Using Predictive Models for Supply Chain Planning

In our podcast episode with Grant Sackett, North American Supply Chain Manager for D.D. Williamson Colour, we discussed how using predictive models can ease uncertainties and help supply chain managers plan for the future.

Adapting to the ever-changing world

As a business that’s been around for over 150 years, D.D. Williamson has been through many changes, and it never stops. It continues to expand globally, with 12 plants around the world currently. As with all organizations that have lasted for more than a century, adapting and innovating is key.

“We’re learning as we go here. Obviously, a pandemic is new, but the weather and certain things you kind of learn to mitigate,” Sackett said. He emphasized the following key points in order to deal with challenges.

• Find the right partners. When it comes to facing new frontiers, find partners who are willing to work with you and are invested in your success.
• Pay attention to the news and keep yourself updated. Knowing what’s happening in the world that could potentially affect your business is as good as planning for the unplanned.
• Predict and work closely with key stakeholders. Aside from working with your suppliers, work with your team closely, too. For example, working closely with your salesman will help you forecast what your customers are actually going to need, which, in turn, will help you get your resources in line.
• Educate yourself. Though D.D. Williamson has been in the business for a long time, and Sackett and his team never stopped educating themselves.

“It’s very important that if we want to keep up to the ever-changing demands of this food market with global, organic and non-GMO that we need to keep educating ourselves. It will never stop for D.D. Williamson, that’s for sure,” Sackett added.

Tune in to the Down to Freight podcast, where we sit down with transportation, logistics, supply chain, and warehousing subject matter experts to discuss the Digital Transformation Project.