Tim Garfield

Our newest video shows how Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) faced technology leadership challenges and how Fortium Partners aligned its technology with its business goals. Results: ✔️Improved IT operations. ✔️Enhanced CIO’s impact. ✔️Ongoing leadership growth. #technology #innovation #leadership Watch here: https://gag.gl/g8CO4i

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Great session featuring the Surgence solution that unifies supply chain data for improved delivery to clinical teams! #healthcaresupplychain #supplychain

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JIT or JIC? The Supply Chain Pendulum Swings Back For years, businesses relied on the Just-In-Time (JIT) model, keeping inventory minimal and timed to match demand precisely. But then came the pandemic—and with it, severe disruptions that left companies scrambling. In response, many shifted to a Just-In-Case (JIC) model, stockpiling inventory well ahead of demand. Initially, this pivot seemed prudent. Yet as demand patterns normalized, companies were suddenly stuck with millions—or even billions—of dollars in excess inventory, facing markdowns, space shortages, and cash flow challenges. This whiplash affected not just importers but also carriers, ports, and suppliers, creating a ripple of complications across the supply chain. Now, according to this great article by The Supply Chain Exchange the pendulum is swinging back. Indicators suggest that 2024 is poised to be the year JIT practices regain their footing as supply chain pressures ease and inventory levels stabilize. #JIT #JIC #Inventory #SupplyChain #Sales #Demand #Supply If you need assistance with your global supply chain, you can reach me at [email protected].

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This is a very insightful of the current state of the U.S. manufacturing sector! The detailed breakdown of the ISM report provides a clear view of the industry's path to recovery. Your strategic advice on optimizing inventory and supply chain management, as well as investing in technology and workforce development, is spot-on for manufacturers looking to adapt and thrive in this evolving market. It’s encouraging to see sectors like Food, Beverage & Tobacco, and Fabricated Metal Products leading the charge. Looking forward to seeing how these strategies unfold !Jeff Winter

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Discover How to Control Production Costs with Cloud ERP! Are you looking to optimize production costs in your steel fabrication business? Our blog post has you covered! Learn how Cloud ERP solutions can streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and ultimately save you money. Dive into the details now: https://buff.ly/44Oybkq Let's empower your business for success!

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See you at Gartner to understand your digital transformation and how other customers are making it land in their organizations

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Our newest video shows how Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) faced technology leadership challenges and how Fortium Partners aligned its technology with its business goals. Results: ✔️Improved IT operations. ✔️Enhanced CIO’s impact. ✔️Ongoing leadership growth. #technology #innovation #leadership Watch here: https://gag.gl/g8CO4i

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I recently had the opportunity to speak with a group of supply chain executives at an intimate conference, and several key themes emerged: 1️⃣ Shifting Labor Challenges: As Dwight Klappich from Gartner pointed out, 60% of supply chain executives continue to face labor shortages. However, in the U.S., the conversation is evolving. It's no longer just about labor availability—it's about labor cost. 🚩 If you’re still presenting your solutions based solely on availability, it’s time to reframe the ROI narrative. 2️⃣ The Pace of Technology: Several executives expressed concerns about the speed at which technology is advancing. There’s a real fear of investing in a solution, only to find that in 6-12 months, the tech has advanced so much that they are left with a one-off system. 🏎 We have to ask ourselves—how do we help our customers stay agile while ensuring long-term value? 3️⃣ Trust in Robotics: One executive shared a sobering experience of backing two different robotics projects where the companies involved were either acquired or shut down. Despite significant investment, the robotics installations were left unsupported or even decommissioned. 💰 This is a real concern—how can we, as an industry, ensure long-term support and sustainability with ever-changing shifts in VC/PE investment focus leading to acquisitions or closures? These are some of the reasons we are seeing companies like Walmart and Amazon build their own in-house robotics teams. But not all retailers and grocers can afford a build-your-own strategy. So how does a retailer compete? These concerns are valid, but we can’t let them hold us back. The pace of innovation in #AI and #automation is accelerating, and our customers can't afford to be left behind. Our role is to help them find balance—investing in technology that meets both current and future needs without compromising their trust. ⚖ Finding this balance requires not just understanding where the industry is now, but where it’s going—and how we can evolve with it. Let’s keep the conversation going and find smarter ways to address these challenges together. 💡 #SupplyChain #Automation #AI #Innovation #Leadership #Robotics #TechTransformation #Fulfillment #MFC #Retail #Grocery #Omnichannel #Logistics #Warehouse #Labor #VentureCapital #PrivateEquity #VC #PE

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Uncover how your organization can take operations to the next level. Elevate operational performance with Xerox® Freeflow Vision® - a sophisticated software solution engineered to gauge, monitor, and oversee organizational production with instant feedback.

