Supply Chain is Boring

Just starting out in Supply Chain? Considering a career in supply chain management? Follow Supply Chain Is Boring on LinkedIn and join the Supply Chain Doctor, Chris Barnes, as he interviews the brightest minds contributing concepts and ideas to the future of end-to-end supply management. Follow us here: https://bit.ly/364Yita

????, ????????, ?????? ????????????????????????????: ???????? ????’???? ???????? ?????????????? ?????????? Sofia Rivas Herrera & I were joined by Dr. Yossi Sheffi on a recent Supply Chain Now podcast. We had a wonderful time discussing a variety of topics. From AI hype and the sustainability illusion to the brutal reality of risk-taking, this conversation wasn’t just about industry trends; it was about challenging the way we think. And nothing got a harder reality check than AI. ?????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? AI is everywhere, and companies are scrambling to keep up. But according to Dr. Sheffi, they’re asking the wrong question. Instead of asking, “What’s our AI strategy?” businesses should be asking, “What problem are we solving?” AI isn’t a strategy—it’s a tool. Yet many companies treat it as one, just as they did with blockchain and China expansions. Without a clear business case, most AI initiatives are doomed to fail. The takeaway? AI isn’t a magic fix. It’s only valuable when it has a purpose. ????????-???????????? ????. ???????????????????????? Dr. Sheffi pointed out that big companies often struggle with taking risks because they have more to lose. But avoiding risk altogether? That’s an even bigger mistake. Amazon, Apple, Walmart, and FedEx all made massive bets that could have backfired. But they weren’t reckless. They tested, refined, and scaled only what worked. And more importantly, they built cultures where failure wasn’t punished—because when companies punish risk-takers, they discourage not just one person, but everyone watching. The companies that thrive aren’t the ones that never fail. They’re the ones that learn, adapt, and keep moving forward. ?????? ???????????????????????????? ???????????????? Sustainability sounds great. Until people have to pay for it. Surveys show that 80-90% of consumers claim they’d choose sustainable products. But when it comes time to check out? Only 7-8% actually follow through. That’s a wake-up call for businesses. If sustainability efforts drive up costs without delivering financial benefits, they won’t survive. And that's not even to mention the growing dilemma between sustainability priorities & the immense energy needs of AI everywhere. However, the companies still getting it right aren’t just slapping “eco-friendly” labels on products; they’re baking sustainability into smarter operations. Cutting waste, eliminating empty miles, improving efficiency, etc all doesn’t just sound good. It saves money. And a successful sustainability approach can also create revenue opportunities. Like AI, sustainability only works when it makes economic sense. Tune in via YouTube: https://lnkd.in/engDumav Or check it out on SCN via Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eCbH7em4 Supply Chain Now En Espa?ol MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics #supplychain #leadership

At some point in the 1980s, the iconic Sesame Street program aired a segment that showed how Crayola Crayons were made. I remembered seeing it as a little kid - - and found it absolutely fascinating. It may have been my first exposure to the extraordinary world of #manufacturing, where I've spent a big chunk of my career. Perhaps you saw it too - - and recognize the stills below (courtesy "1980's Child" page on Facebook). It is imperative that we continue to invest in the critical mission of awareness, so that the young minds across the globe can see the immense value of career opportunities in the holistic definition of global supply chain: Design, Source, Make, Warehouse, Deliver, Return - - and so much more. Folks, I invite you to join in on the National Supply Chain Day? movement - - where our mission isn't only celebrating the people that make supply chain happen every single day. But we also seek to amplify the awareness of the career opportunities that exist across global supply chain. And special kudos to the forward-thinking vision & leadership of NSCD's founder: Mary Kate Love Mark your calendars: April 29th. Come join us. Supply Chain Now #supplychain

Moving right along at #ProMat2025 and speaking with Jim Barnes at enVista! Scott and Jim are talking #automation, the tidal wave of project investments and the ROI that go along with them, supply chain thought leaders that make partnerships easy, and so much more. Follow Supply Chain Now to catch the full conversation when it drops and keep an eye out for more key takeaways, trends, and what folks are most excited about here at ProMat2025! #ProMat2025xSCN #supplychainleadership #supplychain #distribution

Remarkable footage (via AccuWeather & Blake Brown/LSM) of straight line winds rolling trucks yesterday on I-40 near Amarillo, Texas. Holy cow, folks! Stay safe out there. Hope all drivers were safe and sound amid all the awful weather moving across the country. #supplychain #weather

