This Week's Supply Chain by the Numbers - Supply Chain Flexibility, Pirates, Foreign Oil Dependence, Apparel Suppliers

Supply Chain by the Numbers: Week of December 11, 2008

-December 11, 2008

The Supply Chain and Logistics Numbers Worth Knowing This Week: Supply Chain Flexibility - Enough is as Good as a Feast; Where There is a Sea, There are Pirates - 24 hours a day; Foreign Oil Dependence Misconception?; Vanishing Global Apparel Suppliers



80%
The percent of total potential supply chain cost savings that could be achieved for one consumer goods company from adding just a modest amount of flexibility to its supply chain versus adding full flexibility (making all plants capable of producing all products), according to Dr. David Simchi-Levi, in a Videocast on Supply Chain Digest this week. This 80% of the potential benefits can be realized at a much lower upfront investment in flexibility, according to Simchi-Levi’s analysis.

The hours per day maritime law firm Holman Fenwick Willan‘s hot line is now open to deal with calls from ocean carriers and shippers with regard to ocean piracy.


55%
The surprisingly high amount of oil that the US consumes from North American sources, according to a series of recent ads by Exxon Mobil. Imports from the Middle East account for only 14% of US oil consumption.




70%
The astounding drop in the number of global apparel industry suppliers to US manufacturers and retailers over the past few months of world economic turmoil, according to a study this week by supplier data service firm Panjiva. The loss of global supply capability could cause problems for years to come.