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| Click image for representative project descriptions |
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| Large fixed investment is a fact of life in the energy business. This brings large risks and many capacity-related questions, such as: how much to outsource; how to determine the optimal time horizon for capacity investments; how to manage the risk of falling demand and rising costs; and which engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firms make the best partners. Project managers turn to Boston Strategies International for knowledgeable and fact-based answers to these tough questions.
For more information about operations planning, please visit our Library of Resources below.
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| Demand and Capacity Planning |
| Planning for the Long Haul
The construction and maintenance of major infrastructure investments involve a long time between conception and realization and need to anticipate shifts in population centers, trade flows, and the migration of production and freight corridors. High capital expenditure, long time to plan, long time to build, and high exit costs extend the long time horizon when looking at capital investments and operating costs. What’s your planning horizon?
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Capacity Concerns in Chemicals Sourcing by Richard Weissman
Chemicals prices seem to be at rock bottom, and the market still appears to favor buyers. Should buyers keep pressing for lower prices? Both buyers and suppliers need to consider the need for capacity and responsiveness when the market swings back. Rich Weissman quotes Erik Halbert in this article on current conditions in the Chemicals market. The article is also available at www.purchasing.com.
Click here to download this article.
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| Using Flexible Capacity Techniques to Thrive in a Volatile Economy
Flexibility has emerged as the differentiator in network designs, supply chains, and customer relation management and designing a flexible product has become strategically advantageous, especially when outsourcing to an off-shore location. Why is flexibility so important? This presentation will examine supply chain flexibility imperatives and what you should do to design flexible supply chains
Please click here to download the article.
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| The Ocean Market: Overcapacity until 2012
Ocean carriers severely over-invested in capacity, and what goes up must come down. Carriers have removed as much capacity as possible to support rates, and it is working in some container trades. However, shippers will be in the driver's seat for several years to come.
Please click here to learn more about ocean shipping rates.
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Global Infrastructure Series:
Investing in Brazil
| Global Infrastructure Series: Brazil
Multinationals worldwide are looking toward Brazil as the next China. Its low labor costs and relatively high quality make it competitive on a total cost basis. Moreover, industrial production is booming and the recent discovery of oil may transform Brazil's role in the world economy. Should you be investing in Brazil?
Please click here for the slide presentation excerpt.
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| Global Infrastructure Series: Cairo
As US West Coast ports become more congested and rail rates rise, shippers are evaluating all-water options through the Panama Canal. However, even the Panama Canal is currently unable to handle ships that hold more than about 4,000 containers, which are making up an increasingly large share of the world's fleet. Some companies are using westbound routings through the Suez Canal instead. Is this viable? What opportunities and risks accompany expanding Suez's role as a major gateway? Tune in to this videocast to find out.
27 minutes ©2008 Boston Strategies International
Please click here for the videocast.
Please click here for the slide presentation excerpt.
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Global Infrastructure Series:
Investing in Dubai
| Infrastructure Series: Dubai
If you're not importing or exporting from the Gulf States, you're going to be soon. Trade with the UAE has more than doubled over the past five years, and the country will invest $300 billion in infrastructure by 2012 — almost five times as much as the Marshall Plan cost, and more than twice what it cost to put a man on the moon. What is your logistics plan for shipping into and out of the Gulf? Which ports, carriers, terminals, and channel partners are the best targets for partnership and investment?
Please click here for the slide presentation excerpt.
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| Global Infrastructure Series: Gioia Tauro
As the 24th largest port in the world, Gioia Tauro lives is the shadow of Northern European ports such as Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp, and Bremerhaven. However, it provides 25-50% more economical access to and from some Italian, Austrian, Swiss, and French inland destinations for 3.2 million containers per year. Given the growth of trade between the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and North Africa, and continental Europe, chances are you may be hearing more about Gioia Tauro. Tune in to this videocast to learn more.
26 minutes ©2008 Boston Strategies International
Please click here for the videocast.
Please click here for the slide presentation excerpt.
