SalesSupply Chain Product Recall Management Guide for SMBs A product recall can put serious pressure on a small and midsize businesses by disrupting operations, straining customer relationships, and creating regulatory risk. This guide explains what product recalls involve, the risks they pose, and how SMB manufacturers can manage them more effectively – and even prevent them. By Madis Kuuse 11 min read
Manufacturing TipsSupply Chain Copacking – What is Contract Packaging and How to Manage It? Copacking gives manufacturers a practical way to handle packaging without taking on the full cost of more equipment, labor, or floor space. It can add flexibility and expand capacity, especially when specialized packaging is needed. But it only pays off when the process is managed well and is cost-effective. By Steve Maurer, IME 11 min read
Manufacturing TipsSupply Chain Manufacturing Waste Management – Best Practices for SMEs Waste management is about controlling the physical waste streams your factory creates so they do not quietly (or not so quietly) drain profit, create legal exposure, or undermine your environmental performance. For manufacturers, waste is rarely just “trash” – it’s raw material you’ve already paid for once, that now needs reconciling again. By Mattias Turovski 21 min read
InventoryManufacturing TipsSupply Chain Inventory Tracking – An Essential Guide Inventory tracking means monitoring stock movements to increase visibility in the company’s supply chain. This added transparency helps businesses improve their ordering and overall inventory management practices, ensure traceability, and make sure that items are exactly where you need them, when you need them. By Madis Kuuse 11 min read
Supply Chain Supply Chain Planning – Creating Supply Chain Resilience Supply chains don’t break politely. They break on a Friday afternoon. A vendor slips up on a delivery or your freight gets delayed. Now you’re expediting, rescheduling, and explaining missed ship dates. Modern supply chain planning helps you identify problems earlier and make informed trade-offs. Here’s how to build resilience that protects your bottom line. By Steve Maurer, IME 16 min read
Manufacturing TipsProduction planningSupply Chain Push System vs. Pull System in Manufacturing Profitable manufacturing depends on having the right parts and finished goods available when needed—without excess inventory tying up cash. While most manufacturers rely on push or pull systems, there’s a third approach that can often deliver better results. By Steve Maurer, IME 17 min read
Supply Chain Supply Chain Visibility – Importance and Solutions In the old days, every part of a supply chain was made up of trading partners who knew each other by name. Transactions were sealed with a handshake or a phone call. But with the global supply chains of the 21st Century, supply chain management has become more complex. By Steve Maurer, IME 20 min read
InventoryManufacturing TipsSupply Chain The Bullwhip Effect – How Does It Affect Your Supply Chain and Profits? It started as a study on baby diaper consumer demand variability by Procter & Gamble in the 1960s and was quickly adapted into a role-play simulation by the MIT Sloan School of Management called “The Beer Game.” But the bullwhip effect’s impact on manufacturers and supply chain management is anything but fun and games. By Steve Maurer, IME 16 min read
Manufacturing TipsSupply Chain Food Traceability – An Expert Guide for SMBs Traceability is of vital importance in the food and beverage industry as it may directly impact consumers’ health and well-being. When a defective product or contamination is found, whether before or after shipment, finding the source of the problem expediently is the top priority to ensure public health. By Steve Maurer, IME 17 min read