Key to success is closely related to business intelligence i.e. big data but more importantly, detailed analysis !
When referring to business intelligence, it is basically a funny mix of different views of your business :
- High level business data, usually in graphical easy to view formats.
- Exception reporting, those specific cases that impact your business “above” or “below” generally observed cases or benchmarks.
- Strategic market data … markets, share, new customers, new products … CRM !
In my career, i always wanted a crisp dashboard with below few typical bits and pieces you will also generally need (all samples contain fake data) :
BBB (book, bill, backlog) data … some history and a view of where you stand :

OTD (On Time Delivery) data … how did you perform towards what the customer requested to be delivered … but also compared to what you had committed to :

But also what were the major offenders :

Obviously, a lot more is feasible including detailled gap analysis between demand and supply, safety stock, forecast accuracy, you name them.