5 Ways to Reduce Lead Time from Quote to Cash with Job Shop Software Businesses are always looking

for ways to reduce costs and increase profits. Never has this been more true than in today's challenging economy. From finding more affordable suppliers to implementing shop management software solutions, every positive change can contribute to lower costs and more robust profits. One of the most effective ways of streamlining a business is by reducing lead times. A company able to offer shorter turnaround and delivery times while producing a reliable, top quality product will have a competitive edge over others in their industry. The good news is that it's possible to reduce lead time significantly, in some cases, up to as much as 50%. It also doesn't have to cost a lot or require much effort. The key to effectively reducing lead time is by understanding the current state of your manufacturing process from the time the quote is issued to when you are able to receive payment for it, and every step in between. What steps require the most time and effort? Where do the "snags" consistently happen? The answers to these questions can provide valuable insights into how to streamline your manufacturing process. Do you have any idea how much actual labor goes toward your lead time? Are there instances of waste that could be made more efficient? Here are 5 steps that can help you to dramatically reduce your lead time, resulting in higher customer satisfaction and more profits for your business: 1. Map Out Your Current Job Flow Performance It can be helpful to start by creating a diagram or flow chart of your manufacturing process from beginning to end as it stands right now. Estimate the amount of time and money to implement

each step. Use a whiteboard and get as detailed and specific as possible. Break things down day by day, hour by hour, even minute by minute put into all of the activities and expenditures involved. Examine the creation and delivery of your product or service from start to finish. Having a clear, visual, visceral representation of your manufacturing process and all that each step entails can be a powerful first step toward removing inefficiencies, fine-tuning your workflow and putting more cash into your bank account more quickly. 2. Reduce Costs, Waste and Mistakes Having identified the overall actual turnaround time for your products and process, it's time to examine it for inefficiencies. Start eliminating all of the activities that do not add value to your product for your customers. Some of the areas where cuts are often practical are steps when things are counted, moved, inspected, searched for, stored, filed, waited for, or processed when they are not needed. Many of these steps can be reduced or eliminated, and this can have a dramatic impact on reducing cost and hours of labor as well your turnaround time. Consider manufacturing smaller batch sizes and finding ways to reduce costly errors and mistakes throughout your manufacturing process. 3. Adjust for Average Customer Demand In some instances businesses are made up of functional groups whose tasks and resources do not accurately reflect the specific demands of their customers. Part of reducing turnaround requires that work flows through all processes at a rate in sync with customer needs. Too fast or too slow results in a mismatch and can affect ideal productivity levels. Having a customer-focused process flow rather than disconnected functional silos helps to

reduce turnaround time. You'll eliminate wasteful "hand over" and bottlenecks between departments and job phases. 4. Consider Job Shop Management Software Another way to optimize lead time is through the use of job shop software. Job shop management software solutions can go a long way in streamlining the manufacturing process and order flow. With manufacturing shop management software, many crucial steps are automated. Employees are then freed up to focus more on improving high-value business procedures and processes instead of being mired in tedious daily tasks. 5. Create a New Turnaround Time Goal If you are really serious about improving your lead time, workflow, productivity and customer satisfaction, then create a new turnaround goal that reflects what you've learned about your manufacturing business and where you'd like to be. Specific written or spoken goals are far more likely to be achieved than vague, non-specific ones. Now that you have a clear picture about what your business has been doing and how it can be improved, choose a new result that you'd like to meet, alert key staff members and focus on making your goal a reality. Improving lead time need not be an intimidating task. Often, a number of small adjustments can pay off in very big ways. Awareness is key, and starting with an honest look at your current workflow is the first step. From there, reducing waste, syncing up with customer needs and implementing quality manufacturing software will all contribute to meeting your lead time goals.

Reduction of lead time

Sandeep H.M & Shuyeb Ahmed in Life Style Abstract : Reduction of lead-time ,analysis of non-value adding process & eliminating it or postponing to vendor side. Cost saving ,on shelf availability at right time. The impact that a well-known product will have on a customer will largely depend on how such these products are reached in the market. Supply chain execution is managing and coordinating the movement of materials, information and funds across the supply chain, the flow are bi-directional. Supply chains exist in both service and manufacturing organizations, although the complexity of the chain may vary greatly from industry to industry and firm to firm. Findings : Necessary non value adding activities in processing of goods Locating of goods was a major task due to wrong updation of vendor to binning rack data Wrong communication through processed goods, lack of knowledge of SOPs to be followed.Late delivery of goods to stores from Regional Distribution Centers due to n number of cross checking the quantity of packed goods. RDC environment clearly conveys implementation of 5s in order to improve over all environment

Vendor Evaluation from Buyers Perspective

Md. Jiaul Haque Shaikh in Decathlon Abstract : There are different buying organization who works for the retailer to help them getting the right merchandise, in right quantity and quality at right place and right time with cheaper price. So Vendor Evaluation is one of the fundamental steps to evaluate a vendor on the adaptability towards one organization. Its help in establishing a vendors credentials and capabilities in supplying specific goods/services to retailer.The aim of the project is to establish an efficient vendor evaluation framework for the buying house for the evaluation and selection of vendors, structuring the vendor base. The main emphasis is given to make this framework more defined as per requirements, short, and objective type rather than to be very subjective, which will help to grade the vendors as per their performances.

Optimization Of Export Merchandising Process