Category Archives: press/events

Press Release: Big Data Analytics in Supply Chain Survey












Big Data Analytics in Supply Chain
Taming the big data “monster”—a new path to growth

Technology is enabling supply chain organizations to gather enormous amounts of information from an expanding variety of sources. But few companies are actually deriving sustainable value from the supply chain data they are accumulating. Instead, they are struggling with issues such as how to ensure data quality, how to analyze data, and how to make practical use of what they learn from it.

CSCMP’s Supply Chain Quarterly, Arizona State University, Colorado State University, Competitive Insights LLC, and lharrington group LLC are conducting an annual survey on the current state of supply chain Big Data Analytics. The survey will also allow us to track, in the aggregate, companies’ progress in using Big Data Analytics in supply chain management.

The survey is anonymous. The findings will be presented at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) 2017 annual conference in September. Respondents who choose to provide contact information (which will remain confidential) will receive an early readout of the results prior to the conference.

Click here to participate in the survey

If you have trouble with the link above, please copy and paste the following URL into your web browser: colostate.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bO98R0OrXZTnxYN

Our ability to provide supply chain professionals with meaningful data on this increasingly important topic depends on your participation. We thank you for your contribution, and we look forward to sharing the results with you later this year.

About Competitive Insights, LLC

Competitive Insights, headquartered in Atlanta, was founded in 1998. The firm provides both supply chain Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and professional analytical services to enterprise customers including some of the nation’s most recognizable brands. CI’s proprietary mix of software and services collects and processes customers’ transactional data from multiple sources to support cross-functional, fact-based decisions that support the reduction of operating costs, maximizing profits, and mitigating operating risks.

For more information, contact:

Tami Kitajima

Competitive Insights

[email protected]

+1 770.922.4400, Ext. 306

Press Release: Competitive Insights listed as a Representative Vendor in Gartner’s 2016 Market Guide for Supply Chain Cost-to-Serve Analytics Technology




Competitive Insights listed as a
Representative Vendor in Gartner’s 2016 Market Guide
for Supply Chain Cost-to-Serve Analytics Technology

Atlanta, Georgia USA (May 26, 2016)--Competitive Insights, the market leader for Enterprise Profit Insights (EPI) solutions, announces it has been cited in Gartner’s Market Guide for Supply Chain Cost-to-Serve Analytics Technology as a Representative Vendor. Competitive Insight’s Net Landed Cost to Serve offers specific and actionable visibility into the total cost to serve for each product or Stock-Keeping Unit (SKU) to each end delivery location. Each EPI customer solution is tailored using the transactional data that resides in their multiple operating systems. The precise insights gained enable the formulation of specific strategies that drive fact based improvements in operational profits.

According to Gartner, “This research provides an overview of the supply chain cost-to-serve analytics market. Supply chain strategists can use this research to understand the definition, trajectory and representative players in the market.”

Competitive Insight’s President & CEO Richard Sharpe shared that “we appreciate and value the intelligence provided by Gartner through this important research. Competitive Insights takes great pride in receiving this mention and feels its validation of the value that we bring to our customers.”

Gartner, Market Guide for Supply Chain Cost-to-Serve Analytics Technology, Stan Aronow, 26 May 2016

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Competitive Insights, LLC

Competitive Insights, headquartered in Atlanta, was founded in 1998. The firm provides both supply chain Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and professional analytical services to enterprise customers including some of the nation’s most recognizable brands. CI’s proprietary mix of software and services collects and processes customers’ transactional data from multiple sources to support cross-functional, fact-based decisions that support the reduction of operating costs, maximizing profits, and mitigating operating risks.

For more information, contact:

Tami Kitajima

Competitive Insights

[email protected]

+1 770.922.4400, Ext. 306

eLearning: CSCMP Quick Course on Supply Chain Risk Mitigation

In this course, Richard Sharpe will introduce you to the Supply Chain Mitigation process consisting of: Identifying supply chain risks, developing strategies to mitigate identified supply chain risks and measuring the performance of each strategy for each targeted risk.

