VMI Strategies: A Matter of Trust
Vendor-managed inventory (VMI) programs rely on strong working relationships, collaboration, and mutual trust between supply chain partners to make things happen.
The key to a successful vendor-managed inventory (VMI) program is trust, but sometimes that trust can be elusive, says Carl Hall, CEO of Cincinnati-based TrueCommerce Datalliance, which specializes in helping companies implement and operate VMI programs.
Under the VMI approach, a vendor maintains product inventory at the buyer’s location, such as a retailer or distributor. This means, for instance, that a spark plug supplier would be responsible for maintaining the inventory at the auto parts store that sells it to customers. The supplier would determine the store’s spark plug inventory based on information, such as sales data, that the store provides.
Relinquishing control of a product’s inventory on its shelves might seem like a high-risk move for the auto parts store, especially when compared to the traditional model that places responsibility for inventory management with the store. “Some buyers will worry that the supplier is going to load them up, and double or triple their inventories beyond anything that makes sense,” Hall says.
Hall once encountered such doubt from a Baltimore distributor who was starting a VMI partnership with a Cleveland supplier using a Datalliance computer to make inventory decisions. The distributor made a point that illustrates the misgivings organizations must first overcome before embracing VMI.
“He said, ‘How will the guy using a computer in Cincinnati do a better job managing my inventory than I can do right here in Baltimore?'” Hall says. “He thought, ‘I just can’t trust this idea.'”
Still, interest in VMI has grown in recent years as customer expectations about the availability of products have intensified, placing heightened pressure on supply chain partners to be as precise and prompt as possible with inventory. Consequently, unease about VMI is succumbing to a motivation to explore a process that promotes strong communication between partners, and emphasizes ensuring that the right amount of an item—not too much, not too little—is always in stock.
“The world keeps moving faster,” Hall says. “It used to be great if you received an order in a few weeks. Now we expect delivery the next day or even the same day. It’s getting into those shorter cycle times that makes it so important for suppliers and distributors to work together to make sure they have the right product available when customers want it. It’s about taking as much fat as possible out of the supply chain.”
Robust Results
In terms of potential impact, VMI offers rich possibilities for both suppliers and distributors when the circumstances are right. According to Brad Steger, general manager, process ERP and supply chain management at Aptean, an enterprise application software provider based in Atlanta, VMI offers four major benefits:
1. Better visibility for both the buyer and supplier of goods.
2. Improved manufacturing process performance and improved sales against control groups.
3. Reduced overstocking, lead times, and supply chain network spend.
4. Improved customer confidence and satisfaction.
In case studies Aptean developed with two clients, some striking statistics show the benefits VMI offers at its best. The clients saw inventory on target increase from 15 percent to 90 percent in the partnership, order lead time reduced from 32 hours to five hours, stockouts were eliminated, and inventory levels decreased by as much as 50 percent.
Similarly, Datalliance often sees compelling results after a switch to VMI. Typical improvements include stockouts dropping dramatically, inventory turns increasing by approximately 25 percent— meaning the product is turning over 25 percent more often—and sales increasing more than 20 percent. “That’s huge money in the pockets of distributors,” Hall says.
The growing availability of more complete and accurate data strengthens VMI’s capability to produce major results. “It makes for more intelligent decisions about orders to make sure we get the right product in the right place at the right time,” Hall says.
Years ago, Hall worked at IBM as a consultant; his clients included Procter & Gamble, an early innovator in the VMI field. During that time, he worked with a woman at Procter & Gamble whose focus was the supply chain. She spent time on conference calls every day, eyeing the products in short supply and the allocated stock. She had Post-it notes plastered over her desk about shipments and schedules.
“We don’t have to do that manual work anymore,” Hall says. “Today, we can look at all the data, process it systematically, and ensure we’re making good decisions.”
Collaboration is Key
A primary consideration in any VMI arrangement is how well the potential partners click as collaborators. In fact, Hall says, “the willingness to work together is more important than the math” and should be the first variable companies weigh before launching a new VMI effort.
“You have to ask, ‘What’s my relationship with this particular customer or supplier?'” Hall says. “I want to do business with people who are important to me. That may not always be the biggest company but the one that’s important because they drive my success. Those are the people that you want to look for when you’re thinking about VMI.”
A key part of VMI’s collaborative component is the role that reliable data from each party plays in the relationship. If a distributor does not offer accurate or timely data, then it will be challenging for the supplier to optimally maintain the inventory.
