Last year, Supply Chain Digest documented The 11 Greatest Supply Chain Disasters of all time which contained a number of lessons on what not to do if you want a successful supply chain. Since it’s probably been a while since you scanned it, now would be a good time for a brief review. The lessons therein are valuable.

• Don’t rely on unproven / untested technology or aggressive automation.
  

  The rate of technological advancement these days is rapid, but that’s not a guarantee the systems will be ready when you need them.

  (Foxmeyer, GM, WebVan, Adidas, Denver Airport)

• Don’t upgrade all your core systems at once.

  Integration is usually more involved and time consuming than you think. The big-bang approach doesn’t work.
  (Foxmeyer, Hershey, Nike)

• Don’t overestimate your capabilities.
  A sure way to lose customers is to over-promise and under-deliver – especially if the short-fall is significant.
  (Toys R Us.com)
• Don’t forget the basics of good demand planning!
  Forecast, read signals, and repeat.
  (Cisco, Apple)
• Don’t sacrifice quality for perceived lower costs.
  Lower costs don’t always exist, especially if your costs are low and quality best-in-class, relatively speaking.
  (Aris Isotoner)
• Don’t count on an unlimited budget.
  Capital is always limited.
  (WebVan)