About The Author
Norman A. Katz
Norman Katz is a Senior business and technology leader with a history of architecting and delivering best-in-class enterprise software solutions for startups through global companies that transform and strengthen the full spectrum of end-to-end order-to-cash and procure-to-pay supply chain operations. Norman is a US national and international speaker, writer, and multiple first-of-their-kind exclusive book author. He has given over 60 presentations and written more than 60 published articles including two peer-reviewed journal submissions.
A foil and saber fencer since 1993, (though he will fence epee if someone puts one in his hands), Norman owned his own fencing club from 2007 to 2023. Norman is ambidextrous in fencing, which challenges his students more and also better prepares them for real-world competitors.
This multiple perspective advantage is carried through from Norman's fencing to his professional consulting as he helps companies execute better by examining their data, transactions, software, operations, organization, and supply chain challenges from different viewpoints.
Detecting and Reducing Supply Chain Fraud
Detecting and Reducing Supply Chain Fraud (Gower/Routledge, August 2012) is Norman's first book. This book highlights a business model that utilizes the standard supply chain systems of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), and Automatic Identification (e.g., barcode labeling and scanning), and the transactions those systems output, for not only supply chain performance analysis but to also detect and reduce supply chain fraud.
Successful Supply Chain Vendor Compliance
Successful Supply Chain Vendor Compliance (Gower/Routledge, December 2015) is Norman's second book based on his decades of experience helping consumer product companies selling to retailers, though the book is applicable to vendor relationships in any industry. The first part is targeted to help customer/buyer companies in being better leaders in defining and implementing vendor compliance initiatives. As Norman has observed, it is more often the program failure that leads to supply chain disruption rather than the desire or attempt at program adoption. The second part of the book is targeted to seller/vendor companies in providing advice on how to be more involved, and therefore more competitive, supply chain partners.
Attack, Parry, Riposte: A Fencer's Guide To Better Business Execution
Attack, Parry, Riposte: A Fencer's Guide To Better Business Execution (Austin Macauley, November 2020) is Norman's third book. In this book, Norman fuses the strategies and tactics of the martial art of fencing - a sport in which he has been participating since 1993 - and uses them as analogies of business execution examples through his extensive and experienced career. This book is a serious strike at the problems preventing companies from becoming champion contenders and successfully competing in their marketplaces.
The book is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. It can be purchased directly from the publisher or through distributors like Amazon.
Katzscan Inc.
After a progressive 11-year career where Norman began as a Programmer and advanced through Programmer Analyst, Business Analyst, and Information Technology Manager, Norman became a solo-flyer entrepreneur and launched his own consultancy, Katzscan Inc., on January 1, 1996 specializing in supply chain vendor compliance, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), EDI (Electronic Data Interchange), and barcode applications. Norman has helped numerous companies in various industries improve their software systems, supply chains, operations, internal relationships, external partnerships, and information insights.
Atom & Molly
(My personal publishing project.) Meet Atom (an atom) and Molly (a molecule), two perfectly paired particles and the foundational elements of their own comic Atom & Molly, which is “The World’s First Sub-Atomic Comic”®. Get to know them, their sub-atomic world, the other particle and element characters that inhabit it, and the science that exists within it, presented humorously and yet factually only as Atom and Molly can. Enjoy the free webisodes and webbook on the website that give a glimpse to the silly scientific comedy found in the books which are available on Amazon. Book shopping links and sneak peaks inside the books are available on the Atom & Molly website.