How many Millennials does it take to build a shed?

A lesson in what tomorrow’s supply chain leaders might look like…

Lazy. Over-sensitive. Obsessed with our smartphones. We Millennials always seem to get a bad rap. 

A recent poll highlighted that not only are we also useless in general but we are particularly bad at DIY. According to the research, we are even worse at DIY than those younger than us. Although, given that most of us don’t even own a toolbox, I am hardly surprised by this. My only question is where do toddlers go to learn how to use a hammer?

As a Millennial myself, I understand the battle we face: DIY is not my strong suit either. A shortfall which recently became evident when I set about building my new garden shed. However, more on this later. 

Millennials struggle in the workplace

It is not just at home where us Millennials seem to fall-short. There are no end of news articles documenting how Millennials struggle in the workplace:

• “Millennials no longer value the traditional workplace rules” 
• “Millennials have no loyalty and therefore move freely from job to job.”
• “Millennials struggle to make friends in the office” (…ouch, that one was below the belt)

No doubt, the list of could go on… Still, at least we made Avocados cool. 

How important are DIY skills anyway?

If I am being honest, I probably do spend too much time scrolling through Facebook. Of course, I don’t own a toolbox (the last thing the planet needs is more plastic waste!). And as for my work ethic, I will let my colleagues at Slimstock decide on that. 

However, I recently came across an interesting reply post on Instagram which made me think: do my millennial shortcomings really matter? Let me elaborate…

Shock! Baby boomers make terrible blacksmiths!

This Instagram post could not be truer! Of course, baby boomers don’t have the same blacksmithing skills as our Saxon ancestors. The reason why is obvious: these skills are simply not as relevant to survive as they once were!

If you are a blacksmith, please wait a second before you drop you hammer and anvil on me. I am not suggesting that there is no longer a place for blacksmiths in the 21st century. I am merely highlighting that in Saxon-times, blacksmith skills would probably be as common as putting “Proficient in Microsoft Office” on your C.V. is today.

Given the level of medieval carpentry skills required to build my shed, I too wondered if this was another ancient survival skill which had been eroded away over time. Perhaps I would have been better off utilising my Millennial skill of delegation (By which I mean call a professional to build it for me).

What am I trying to say here?

As new technologies emerge, we will inevitably face new challenges. Consequently, the skill set required to succeed must also evolve. It is a classic case of ‘survival of the fittest’! 

Millennials & the modern supply chain

The point I am trying to make is simple: Those that don’t adapt will get left behind.

I am sure evolution is evident in every industry. However, in my specialist area of supply chain management, the need to evolve has never been more pressing!

Since starting my career in inventory optimisation, things have changed a lot. When I first started exploring the topic, I remember everyone talking about Big Data, AI & Machine Learning as though they were nothing but sci-fi fiction. Yet, just a few years later, these once impossible concepts are already becoming a reality. When it comes to supply chain management, the world really is changing before our eyes!

In the same way, PowerPoint skills have replaced forge welding, the rapid advancement of these modern supply chain technologies will force tomorrow’s professionals to bring a very different skill set to the table.

Thankfully, us Millennials were born and raised to embrace such technologies. So, a future where robots rule the supply chain might just be the perfect fit for my Millennial comrades & I. Afterall, we are digital natives.

But, does this mean that the more experienced supply chain readers should burn their paper-based purchase ledgers and enjoy an early retirement? Absolutely not! 

Unite for a better shed and a brighter future!

Take for instance my shed; I did everything a good Millennial should do. I even used a spirit level app on an iPhone to make sure the base was level. And yet, despite this, the shed still nearly defeated me.

If I learn anything from the whole shed-building debacle, it is that to succeed as master shed builders, supply chain leaders, we Millennials cannot do it alone.

After all, the principles that form the basis of all developments in the field of supply chain management (and shed erection) remain as solid as ever. And even with the most advanced technologies, without a solid understanding of the fundamental principles, we will only get so far.

Whether we are building sheds or supply chains, as we enter this new era of automation, those who can capture and retain the knowledge of experts who have a lifetime of experience, will ultimately be the ones who lead the way.

Where will Millennials fit in your supply chain?

But what about my original question: how many Millennials does it take to build a shed?

The instructions specifically said it would take 2 people and just 1 hour to finish the project. However, in reality, it took 3 Millennials, 2 Generation Ys and over 7 hours of hard labour. Still, at least I now have a shed I can be proud of!

I hope in this article I have highlighted not only the potential role Millennials will play but also the importance of sharing knowledge and experience. However, I would love to hear your thoughts…