Mickey Horner

Special Guest Blog Post written by Jeff Echel and Steve Lykken with e2open   Supply chain planners in high-tech don’t just manage shipments; they’re crisis managers, data detectives, and sometimes, referees in a high-stakes game of inventory tug-of-war. Why do these planners find themselves huddled in “war rooms,” surrounded by spreadsheets and urgent emails? It starts with relentless pressure: customers expect rapid, reliable service, but the reality is a maze of long lead times, outsourced manufacturing, and unpredictable global logistics. Securing critical components can take months, and a single misstep, like overstocking or missing a shipment, can ripple through the business, impacting revenue and margins. The chaos: War rooms and spreadsheet battles Add to that, the complexity of forecasting demand. Planners reconcile noisy, inconsistent data from retailers and distributors, often with little visibility, into . Forecasts are built, torn down, and rebuilt, sometimes manually, as teams try to align bottom-up channel data with top-down financial targets. Meanwhile, supply plans are constantly threatened by shortages, excess inventory, and last-minute changes. When demand surges or supply is disrupted, channels compete for limited stock, sometimes “stealing” from each other, and sometimes winning simply by being the loudest voice in the room. All of…

Leveraging ERM to navigate emerging tariffs and supply chain risks With recent tariff hikes and geopolitical shifts, supply chain risks are more urgent than ever. 63% of businesses reported higher-than-expected supply chain losses despite increased risk management efforts in recent years. Leveraging ERM to navigate emerging tariffs and supply chain risks explores the distinct challenges of a stressed global market and shows how ERM can enhance efforts in identifying, escalating, and responding to emerging supply chain threats.   Key areas explored in the guide:   Supply chain risks affected by increased tariffs. Why engaging ERM to address supply chain risks is crucial. 8 proactive strategies for addressing emerging supply chain risks.   Ready to start engaging ERM to respond to emerging supply chain risks with agility and speed?   Download the free guide now