Coffee First Please. Then Life.

“Without my morning coffee, I'm just like a dried up piece of goat." --- Johann Sebastian Bach, famed German composer & musician (1685 - 1750)

Good Sunday afternoon all and welcome to this edition, No. 95, of "With That Said" (WTS), an almost-weekly newsletter powered by your friends here at Supply Chain Now . Today, September 22nd, is the first day of Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. It has been a long, hot summer across North America, and our SCN team is ready for cooler days & nights, fire pits, bowls of chili & all the many fall festivals that take place everywhere. You'll also need to load up on good coffee for the brisk mornings! Caffeine certainly fuels global supply chain success. Hey, want to try a new cup of java? Scott Luton is a big fan of Veteran-owned & operated Aerial Resupply Coffee? , which you can learn more about here .

Today's edition of WTS is powered by coffee & our friends at Vector Global Logistics . To quote our friend Enrique Alvarez , 'Logistics are another vehicle for changing the world.' We couldn't agree more. The Vector Global Logistics team has certainly built a reputation (and podcast) on the idea of Logistics With Purpose? and they once again demonstrate that in their 2023 Impact Report.?We enjoyed reading the latest version (check it out here ), and hope you will take a few minutes to do so also. It is not only a great reminder, but inspiration for how logistics can impact our world for the better.

Speaking of changing the world: it's been intriguing and exciting to see how supply chain planning has been undergoing its own transformation in recent years. As Richard Troxell with Logility shared in a recent blog: "Traditional demand planning has long been owned by only the supply chain organization – gathering data from all corners of the business through lengthy spreadsheets and often leaving out critical information. Now, with AI-powered collaboration, the entire business can own and influence the demand forecast in a more comprehensive way leading to reduced risk, increased forecast accuracy, and significant working hours saved." Read the rest of the blog article here and be sure Logility's upcoming global virtual summit on September 24th is on your radar: LogiCon24 .

One big topic that many are discussing in recent weeks: the ILA and USMX stalemate:

--- The looming question has changed from "Will there be a ILA labor strike?" to "How long will the strike last & how big will the impact be?". The deadline to get a deal done between the ILA & USMX, barring government intervention, is September 30th. We've been told by those "in the know" that the ILA is looking for pay increases of over 70% as part of any deal. According to the USMX and as reported by NBC News : "the ILA has not returned to the bargaining table since mid-July. "

--- SCN co-host Jake Barr says "...the implications of this moving to the next level, even with some nominal delay or disruption, will be significant. The resilience of most companies depending upon these critical materials and/or finished products is still fragile. It could deliver a crushing blow to the economy as well as attempts to reign in inflation. Another clear example why the digitization of supply chains is of paramount importance to work scenarios and alternatives to dampen impacts. ‘Brace for collision’!"

--- SCN co-host Tandreia Bellamy added "...the lack of negotiations is very concerning because it takes time for offers and counter proposals before the proposed contract can go to the members for a vote. With the fragile state of the economy and the devastation of a strike, I think there will be government intervention and an imposed cooling off period. The 11-day 2002 west coast strike reportedly cost $1 billion dollars per day and required a 6 month recovery period. The country literally and figuratively can’t afford for that to happen."

--- SCN co-host Karin Bursa shared "..as the potential for a port labor strike looms closer, the timing could deliver a crushing blow to the economy, especially as businesses prepare for peak holiday season. Now more than ever, #digitalsupplychain solutions are critical. They empower companies to model alternative scenarios, reroute shipments to West Coast ports (where possible), and gain a deeper understanding of the overall impact on revenue, costs, and service performance. Businesses that can leverage real-time data and AI-driven insights will be better equipped to navigate these #supplychaindisruptions and mitigate the risks ahead."