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Our newest video shows how Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) faced technology leadership challenges and how Fortium Partners aligned its technology with its business goals. Results: ✔️Improved IT operations. ✔️Enhanced CIO’s impact. ✔️Ongoing leadership growth. #technology #innovation #leadership Watch here: https://gag.gl/g8CO4i

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In a recent conversation with a fellow IT leader, we were discussing vendor strategy. I shared that years ago I decided to go with best of breed for each use case, which meant Microsoft 365 for e-mail, Zoom for phone system & video conferencing, Slack for instant messaging, and Box for file sharing and collaboration. I was asked why I had decided not to go all-in on the Microsoft Cloud. Surely there's benefit to consolidating all of these use-cases on Teams, Sharepoint, and Azure, right? This morning's global 365 outage notwithstanding (and believe me, I'm grateful that only our e-mail seems to be affected at this point), I've finally come up with the two perfect words that describe this strategy: CLOUD DIVERSIFICATION! I've long thought that finding the best tool for the job was a better strategy than finding one platform to rule them all, because inevitably every platform has its pitfalls. By diversifying our cloud providers, we've inherently built in resiliency into our cloud infrastructure, ensuring that one provider's outage doesn't become a full-blown business disruption to us. Is it the most cost efficient? In some ways yes (competition keeps provider pricing honest) and in some ways no. But it sure seems difficult to justify the cost savings of a single provider on mornings like this when your business grinds to a halt because said sole cloud provider had a global outage. So what is the key to successful cloud diversification? Strategic planning. It’s not about adding complexity for the sake of it; it’s about ensuring the systems that drive your business are reliable, flexible, and future-proof. If today's outage has you rethinking your cloud strategy, it might be time to explore how a multi-cloud approach can strengthen your IT ecosystem. Let's keep the conversation going—what's your take on cloud diversification?

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First quarter GDP came in at 1.6% (slower) while industrial Capacity utilization moved up to 78.4 percent in March, a rate that is 1.2 percentage points below its long-run (1972–2023) average. Much of the industrial growth is led by mining which includes utilities and oil. There's also some push from the chips act and the forthcoming additional defense spending. In general, I still forecast savings across direct materials globally favorably. 2025 will be more difficult for procurement. Plan accordingly and feel free to reach out to discuss the microeconomics around your specific category. https://lnkd.in/da9rSGSg #procurement #strategicsourcing #RFP

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How do you get your inventory right? There are three things you must do – and one reality you must accept – when managing inventory data. Michael Watson, Ph.D., shares his advice in our latest blog. https://lnkd.in/gJN-U_dg

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In the complex world of retail, manufacturing, and logistics, maintaining precise control over inventory levels is crucial for operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Traditional inventory counting methods, while effective under normal circumstances, often struggle to cope with peak seasons, promotional events, or unexpected fluctuations in demand. This is where supplemental staffing proves invaluable.

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Modern supply chains and soaring consumer expectations are making peak seasons tougher than ever. But it's not just about getting through the rush anymore—it's about building resilience and future-proofing your operations for whatever comes next. If you're in logistics, how do you strike the balance between keeping up with demand and preparing for the future? 

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🚀 Advancing Medical Supply Chains with Apps Associates 🚀 Sharing recent results from our work with a medical equipment provider who overhauled their supply chain operations, leading to substantial improvements: ✔ Order Efficiency: Processing time reduced from days to 5 minutes, achieving 90-95% accuracy. ✔ Revenue Impact: Past due order backlog decreased from $10M to $800k, aligning with revenue goals. ✔ Customer Satisfaction: Lead times reduced by 40%, boosting on-time delivery from 55% to 89%. ✔ Productivity Gains: Risk analysis preparation streamlined to 20-30 hours per iteration. This transformation supports rapid, accurate order fulfillment and operational excellence in the medical equipment field. For full details, see the case study: https://lnkd.in/euarJXpA #SupplyChainTransformation #MedicalEquipment #Efficiency #AppsAssociates

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