaboration

Powerlinx is the leading online service connecting businesses

with new growth opportunities.

Every day business leaders around the world use Powerlinx to

find new suppliers, expand their product lines, reach new

markets and even sell their business.

To find out what Powerlinx can do for your business, visit our

website www.powerlinx.com.