The value of information was the unofficial theme of the annual meeting of the Council of Logistics Management in San Francisco last month. Keynote speaker Michael Eskew, CEO and chairman of shipping giant UPS, set the tone with his opening remarks emphasizing the "trust and transparency" required for information collection and sharing between shippers and carriers. The theme was echoed throughout the educational sessions around the Moscone Center.

In one panel discussion, supply chain executives at three major manufacturing firms were asked by an audience member how they measure supply chain excellence. The first exec said customer fill rates and on-time shipping/delivery were tracked by inventory levels and order size to gauge success. The second said cycle time was the key metric to watch and compare with its competitors. And the third said comparing internal results to customers' evaluations was the way to go.

Information to the rescue!

dhannon@reedbusiness.com