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| Global Infrastructure Series: New York
The Port of New York/New Jersey processes $132 billion of US imports each year and unloads nearly 10,000 ships per year. It provides access to tens of millions of consumers within a day's delivery. Moreover, the US's third largest port expects container volume to double by 2020 as Asian imports grow and a greater share of them come westbound through the Suez Canal. Are the Port's projections accurate? How will all that cargo fit through the gates without compromising security or environmental standards? Which facilities and services should be developed, when, at what risk? Tune in to this videocast to find out.
35 minutes ©2008 Boston Strategies International
Please click here for the videocast.
Please click here for the slide presentation excerpt.
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Global Infrastructure Series:
Investing in Seattle-Tacoma
| Global Infrastructure Series: Seattle-Tacoma
Capacity constraints in Los Angeles/Long Beach and the risk of strikes or terrorist incidents have motivated some shippers to shift their West Coast volume northward to Seattle-Tacoma. Tacoma plans to quadruple container capacity by 2020, while state commitments to fund infrastructure and support freight mobility over that period amount to over $7.7 billion. Should Seattle-Tacoma be an integral part of your supply chain or investment plans? Boston Strategies International explores the growth of this port complex, and what it could means for you.
Please click here for the slide presentation excerpt.
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| Global Infrastructure Series: Shanghai
As the world globalizes, shippers need to know about the ins and outs of shipping from everywhere to everywhere else on the planet. This videocast will explain what you need to know about shipping to and from Shanghai's infrastructure development and provides practical advice for shippers as well as investors. Tune in to this videocast to explore the Shanghai opportunity.
40 minutes ©2008 Boston Strategies International
Please click here for the videocast.
Please click here for the slide presentation excerpt.
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Global Infrastructure Series:
Investing in Vietnam
| Global Infrastructure Series: Vietnam
Vietnam is growing rapidly. Real estate, infrastructure, and businesses are trading at high multiples. Is it overheated? This study evaluates global economic trends and containerized trade growth development in Vietnam today.
Please click here for the slide presentation expcerpt.
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| Shanghai Connection
Today, as mainland China deals directly with other countries for trade after the country's accession into the WTO, the role of Hong Kong as an export hub and Guangdong province (Pearl River Delta) as manufacturing base is gradually shifting toward central and north China. These regions have caught up with the momentum of new foreign investment boom in China, and are now growing faster than the south. Logistics activity is shifting to the center of China as Shanghai emerges as the business hub. How does this affect your global logistics plan?
Please click here for the article in World Trade Magazine.
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| Global Logistics: The Next Generation
Avoid risky supply chain commitments that could result in high cost, delay, and security risks. This video explores current issues involved in shipping internationally to and from sourcing hotspots such as China, Malaysia, and Latin America. It draws from benchmarks and company examples, and uses pictures, video clips, and interactive quiz questions to illustrate key points. The content is based on Boston Logistics "Logistics in..." studies, which through a series of live-onsite sessions in various countries, has explored the current challenges and opportunities facing global shippers today.
Please click here for the slide presentation excerpt.
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| Global Sourcing and Outsourcing |
| The New Era of Post Chinese Sourcing
The extraordinary economic circumstances of 2008 conspired to vastly reduce the economic benefit of sourcing from China. Moving forward, the emerging economies of India, Brazil, and Russia present increasingly attractive sourcing locations for importers in the Middle East, North America, and Western Europe. Today, however, most Western companies are unfamiliar with sourcing from these new locations. Position yourself for the post-China trading environment, it w by establishing supply lines to qualified partners in the next tier of emerging economies.
Click here for free download.
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| The Asian Sourcing Boom: How Long Will It Last? (2006 State of Strategic Sourcing Study)
Low-cost country sourcing has set a new threshold of cost-efficiency. Over 80% of companies plan to increase the proportion of spend in low-cost countries and are investing in expanding their global sourcing capability. In its third annual State of Strategic Sourcing study based on the experiences of operations executives at 100 companies worldwide, Boston Strategies International reveals how much sourcing from Asia has taken hold, how much they are saving, where they are investing, and what challenges they face.
29 Pages, 17 charts/tables/diagrams, 8 chapters, ©2006 Boston Strategies International
Click here for free download.