--- What is your take? Share your comments below and we'll incorporate them into an upcoming edition of "The Buzz" (streams live every Monday at 12 noon ET / 6 pm CET). Join us live on Monday, September 23rd, as we'll be discussing the ILA/USMX stalemate: learn more here

--- Want to learn more about Supply Chain Now programming? Check it out: https://linktr.ee/Supplychainnow

BIG EVENT: Join Logility at LogiCon24, an exclusive virtual event packed with insights from industry experts, innovative solutions, and real-world case studies to help you stay ahead in today’s dynamic market by reimagining your supply chain. You can learn more & register here: https://bit.ly/3AZf2Be

SHAPING THE FUTURE: The age of AI is here and it’s already reshaping the way we do business.?Curious about its impact? Join this exclusive roundtable hosted by Enable on October 10th on the future of AI-powered rebate management: https://bit.ly/3MVXpVW

??Check out these resources, tools & perspectives from across the SCN ecosystem:

--- On average in 2024, a data breach costs almost $5M. Cyber attacks are not only massively increasing, but their complexity is evolving as well. The procurement function in supply chain organizations can be a bigger at-risk target, due to a number of reasons, including all of the sensitive information that is kept for working across its ecosystem. Additionally, consider all of the communications with individuals outside of the proverbial 4 walls, which is ripe for hacker interdiction. From our friends at OMNIA Partners , give this blog article a read: "How Purchasers Can Protect Business from Impending Cyber Threat" . Also, did you know that it is FREE to join the OMNIA Partners membership community? Learn more here .

--- DYK: 47% of CSCOs plan to increase investment in training programs to reskill supply chain teams. And 20% of supply chain employees cite lack of development as a top reason why they leave their employer. For a lot more data & insights on the topic of talent management, sign up for the Supply Chain Skills Report 2024 produced by our friends at Skill Dynamics : learn more here .

--- In his weekly "Good News" message, Scott shared "Some have been referring to "Good, Fast, Cheap" as the "Unattainable Triangle" for decades. But is it really all that unattainable? I'm not so sure - and I've had plenty of recent consumer experiences that would show that it is more attainable than some may think. Maybe the ol' triangle is showing its age a bit...and in need of some updates. A little sprucing up is in order." Read more and share your thoughts here .

--- Scott joined his longtime friend & fellow USAF Veteran Lloyd Knight on an episode of "The Landing Zone" recently. Scott shared parts of his Air Force journey, touched on a few entrepreneurial lessons learned over the years, as well as a couple of thoughts on the Supply Chain Now story. Find "The Landing Zone" wherever you get your podcasts AND check the episode with Lloyd & Scott here on YouTube .

--- From SCN co-host Sofia Rivas Herrera , get ready for an exciting new chapter of Supply Chain Now En Espa?ol ! Find SCNE everywhere you find your podcasts & stay tuned for new episodes dropping very soon. In the meantime, have you checked out Sofia's great newsletter: "Keeping Up with Supply Chain"? Read the latest edition here .

--- From SCN co-host Vin Vashishta : "This week, Marc Benioff and everyone I talked to from Salesforce repeated the same mantra: “Don’t DIY your AI.” It’s a compelling catchphrase. Companies can step back from all AI’s complexity, cost, and hype. All the promised benefits will be gift-wrapped and delivered with a bow. Of course, it’s not that simple." Read Vin's new blog article entitled "How To Make The Right Buy VS. Build Decisions & Calculate ROI For GenAI Platforms": click here .

--- If you have been listening to Supply Chain Now for a few years, then you have undoubtedly seen a great friend of the show Tevon E. Taylor (industry rock & roll star) make a variety of appearances as both a guest & even a special co-host. Stay tuned for Tevon's next appearance on SCN, but in the meantime, he files this recent report from the road: "Mexico continues to grow as a leading location for manufacturers due to increasing labor and fuel costs in China, and Mexico’s accessibility into the United States.? Pegasus Logistics has over 100k square feet of space in El Paso conveniently located 5 miles from the Ysleta Port of Entry. ??This site has an offering customized for transportation to assist our customer’s international shipping needs as well as contract logistics capabilities for distribution and fulfillment.?? Whether storage, cross dock, or pick/pack/ship fulfillment, Pegasus Logistics can solve for customer needs at the border." Learn more about Pegasus Logistics Group here .