“As much as such systems automate the overall process, they still require two parties to understand their individual responsibilities and the importance of the data they provide,” Steger says. “Data accuracy and timeliness are critical to a successful VMI program. The more data that is available, the more the systems can automate current activities and drive future decisions through predictive analytics.”
Because effective collaboration is critical for VMI to succeed, it is essential for companies to be clear and upfront with each other about their plans and goals.
“I see struggles with VMI when those expectations haven’t been spelled out,” Hall says. “Once we all know the expectations, companies are pretty good about meeting them. When we don’t set expectations, we get into trouble.”
Ease of Adoption
VMI carries the appealing trait of being both quick to install—Steger says Aptean’s VMI packages are typically up and running in fewer than 30 days with clients realizing benefits almost immediately—and inexpensive to launch. Aptean offers two VMI tools: iSupply focuses on raw materials and manufacturing, and Vision targets finished goods for retailers and distribution centers.
“Due to short implementation timelines, multi-tenant Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offerings, and overall ease of use, the entry level expense in both resources and dollars is minimal,” Steger says.
In addition, “VMI has been around for a long time now and is a proven technology,” he says. “There aren’t any major technical challenges that should stop repetitive manufacturers from using VMI to help improve supply chain performance.”
Datalliance delivers its VMI program via the internet using the SaaS model. Its clients do not need any additional IT staff or equipment to support VMI adoption. When Datalliance launched in 1991 “it was very expensive to implement VMI,” Hall says, because of the high cost of gathering and manipulating data, and producing the necessary computing power.
“All those costs have gotten tremendously lower, so it is a much less expensive process than it used to be,” he says. “That allows us to extend farther down the supply chain. You don’t need to be Walmart or Procter & Gamble to make VMI work from a financial perspective anymore.”
VMI and Growth
Industries that have seen “a lot of strength” in adopting VMI in recent years include medical device manufacturing, health care, home entertainment/retail, automotive, and food and beverage/retail, Steger says.
During his lengthy career working with VMI, Hall has seen “the pendulum swing to different industries at different points in time.” Overall, Datalliance is observing enthusiasm—and consequently growth—in VMI. Hall is particularly gratified to see the abundance of Datalliance’s existing VMI clients who are adding new partners. At a meeting Datalliance held in 2017 with 70 companies using its VMI offering, 58 of them said they planned to grow their VMI efforts in 2018.
“We’re seeing a lot of growth within that marketplace, where companies are continuing to push forward and add more supply chain partners to their VMI pool,” Hall says. “And it’s helping make their supply chains better.”
Get Your VMI Program in Shape
The start of a new year is the perfect opportunity to evaluate whether or not your current vendor managed inventory (VMI) vendor is in the best possible condition to help you achieve your goals. Here are four factors to consider.
- Ability to scale. A good VMI platform should be able to grow and scale as your business matures. Maybe you started your VMI program 10 years ago with one key customer. Your company looks far different than it did then, and it likely won’t look the same five years down the road. At this point, you’ve experienced the benefits of VMI and want to extend that beyond your original trading partner. Make sure your vendor offers a solution that is utilized across a large customer base, managing tens of thousands of locations, and millions of SKUs.
- Clear and predictable pricing. Businesses do not like surprises, especially when it comes to billing. Does your VMI service provider offer a pricing approach that is understandable and easy to predict? Does it vary month to month with hidden fees and fluctuations that make budgeting a challenge?
- IT impact. These days every business and every department is being asked to do more with less. Your colleagues in the IT department are no exception. What are the implementation and ongoing resource requirements of your current program? Select a VMI platform provider that offers a hosted (cloud) solution that significantly minimizes the impact on IT resources. Cloud-based solutions are easier to implement, maintain, and support.
- Flexibility. In the same way that your organization has changed since you originally started your vendor managed inventory program, so have your customers’ needs. Make sure your solution can adapt to and accommodate the differing requirements of a diverse customer set. For example, do you need to accommodate different demand signals or plan different routes to market? Does your system provide the flexibility to replenish a distribution center, a mixing center, a cross-dock operation or direct-to-store?
- Expertise and support. Is your VMI provider simply selling you a software package or is there a shared commitment to your success? Do they provide ongoing service, support and consulting to ensure that you are optimizing your program and maximizing your return on investment? What is the best way to evaluate a VMI provider’s post-sales support? Ask their existing customers!
As you prepare for a new year, it’s helpful to take some time to evaluate if your VMI provider is best in class.
Ellen Campbell-Kaminski is the former vice president of marketing at Datalliance, which has specialized in helping companies implement and operate VMI programs since 1991.
More information: www.datalliance.com