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The Asian Sourcing Boom
| The Asian Sourcing Boom
The “China price” has set a new threshold of cost-efficiency that others must match, either through low-cost country sourcing or by finding other ways to cut the cost of conventional sources. Asian sourcing is much more than just a labor shift — it is the tip of an iceberg that will have extensive in demographics, social security, the value of the dollar, and the global equity markets. How will it affect your company's long-term prospects?
Please click here for the slide presentation excerpt.
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| The Asian Sourcing Boom Videocast
Low-cost country sourcing has set a new threshold of cost-efficiency. Over 80% of companies plan to increase the proportion of spend in low-cost countries and are investing in expanding their global sourcing capability. Based on the experiences of operations executives at 100 companies worldwide, Boston Strategies International reveals how much sourcing from Asia has taken hold, how much they are saving, where they are investing, and what challenges they face. Tune in to this videocast to learn more.
40 minutes ©2008 Boston Strategies International
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| The New Economics of Partnering
Most companies have re-engineered their supplier relationships with through joint initiatives like consolidated distribution and collaborative new product development. How much opportunity is left for supply chain synergy?
Please click here for the article.
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| Logistics Outsourcing
The decision to hire a third party logistics company (3PL), should not be based on cost savings. 3PLs often increase capabilities, flexibility, and responsiveness, and they should be used to provide some strategic benefit. How can a 3PL generate strategic benefit for your organization?
Please click here for the article.
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| Budgeting and Performance Measurement |
| Your Supply Chain Costs Will Increase by 5% in 2010
There is more good news than bad for the economy, and that will translate to a 5% increase in supply chain costs for shippers in 2010. Volume and rates declined so much in 2008 and 2009 that the carriers’ and service providers’ only survival strategy was to remove unprecedented amounts of capacity - which for some companies meant equipment and people and for others meant selling or liquidating their businesses. But now the supply cuts are meeting or exceeding the drop in demand, so as demand picks up rates will rise.
Please click here for free download.
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| Your Supply Chain Costs are Down by 12%
The recession should have lowered your supply chain costs by 12.2% by now, and if your company is like most, that should lower your corporate cost structure by 5.9%, after taking into account inventory reductions at their cash equivalent value. To make sure you capture the savings that your competitors are reaping, it is imperative to deploy world-class rationalization programs.
Please click here for free download.
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Budgeting for Volatility
| Budgeting for Volatility
Recent raw material price volatility has hit budgets hard. Prices of metals, wood products, paper, packaging, and fuel — just to name a few commodity-based materials — have all increased markedly. Labor costs may be the next to take off. This study explores how best-in-class companies are adjusting their procurement and budgeting practices to cope with today's economic volatility. This session will outline conventional as well as innovative tools and processes that leading companies are using to manage volatile prices and material unavailability.
Please click here for the slide presentation excerpt.
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Supply Risk Management
| Supply Risk Management
While many purchasing groups have reduced the number of suppliers they buy from and increased the average length of contracts, few of them base have much forward visibility into the markets in which they are taking such positions. Making long-term commitments without corresponding market analysis is perilous, since market prices may swing above or below today's levels and the longer the agreement, the greater the possible budget variance. This presentation will examine how leading companies use forecasts and market outlooks to make long-term decisions that involve investment and risk.
Please click here for the slide presentation excerpt.
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Metrics: From Information to Strategy
| Metrics: From Information to Strategy
The increasing amount of data that is available is changing the way managers can and do measure our business performance. How does technology assist in compiling, visualizing, managing data , and how can it help link supply chain initiatives to the balanced scorecard?
Presented to PMAB, 2007.
Please click here for the slide presentation excerpt.
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| Measuring Sourcing Performance
Getting performance out of sourcing truly is a matter of life or death for most companies. It’s strategic for any low-cost business and for any firm that claims supply chain management as a core competency. It provides robust financial leverage and is a juicy target for P&L and stock-price enhancement for public companies.
Please click here for the article.
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| Supply Chain Report Card
During periods of dramatic change like we have experienced in the recent economic recession, 20 per cent of all people shift jobs. At least that is what my e-mail box tells me based on the frequency with which e-mails bounce, and that is consistent with the turnover experienced in the 2000-01 recession.
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