Years ago, I would take teams of volunteers into elementary schools and present "Supply Chain 101", which sought to create more awareness for our industry. It was a remarkable experience. One of the many extraordinary volunteers that collaborated with us, as we went into dozens of schools here in Georgia, engaging thousands of students over the years, was one Chuck Baker CSCP, CLTD. I met Chuck probably 15 years ago, while serving as a volunteer leader within the APICS/ASCM ecosystem. He's a West Point grad that served our country in the U.S. Army. After his military service, Chuck would go on to work with Michelin for over 30 years, with most of those years being spent in supply chain leadership roles. After retiring, Chuck's passion for serving others has kept him very busy. For the last 7 years, he's been going into schools across the state of South Carolina, engaging middle school & high school students, and creating Eureka moments, mostly about supply chain - - but I bet about other bigger picture, "life" things too. I'm proud to call Chuck a friend. And I'm gonna tell you this: our industry and this world needs a lot more Chuck Bakers. I'm looking forward to sharing more about what Chuck is doing in a future episode of Supply Chain Now. Big shout out to Amy Sartain & the team over at the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, for supporting these wonderful initiatives. Well done! Folks - this is the type of Good News that gets my blood going - how about you? Other items on my radar: ?? Enjoyed catching up with Malissa MacKay, CPIM and Sandy Lake, CSCP this week - - their team has a great event coming up soon: the Georgia Logistics Summit. Folks, mark your calendars for April 23rd & see the link in the comments for more info. ?? National Supply Chain Day? is coming up. Join us on April 29th, as we celebrate the industry AND especially the people that make it all happen. ?? I spent some time in the last week or so with the one & only Bill Thorne with the National Retail Federation. What an incredible journey he's had! Stay tuned, as we release a podcast soon that will focus on a ton of retail leadership perspective. Also, be sure to check out Bill's great podcast: "Retail Gets Real". ?? We'll see a lot of you at ProMat next week. 50,000+ is what they are expecting. Goodness gracious! Speaking of great events, I'm looking forward to Tony Sciarrotta's great takeaways from the Reverse Logistics Association Conference this week in Vegas. I've heard nothing but GREAT things (as usual). Stay tuned! Folks - have a great weekend. Look for a way to lend a helping hand, no matter how big or small. All it takes to move mountains are countless, small, underappreciated nudges. Do Good (things). Give Forward (and back). Be the change. Be like Chuck. #supplychain #leadership

The third time I relocated, I had 400 Euros, a one-way ticket, and two suitcases. ?? The Challenge: ? No job lined up. ? No safety net. ? No guarantees. It wasn’t just about moving. It was about starting over. It's just a decision to go for it. I was 23. I followed my heart ?? Relocating isn’t just about moving. It’s about rebuilding. And that’s the hardest part. But it’s also about emptying your rucksack, letting go of the past, and stepping into a second chance. And that’s the best part. ?? Agree??? Over the years, I’ve realised relocation isn’t just about: ? Finding a job ? Personal growth ? Adapting to a new culture It’s about mindset. The ability to navigate uncertainty and embrace new beginnings. Someone once told me: “Thomas, no matter where we go, we take our problems with us.” But here’s what they didn’t understand: I didn’t take my problems with me. Because I didn’t just change countries. I used the relocation as a springboard to become a better version of myself. And guess what? It worked. That’s why I created this Relocation Guide (Swipe ??): I know how overwhelming but transformative this journey can be.

Mike Griswold and I have been conducting a monthly podcast series on Supply Chain Now for about 5 years or so now. I learn a ton from Mike each and every month; and we have a blast. It all started when the one & only Karin Bursa introduced us years ago. On our last recording session, which took place just a few days after the Oscars, we used a fun theme: "What does Hollywood unwittingly teach us about supply chain management?" Mike came with three movies that offered supply chain lessons (and they didn't even know it!). The film that changed swimming in the ocean FOREVER was one. ?? "Jaws": The Danger of Misaligned Planning and Execution Ah yes, we all know the iconic quote that needs no introduction. Jaws serves as the ultimate metaphor for unfortunate planning meeting harsh reality. Brody, Quint, and Hooper set out to hunt the shark thinking they’re prepared. But when they actually see the massive great white, they realize: The boat? Too small. The equipment? Not strong enough. The strategy? Flawed from the start. That’s when Brody utters that infamous line: "We’re gonna need a bigger boat." In the podcast, Mike relates this to supply chain failures. Companies often have a great plan - - until reality hits. Forecasting demand? Works until sales spike and there’s no inventory. Logistics strategy? Great until a storm shuts down ports. Sourcing plan? Fine—until a key supplier goes offline. Mike stresses that it’s not just about fixing execution failures; it’s about ensuring planning, execution, and strategy work together. And companies that build flexibility into their operations won’t be scrambling when things go wrong. They’ll be ready. To check out all 3 movies and our entire conversation, including one homage to the late, great Gene Hackman, tune in to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/eQe_Zn2U #supplychain #leadership #planning

