Like many of our readers, in my travels and encounters with various people I am often asked about what we do or what role we fulfill for clients.  Since our blog provides us the opportunity to converse beyond a 30 second elevator pitch, and with your indulgence, I would like to briefly describe each of our roles.

Upon founding the Ferrari Consulting and Research Group three years ago, we wanted to address what we viewed as growing gaps that were developing in the area of global supply chain industry research, management consulting and product marketing service needs.  Having previously successfully contributed in traditional roles as a noted industry analyst, product marketing executive, technology consultant and change agent, my belief was that there was a growing need for a hybrid, more cost affordable model for delivering important services to the market.

Our business model was therefore designed to address three broad market needs:

• Independent supply chain industry analyst services leveraging social media mediums
• Supply chain management consulting within global business processes and information technology needs.
• Education, market influence and management education in the important contribution that supply chain fulfills for achieving business strategy goals.

Allow us to briefly share comments regarding each area.

Independent Industry Analyst Services

Specialized industry analyst services directed at supply chain strategies have dramatically changed during these past three years.  Former marquis named firms such as AMR Research have been subsumed through acquisition, and access to talented and insightful analysts diluted by broader business development needs.  Continual analyst turnover leads to a lack of continuity, grounding and industry perspective. The Internet has also brought forth a revolution in information access, the ability to seek out experts in a specific area. This has led to the growing interest in seeking out independent industry analysts, those that have built a personal brand and are unencumbered by  firm internal politics or conflicting business development interests.  It is within this backdrop that the Supply Chain Matters blog was created, providing experienced industry analyst insights without the need for an expensive annual subscription that umbrellas multiple business process or technology areas.

Even though certain technology vendors are paid sponsors of this blog, we maintain our insistence to provide unbiased viewpoint, commentary and insights on developments concerning multiple industry supply chains.  We are not shy in taking a viewpoint on Supply Chain Matters, or in individual consulting with various clients.  Our sponsors support such thought leadership.

By the way, this blog can actually be accessed through three different web addresses.

Supply Chain Focused Consulting

When readers find us through this blog, they have the opportunity to seek out follow-on consulting services in specified supply chain process areas.  Our consulting services address the specific needs for both manufacturing and service provider supply chains, as well as the various technology providers seeking to solve specific supply chain focused process needs. Specific services are outlined on our primary web site ( www.theferrarigroup.com ) . If your organization has such needs, give us a call for a no-cost initial evaluation.

Education and Market Influence

The third and by no means least role is one of providing education to the broader supply chain management community.  We do this through a number of mechanisms including our blog, social media dialogue, speaking within industry or technology vendor conferences or speaking within various corporate venues. Our education is focused on learning, sharing of evolving business and technology needs as well as important developments that teams need to be aware of.  If your organization is in need of such education, give us a call or send us an email.  Our contact information or inquiry forms are located at each of our web sites.

In summary, if your organizational needs call for independent, experienced and insightful analysis, and not expensive, marginal value consulting delivery models, than by all means give us the opportunity to demonstrate our capabilities to solve supply chain related business needs.

Contact us via email: supplychaininfo <at> theferrarigroup <dot> com.

Bob Ferrari, Managing Director

We are pleased to announce that another new feature implemented on this site is the ability for our readers to be able to get information on what we believe are some interesting upcoming conferences directly related to supply chain, procurement and operations management.

The criteria for placement of these sponsored ads will be conferences with compelling agenda and speakers, conferences that Supply Chain Matters will be participating within, as well as conferences that have made a sponsoring arrangement with this blog.

Readers can view this Conference section on the right hand panel of this site, just below the About Our Sponsors section.

Currently included is the upcoming 2011 Supply Chain World North America conference sponsored by the Supply Chain Council, where this author will be leading a pundits and influencer panel discussion involving some interesting topics related to preparing supply chains for business recovery.  Look for this agenda item appearing on the last day. Also included is the upcoming 2011 OpsInsight Leadership Forum being held in late April in Boston, where Supply Chain Matters will be providing blog coverage. By April, the snow will have melted and spring will have arrived.  A great time to visit Boston.

Bob Ferrari

I want to thank “the doctor” over at Sourcing Innovation for his unsolicited kind words in his recent posting, What About Bob?. 

In his posting, Michael makes some very astute observations regarding lots of movements in the so-termed Analyst 2.0 arena, and the emergence of many new supply chain oriented industry analyst models predicated with a web presence or sponsored research. In regards to this evolving landscape, Michael has posed the question- What About Bob? 

Here is the response.  Michael as usual, has astutely pointed out the ‘wheat’ from the ‘chaff’.  Substance and quality will often prevail over flash.  For my part, I am ready, willing and able to provide clients with my multifaceted and versatile consulting experience in global supply chain business process and information technology. I will continue to do what I do best, which may not necessarily be lots of flashy hype, but certainly experienced, honest and substantive insights when they truly matter.

By the way, if you are in need of someone with an absolute and unequivocal technology understanding behind supply souring and supply chain applications technology, Michael Lamoureux is your person.

 Bob Ferrari

February represents the first anniversary of Supply Chain Matters.  Once again, I would like to personally thank all of my readers, especially those of you who regularly bookmark this site.  When attending various conferences and events, I am heartened by the many people who come up to me and state how much they enjoy reading as well as benefit from reading this blog.  In one year, readership has climbed to over 5000 visitors per month, and this blog has become one of the premiere destinations for monitoring today’s burning issues in supply chain management.

One of my personal goals when I initiated Supply Chain Matters was to provide high quality content, content you would pay for from a paid advisory or research service.  Thus you may have noticed that many of my commentaries focus on the implications of events on your business or organization, or what you can do to be proactive in your business and supply chain management strategies.  Being an industry analyst in my former life gives me the experience and skills to provide such commentary.  This past year I have provided commentary on supply chain risk and disruption, the unprecedented global-wide recession impacting supply chains across many industries, and the constant developments in the area of information technology, in many cases before industry analyst advisory services can marshal commentary for clients.

In the next phase of Supply Chain Matters, I am considering launching a reasonably priced newsletter or research advisory format for delivering quality analysis.  My belief is that with the critical business challenges and cutbacks continuing to face supply chain operations, procurement and operations management professionals, there is even more a need to be “in-the-know” regarding business needs and threats.  Recent cutbacks in specialized supply chain industry analysts and media covering these topics has also provided a void in advisory services.

Before embarking on any new service, I need your input.  To that end, I have created a short survey that should take only a few minutes to complete. This survey will help me assess where your needs reside.  I would appreciate if you could both respond to the survey, and/or provide individual feedback.  Here is the link to access this Supply Chain Matters survey.

Bob Ferrari