Author: Sime Curkovic

Supply Chain Trends, Reverse SCM, and SCM Finance

Pasted below is a lecture videos (Supply Chain Trends, Reverse SCM, and SCM Finance) that I have sent in previous emails just in case you missed class or need to hear it again:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZisC97bsNZYhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TAqu5IUcv8&t=62shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRl2O5YI2h8Pasted below are practice exam questions (with the answers provided).  Note, you will not see these exact same questions on your exam (that would make it way too easy).  However, if you know the correct answer for the...

SCM 101

Pasted below are the 3 lecture videos that I have sent in previous emails just in case you missed class or need to hear it again.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrBN_T9ogao&t=424shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay2orDXjP8o&t=8shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5SD4ugLMks&t=107sPasted below are practice exam questions (with the answers provided).  Note, you will not see these exact same questions on your exam (that would make it way too easy).  However, if you know the correct answer for the questions AND know why it is the...
Sime Curkovic Free Content

“Those who invested in career certifications found themselves earning higher salaries. The report found that supply chain professionals who hold at least one credential reported a median salary that is 16% higher than those without. People with two or more certifications earn 34% more.”

Most of you are SCM majors and will eventually pursue careers in supply management related fields (e.g., purchasing, operations, logistics, etc.).  There are different types of certification associated with the supply management field.  I have listed those below and they can also be found in the sample resumes I previously sent.  You are to write a 2-3 page memo to myself regarding your certification goals.  For example, do you plan on pursuing...

Apple’s Core Competency is SCM? I thought it was technology/innovation?

 Apple's Core Competency is SCM? I thought it was technology/innovation? Students:Apple's Core Competency is SCM?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMLbnsKGRfoNotice how Apple went from $300B in cash to $200B and now to $165B.  Where did it go?  It appears that this company that outsources almost everything is taking ownership of very selective parts of its supply chain.  It will now start doing most of its own design work (i.e., chips, screens, etc.) & it will stop...

ESI = early supplier involvement & CE = concurrent engineering (everyone does this for their “core” material needs) ESI = early supplier involvement and CE = concurrent engineering, and they mean the same thing. Before companies go into production with new products, they have to design those products, it is called the new product development process (NPD).

Three Sample Exam Questions: If you try answering the questions, I will reply back with the answers... Students:ESI = early supplier involvement & CE = concurrent engineering (everyone does this for their "core" material needs) ESI = early supplier involvement and CE = concurrent engineering, and they mean the same thing.  Before companies go into production with new products, they have to design those products, it is called the new product development process...

Problem-solving at work requires that you measure the stuff that is important to your organization (i.e., quality, costs, service, etc.). For example, can a company be good at anything if it does not measure it in excruciating and accurate detail? No, they will be terrible at all things that they do not measure (i.e., customer satisfaction). However, measurement also implies that you have to make sense of very large amounts of data (and hence the desire for super advanced excel spreadsheet data analytics skill sets). And, further, the need to use technology to make the right decisions using data visualization tools like Power BI and Tableau (think dashboards and graphs and pie charts – old people like me prefer pictures that tell a story rather than looking at giant color coded spreadsheets to make decisions).

Which of the following are two data visualization tools taught in CIS 3640 of the Business Analytics minor?  ERP and SAPExcel and PowerPointTableau and Power BIRobotic Process Automation and 3D PrintingData Miner and PythonRFID and Smart Tags Problem-solving at work requires that you measure the stuff that is important to your organization (i.e., quality, costs, service, etc.).  For example, can a company be good at anything if it does not...

One of the most reprinted articles in the history of the Harvard Business Review (HBR). The HBR “Core Competence” Article…

 One of the most reprinted articles in the history of the Harvard Business Review (HBR). Students:The HBR "Core Competence" Article:You will notice there is a clean/clear copy attached and another copy with my notes on it. Shouldn't we all read one of the most read papers in business journal history?You could start with this lecture video first or save it for the end of this email (your call - start from the...

How do companies outsource strategically? Some companies (both large and small) are going beyond just outsourcing commodities to also outsourcing core/strategic parts. It makes sense for smaller firms with scarce resources to outsource commodities. A commodity by definition is something that several suppliers exist for and as a result of competition, someone else can do it better, faster, and cheaper.

Here are the same video lectures from the last email (tons of exam questions from these, treat these like a podcast, you can speed it up also) - note, when you watch/listen to these, make sure to rewind it to the beginning:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrBN_T9ogao&t=424shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay2orDXjP8o&t=8shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5SD4ugLMks&t=107sThese are basically my notes and transcripts from my lecture.  I would recommend reading forthcoming material slowly and/or multiple times.  It needs to resonate and register with you.___How do...

What is MRO? It is a type of indirect cost.

What is MRO? It is a type of indirect cost. Students:  I would watch this first, beginning at the 12:15 mark...  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n879P75eSUs&t=841s Per this lecture – Manufacturing companies that design and build stuff have three types of costs:  Direct Material, Direct Labor, and all other costs are Overhead.  Note, some of that OH spend is called “MRO” (stuff they need to run their factories).  More on MRO later.   When a MFG company sells something for $1, $.50-$.80 of...

Feedback from former student on consulting jobs after graduation…just in case you see some at the career fairs. There will be several at the MSU career fairs. Consulting is simply “problem-solving” for a client/customer. Does consulting appeal to you? “You get paid in direct proportion to the difficulty of the problems you solve” – Elon Musk

Feedback from former student on consulting jobs after graduation...just in case you see some at the career fairs.  There will be several at the MSU career fairs. Consulting is simply "problem-solving" for a client/customer.  Does consulting appeal to you?“You get paid in direct proportion to the difficulty of the problems you solve” - ElonMusk I just got the 2024 data results (problem-solving will not go away):https://naceweb.org/talent-acquisition/candidate-selection/what-are-employers-looking-for-when-reviewing-college-students-resumes? Students: Here is my perspective on...