This time I want to tell a story of mine. Recently I was struggling with figures regarding a new kind of analysis in the field of procurement, supply chain and inventory management. Something that I’ve never done before.
Since I was too focus on the jungle of numbers and details what happen is that I’ve completely missed the path…I felt myself completely lost in the middle of the forest of figures!
So, my mentor helped me to find the path again in order to complete the analysis with an inspirational metaphor, well-known among logistic and operation professional: the X-band and S-band radars.
The S-band radar
It means be able to patrol what’s going on in the medium-long range in order to anticipate risks proactively. This means, for a logistic professional, taking all the countermeasure in order to properly asses the forecast of the demand in the future as an example. Having a good term vision is essential when planning the procurement of the materials, especially with high lead times, as well as develop a strategic thinking and a wider perspective by monitoring competitors, suppliers and new technology innovations. Demand Driven Supply Chain (DDSC) is possible only thanks to a good S-band radar surveillance.
The X-band radar
It is aimed to work for short-range surveillance, usually below 2-3 thousands Kilometers. For a logistic professional this means beeing able to address the ongoing issues of every day work and thus promptly take the counteractions against the encounter menace: delay of the delivery or a call from the quality control about the noncompliance of the material received with the consequence to stop all the production within a couple of hour. Usually a X-radar is small and it doesn’t weigh too much. Very useful characteristic when dealing with tactical moves.
So, a good professional in logistic has to handle both of the S-band and the X-radar. This is the easiest part. The hardest one is to manage them simultaneously and is what I’ve realized when I was struggling with the figures for the analysis because I’ve temporally switched off my S-band radar. Once I’ve switched it on again, all the numbers for the analysis become suddenly much more clear since it was as well clear the long term purpose and meaning behind the figures.
Anyhow, is this metaphor useful only for logistic professional? According to an interpretation of a famous quote from Hemingway, I would say no:
Today is only one day in all the days that will ever be. But what will happen in all the other days that ever come can depend on what you do today.
Using the X-band radar might also help ourselves in everyday life. Meanwhile, the S-band will clear the fog in front of our perceptions and aspirations in the future.
Feelink – Feel & Think approach for doing life!