  • One instructional web-based video running around 45 minutes
  • Teaching notes including coordinating terminology and definitions, test questions, an answer key and recommended further studying material (depending on topic)
  • A player interface with controls to pause, fast forward, and rewind so you can view the course as often as you like

Register for this online class here

Press Release: New Distribution Facility

For Immediate Release

Easton-Bell Sports secures 813,126-sf build-to-suit lease in Rantoul, IL

Avison Young and Supply Chain Alliance provide strategic services for sports equipment manufacturer

Chicago, IL (August 20, 2012) — Michael McKiernan, Avison Young Principal and Managing Director of the company’s Chicago office, announced that it has secured a long-term lease for Easton-Bell Sports, Inc. in a new state-of-the-art 813,126-square-foot (sf) distribution, assembly and shared-services center in Rantoul, IL.

The facility is being constructed as a build-to-suit property for Easton-Bell Sports by developer The Janko Group and general contractor Peak Construction. The long-term lease agreement completed a year-long site-selection and facility-planning process that culminated with a groundbreaking ceremony this past week.

Brendan Kelly and Suzanne Serino, Principals of Avison Young and members of the company’s supply-chain practice, represented Easton-Bell Sports in multiple facets of the transaction.

“Easton-Bell Sports has been a great corporate citizen in Rantoul for more than three decades,” comments Kelly in Chicago. “The company completed a comprehensive search nationwide and ultimately chose Rantoul for Easton-Bell Sports’ new facility due to the company’s dedicated local workforce and strong support from the Village of Rantoul and State of Illinois.”

Easton-Bell Sports is a leading designer, developer and marketer of innovative sports equipment and accessories under the Easton, Bell, Riddell, Giro and Blackburn brands. The company is based in Van Nuys, CA.

“After nearly two years of hard work, we were able to break ground this past week on this important facility,” states Lewis Hornsby, Vice-President, Supply Chain and Fulfillment, Easton-Bell Sports. “The project wouldn’t have been possible without the great support provided by the members of the Avison Young team. Their services proved invaluable in helping us achieve success with this complex development.”

Easton-Bell Sports currently operates multiple manufacturing and distribution facilities in Rantoul. The new center will consolidate these facilities into a single, 813,126-sf structure with advanced technology and design capable of producing shorter lead times for customer orders, the highest quality order shipments, and long-term cost savings that can be re-invested in the business.

To execute this strategic plan, Easton-Bell Sports retained the services of the Supply Chain Alliance, a consortium of companies aligned to provide businesses with turnkey solutions to real estate and related supply-chain issues. In addition to Avison Young, the alliance includes Heitman Technologies (which is responsible for architecture and facility planning); Numina Group (process improvement); and Competitive Insights (strategic supply-chain consulting.)

“Avison Young would like to show our appreciation and acknowledge Easton-Bell Sports for its commitment to use our company’s holistic open-architecture model,” says McKiernan. “This best-in-class, best-practices approach is unlike any approach in the marketplace, and is a differentiator for Avison Young and Easton-Bell, and consistent with industry thought leader CoreNet’s 2020 vision of future best practices.”

The new 813,126-sf facility for Easton-Bell Sports will be located on an approximately 72-acre land site at 1001 Innovative Drive within Village Industrial Park. The 400-acre park is located at the northwest intersection of Highway 136 and Interstate 57.

Easton-Bell Sports’ shared services center has been designed to meet LEED certification standards. The facility will include approximately 33,000 sf of office space and 780,000 sf of light-assembly and distribution-center space. The distribution space will feature 36-foot-clear ceiling heights, 50-by-60-foot bay spacing, and land that can accommodate future growth of up to 428,000 sf of building expansion.

 As participants in the Supply Chain Alliance:

  • Avison Young serves as the integrator of supply chain and real estate services (tenant representation brokerage, economic incentives, construction management, foreign-trade feasibility, improvement and strategic financial modeling for the executive team)
  • Heitman Technologies provides corporate facility planning; building modeling, including the interior office and process equipment on the plant floor; electronic construction-bidding platform and architectural services;
  • Numina Group’s process-improvement engineers provide consulting, design and implementation of the process equipment and software (i.e. racking, conveyors, pick modules etc.);
  • Competitive Insights provides both supply chain Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and professional analytical services, including distribution network modeling, to support cross-functional, fact-based decisions that support the reduction of operating costs.

