Lisa Anderson, the president of LMA Consulting Group, is marking 21 years in business with a message that is as much about adaptation as celebration: manufacturers and distributors, she says, now operate in a supply chain environment far more complex, connected and volatile than it was when the firm was founded in 2005.
In a statement published by Adhesives & Sealants Industry, Anderson said the biggest shift over the past two decades has been the move away from manual, spr...
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eadsheet-based processes towards systems that tie planning, operations and decision-making together. The result, she argues, is a supply chain model in which visibility and speed matter as much as cost control.
Technology, however, is only part of the answer. Anderson said companies need integrated platforms rather than isolated tools, pointing to enterprise resource planning, advanced planning systems, artificial intelligence and visibility software as increasingly central to modern manufacturing. LMA Consulting’s own commentary on supply chain transformation makes a similar case, arguing that businesses must build predictability, scalability and agility into their operations if they want sustainable, profitable growth.
Customer behaviour has also changed sharply. Anderson described what she called the “Amazon Effect” as a lasting force on expectations, with buyers now demanding faster delivery, greater transparency and more responsive service. That pressure has landed at the same time as geopolitical instability, shortages of materials and demand swings have made planning more difficult for manufacturers across sectors.
Against that backdrop, Anderson said forecasting and operational discipline are becoming more important, not less. LMA Consulting’s published material on optimisation and transformation stresses the role of Sales Inventory Operations Planning, or SIOP, in aligning demand, supply and execution, while also highlighting the value of end-to-end visibility in helping companies respond earlier and more intelligently to disruption.
The firm has built its reputation around SIOP, ERP optimisation, supply chain strategy and broader operational change. According to the company’s website, its work spans industries including aerospace, defence, food and beverage, consumer products, healthcare and building products.
Anderson, who has also been recognised by Consult Clarity as one of the Top 50 Thought Leaders in Manufacturing for 2026, said the milestone is above all a chance to thank clients and partners. But her broader message is that the next phase of supply chain management will reward those that combine technology with tighter planning, clearer data and a willingness to redesign how they make, buy, move and deliver products.
Source: Noah Wire Services