--- For 25 years, the U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index has been published quarterly to inform its readers on freight shipping and spend volumes on national and regional levels, as well as some of the critical trends shaping the data. The Freight Payment Index for Q2 2024 was released a month or so ago, offering up actionable insights and valuable data from across the freight market, like this nugget: "For the first time since the second quarter of 2022, three of the five regions reported increases in quarterly shipment volumes, which might indicate that the freight market may be nearing its bottom." Download a free copy: https://bit.ly/scn-us-bank

--- Have you signed up for SCTECH 2024 yet? Hosted by Jorge A. Morales and our friends at ISCEA -International Supply Chain Education Alliance and taking place in October 2024, this year's theme is "Facing Supply Chain Challenges in the AI Age". We still have scholarships available for those in need, especially for Veterans, students & others. Learn more here OR check out the event site here: https://www.sctechshow.com/

--- From Kimberlee (Kim) Humphrey and our friends at The Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME) : We invite you to join us in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 28 - October 31, 2024, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the AME International Conference. Learn more about the Conference here . Veterans interested in the manufacturing industry: we have limited FREE registrations to offer you. This is an excellent opportunity for networking & professional development. Interested? Comment below & we'll reach out to you to make it happen.

--- Our SCN team is proud to support TFEST24, a global gathering of 1000+ senior supply chain leaders & professionals in Berlin on 11-13th November at the Colosseum Kino venue. This promises to be the go-to event for those working within the end-to-end supply chain ecosystem, featuring 100+ speakers and over 60+ hours of keynotes, panels, 1-2-1 networking, roundtable discussions, workshops, showcases, and more. Hosted by our friend, the one & only Maria Villablanca , we encourage you to learn more & register here .

--- Scott & the SCN team will be attending and speaking at Manifest: The Future of Supply Chain & Logistics in February 2025. In fact, one hundred and fifty of the most influential leaders across end-to-end supply chain and logistics, twenty percent of which are?CSCOs, COOs and CPOs from the largest shippers in the world, are all taking the stage at Manifest Vegas, being held at The Venetian, February 10th - February 12th, 2025. Register now to join us & save $200 on your All-Access Manifest Vegas attendee pass (that's $1000 off the on-site price)! Learn more about Manifest 2025 here .

MONDAY AT NOON: Join us for a new episode of "The Buzz", where Scott W. Luton and Marcia D Williams will share news & analysis from across global industry. We'll talk about the ILA/USMX stalemate, new sourcing trends in supply chain and much, much more. Join LIVE at 12 noon ET / 6 pm CET: https://bit.ly/47yeQ8p

TUESDAY AT NOON: We'll be featuring Shannon Vaillancourt , CEO with RateLinx , and Reza Ghazimoradi, as they join Scott W. Luton to talk about "3 Ways to Unlock Efficiency: Automate Your Multi-Division Shipping Operations". Join us: https://bit.ly/3zsK9Vs

WEDNESDAY AT NOON: Scott W. Luton & Kimberly Reuter for a live, informative discussion focused on "Harnessing Logistics Innovation for SMB Growth: Opportunities and Strategies". We'll be welcoming in Glen Clark & Terry Donohoe with DP World to share their perspective & helpful expertise. Join us: https://bit.ly/3MUsDwr

THURSDAY AT NOON: Shipping is tricky enough as it is—add in shifting seasonal order volume and/or company growth and it can start to feel like you’re juggling way too many boxes at once. From keeping your deliveries on time to figuring out how to not break the bank, shipping for SMBs doesn’t have to be a headache. Join us for a lively session packed with insider tips on how to keep your shipping efficient, reliable, and ready for whatever comes next. Hosted by Scott W. Luton & Tevon Taylor, Lori Boyer with EasyPost will be sharing tons of actionable insights. Be sure to register: https://bit.ly/47ygE1b

Finally, via YouTube, check out a few of our favorite episodes from across the SCN ecosystem this year. What were some of yours? We welcome your comments & insights!

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