?? Finalists for interos.ai’s 2025 'Woman of the Year'? ? The Woman of the Year award recognizes a woman who has demonstrated excellence in leadership, innovation, and impact within the supply chain risk management sector.?? ? Our 2025 Finalists:?? ?? Dissirama Lao Akpoboua, CFA, CFA, VP, Third Party Risk Management, Visa?? ?? Jane Ganina, Senior Director, Global Procurement and Supply Chain Management, Telesat?? ?? Kanitra Tyler, ICT SCRM Agency Lead, NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration ?? Laurel Sykes, J.M., J.M., EVP, Chief Risk Officer, American Riviera Bank (arbv)? ?? Madiha Fatima, Executive Director – Global Head of Horizontal Risk Management, J.P. Morgan ?? Régine Honoré Villain, SVP, Supply Chain & Support Services Network, Ochsner Health?? ?? Valerie Kokal, Cyber Supply Chain Risk Manager, U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) ?? The interos.ai 2025 Woman of the Year will receive a year of interos.ai risk intelligence for the charity or non-profit of her choosing.?? ? ?? Please join us in congratulating all the nominees and finalists!? ? The winner will be announced at a special award ceremony in Washington, DC on Tuesday, March 25.? ? #womeninsupplychain #supplychain #scrm #womenintech?

On the heels of the time change yesterday, I was talking to a supply chain leader about our spring forward. She remarked: "That hour we lost was the one I was going to use to solve our tariff challenges!" ?? Time's a wastin'! It's important to maintain a healthy sense of humor, even as we navigate the trickiest of challenges. But kidding aside, here's a look at what's going on out in the market, as supply chain organizations are pushing forward: ?? U.S. ports are bustling. Supply Chain Dive reports: "Cargo volumes at U.S. ports are expected to remain elevated for the next three months in the face of continued tariff pressure, according to the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates...Following a projected 6.1% year-over-year increase in February, volumes will increase 10.8% this month, with levels remaining elevated in April & May." ?? Tariff headaches bring opportunity for logtech companies. As the Wall Street Journal reports: "One of these startups,?project44, said it recently has helped big multinational companies in retail and other sectors customize systems to figure out whether it makes sense to get ahead of a levy or pay the extra cost of a shipment. Software company?Resilinc?is developing an AI-agent to tell customers how tariffs are affecting their supply chains and find ways to alleviate the costs. Another firm,?Altana, launched a “tariff simulator” to quantify costs & help customers find alternative suppliers." ?? Transformation at Goodyear. For more than 125 years, Goodyear has been making tires. "Round and black; and out the back" is the mantra that Billy Ray Taylor was memorably shared with me. Now the company is amidst a timely 2 year transformation project: "Goodyear Forward". CNBC reports: "The?plan includes?doubling operating income margin to 10%, enacting top-line and cost reductions of $1.5 billion, and bringing in gross proceeds of $2 billion in business asset sales. To assist, the company is investing in and deploying artificial intelligence technologies and 3D-printing for things such as tread teeth, as well as using simulation to speed development & production of its products." ?? Interesting read in Logistics Viewpoints (see link below) from my friend Mark S. Holmes with InterSystems on the critical "connective tissues" across supply chain ecosystems. Mark states: "Making it easier to provide the right data for the right consuming users and applications at the right time and in the proper format reduces dependency on IT resources. This can be achieved through low-code and self-service access, making formerly siloed data accessible to business users and data stewards, faster and with less overhead, eliminating reliance on developers." Ah, those pesky silos! ?? We have a big week of Supply Chain Now programming coming up the week of March 24th, as we'll be featuring leaders from Roadie, Altium?, EasyPost & boom! Global Network joining us. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dBSCGyd #supplychain