Competitive Insights, headquartered in Atlanta, was founded in 1998. The firm provides both supply chain Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and professional analytical services to enterprise customers including some of the nation’s most recognizable brands. CI’s proprietary mix of software and services collects and processes customers’ transactional data from multiple sources to support cross-functional, fact-based decisions that support the reduction of operating costs, maximizing profits, and mitigating operating risks.

Easton-Bell Sports, Inc. is a leading designer, developer and marketer of branded sports equipment, protective products and related accessories. The company markets and licenses products under such well-known brands as Easton, Bell, Giro, Riddell and Blackburn. Its products incorporate leading technology and designs and are used by professional athletes and enthusiasts alike. Headquartered in Van Nuys, California, the company has 32 facilities worldwide.

For further information/comment/photos:

  • Sherry Quan, National Director of Communications & Media Relations, Avison Young: (604) 647-5098; cell: (604) 726-0959
  • Michael McKiernan, Principal and Managing Director, Chicago, Avison Young: (847) 849-1911
  • Brendan Kelly, Principal, Avison Young: (847) 849-1913
  • Suzanne Serino, Principal, Avison Young: (847) 849-1903

Press Release: National Supply Chain Policy

CSCMP and Competitive Insights Data Provides Foundation
for New National Security Policy

Lombard, Illinois USA (July 19, 2012)--The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), in collaboration with Competitive Insights, LLC (CI), announced today that research conducted by both organizations on supply chain risk mitigation was used to shape a new national security policy for supply chains.

United States President Barack Obama has released the National Strategy for Global Supply Chain Security (the Strategy) that calls for a year-long process to "engage government, private sector, and international stakeholders. The purpose of this engagement is to seek specific recommendations to inform and guide our collaborative implementation of the Strategy." The White House document can be viewed at National Strategy for Global Supply Chain Security

CSCMP and CI have provided critical data to national security staff on how the private sector might respond in the event of a catastrophe, the consequences of a breakdown in supply chains, and the resilience measures needed to strengthen supply chains in order to support response efforts.

Rick Blasgen, president and chief executive officer of CSCMP, said, “Any response effort to a catastrophic event in the US would require substantial participation by the private industry.  CSCMP and CI were able to shape this security policy with real world supply chain expertise to ensure that it will be quicker to implement and more effective in the long term. Our organization is dedicated to promoting the use of supply chain best practices in addition to creating opportunities to build working relationships.”

“Competitive Insights has been working on effective ways to identify, mitigate, and measure the risks of significant supply chain disruptions for many years now,” said Richard Sharpe, chief executive officer of CI. “This is a serious topic given the nature of the global supply chains that companies must manage today. We are pleased that our efforts could be put to good use for our national security.”

About CSCMP

Founded in 1963, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) is the leading worldwide professional association dedicated to education, research, and the advancement of the supply chain management profession. With more than 9,000 members globally, representing business, government, and academia from 63 countries, CSCMP members are the leading practitioners and authorities in the fields of logistics and supply chain management.

About CI

Competitive Insights, headquartered in Atlanta, was founded in 1998. The firm provides both supply chain Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and professional analytical services to enterprise customers including some of the nation’s most recognizable brands. CI’s proprietary mix of software and services collects and processes customers’ transactional data from multiple sources to support cross-functional, fact-based decisions that support the reduction of operating costs, maximizing profits, and mitigating operating risks.

For more information, contact:

Madeleine Miller-Holodnicki, ABC

Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals

[email protected]

+1 630.645.3487

Tami Kitajima

Competitive Insights

[email protected]

+1 770.922.4400, Ext. 306

Workshop – Supply Chain Risk Mitigation

Sunday, September 30, 2012
8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST
Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta, Georgia USA

Richard Sharpe will be conducting a Pre-Conference Workshop on Supply Chain Risk Mitigation. Register here.