Supply Chain Radio

The third-party logistics industry lives and dies by its ability to provide top-notch supply chain services to its customers. In this episode of Supply Chain Radio, Vickie Burton, head of implementation and systems, global supply chain solutions at CEVA Logistics joins Matt Gunn and Mike Riegler to discuss how her company combines supply chain expertise and revolutionary technologies to gain a competitive edge.

Supply chain management has evolved, and today organizations increasingly collaborate with their broader ecosystem via fully-connected business networks. In this episode, Bryan Nella joins Matt Gunn to discuss the network effect and explore what's on the horizon as more enterprises use their supply chain data to predict the future. 

Cost, complexity and increasing trade tensions have businesses rethinking the breadth of their supply chains. Matt Gunn and Guy Courtin discuss a recent report detailing the move toward greater localization, and take a look at the technologies enterprises rely on to adapt to the changing boundaries of business.

One of the first topics we ever covered on Supply Chain Radio was the Internet of Things. We examined its promise and imagined what it could do for supply chains. Now, three years later, we ask the uncomfortable question, "So, where is this going?" Listen as Suhas Sreedhar and Matt Gunn discuss the state of ultra-hyped technologies like IoT and blockchain, and why moving on from them might not be such a bad thing.

As the retail industry adapts to shifting consumer habits and the increasing demands of online order fulfillment, the role of stores continues to change. In this episode, Suhas Sreedhar and Matt Gunn discuss Sam's Club's novel plan to repurpose shuttered stores as e-commerce fulfillment centers. Will the new spin on warehouse superstores work?

Legendary denim supplier Cone Mills recently ceased operations at its White Oak plant, leaving a massive hole in the American fashion industry. And as brands work through the factory's final rolls of denim, they must also look for new suppliers to fill the void. The supply chain is built on an ecosystem of brands, factories, suppliers, banks, and carriers. Each one has a bottom line. In this episode, Matt Gunn and Guy Courtin discuss what happens when a top supplier shuts its doors, and how businesses can position themselves to react to constant changes in the supply chain.

Ten years ago, the Tesla Roadster hit the streets. It didn’t just bring back electric cars from the dead, it made them sexy. Tesla helped spur a new era of the automotive industry where sensors, AI, and apps intersect with electric drivetrains to create a truly 21st century mode of transportation. But recently, Tesla’s production and quality issues have filled headlines. The disruptive automaker has struggled to meet demand for its brand new Model 3, and a Wall Street Journal article reports that Tesla has been asking its suppliers for deep discounts to help it become profitable. In this episode of Supply Chain Radio, Suhas Sreedhar and Matt Gunn discuss how mismanaged supply chains can decimate even the most innovative disruptors.

Companies face a series of difficult decisions as a trade war between the United States and China sets in. Especially those who are currently planning ahead for another busy holiday season. In this episode, Guy Courtin joins Matt Gunn to continue the conversation about the escalating trade friction between two leading economies, and examine the next steps for retailers and brands who are aligning inventory for the busy seasons ahead.

The United States and China have escalated trade tensions with a series of new tariffs aimed at key industries and products, throwing the global supply chain into a state of uncertainty. In this episode, Matt Gunn and Suhas Sreedhar explore the effects of trade wars and other disruptions on the supply chain, and discuss how businesses are positioning themselves to handle risk and change in the supply chain.

Procure-to-pay automation (P2P) saves money on operations. But automating indirect procurement (buying things like pens and paper) is very different from automating direct procurement (the fabrics, electronics, and ingredients that go into your products). In this episode, host Suhas Sreedhar talks to solution consultant Steve Ontiveros about the unique challenges of each, and why automating direct procurement has proved elusive until now.

Is the supply chain really a chain at all? Bob Ferrari of Supply Chain Matters joins Guy Courtin to discuss the forces that have driven supply chain into a new age of connected networks, and what's on the horizon as all businesses leverage new technology to get closer to the consumer and reach new markets.

From the first mile to the last mile, consumers and the rise of digital technology are transforming the entire supply chain. And from their position as one of the last stops between manufacturers and retailers (not to mention end consumers), warehouses are ripe for innovation. Stacie Immesberger joins Guy Courtin to discuss the evolution of warehouses, and how advances in everything from automation to robotics are changing the game.

If you distilled the impact of every recent tech disruption to one key takeaway, you could say the result was choice. More choice, for the buyer, for the seller. As technologies like IoT and blockchain enter the logistics space, the result will be more choice; from the ways you can optimize your routes, to how you can utilize your assets, 24/7. In this episode, host Guy Courtin talks to industry veteran Bob Ferrari about the key enabler of more choice in the logistics industry: the creation of a great logistics network-of-networks.

Businesses are navigating an ocean of data, often without a map. Especially those in e-commerce, where customers readily provide information about location, pricing, and demand -- all of which have an impact on the supply chain. In this episode, Matt Gunn and Jenny Reese Potter speak with Toolkite's Jordan Roper about building a better map for a sea of supply chain information.

Operations and technology collide! Matt Gunn and Guy Courtin recap Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference 2018, where they covered everything from the state of digital transformation to the inner working’s of Heineken’s adoption of next-gen technology in this week’s episode of Supply Chain Radio.

The search for a software solution to your supply chain problems can sometimes feel like an ordeal out of a Tolkien novel. Part of the problem is that the buying process for software is a direct reflection of the complexity of the supply chain itself--there are a lot of people to please. In this episode, Brittany Brown, Suhas Sreedhar, and Matt Gunn lay bare the issues involved in obtaining a solution, and offer some essential tips to make the process smoother.

In this episode, George Weise who served as Commissioner of US Customs, joins Greg Kefer to discuss global supply chains, the current regulatory environment, and technology.  Excellence in Global Trade Management and compliance are vital if companies are to avoid disruptions, fines, and potential legal action caused by failing to adhere to the array of rules and documentation requirements. The discussion also touches on the current political situation and how evolving trade agreements and tariffs are elvating complexity and uncertainty to a level that George has never seen over the course of his 44 year career.

Eight out of 10 consumers expect to receive regular updates about the status of their orders, according to a new survey from YouGov and the Infor GT Nexus Commerce Network. In this episode of Supply Chain Radio, Matt Gunn and Greg Kefer dive into the data and discuss why supply chain visibility is more important than ever.

That produce on the shelves? Not always the freshest stuff around. By the time most food reaches the grocery store, it might already be several weeks old. And just how much shelf life remains? It's anyone's guess. Matt Schwartz, CEO of Afresh aims to make the food supply chain smarter, and reduce food waste and stock-outs along the way. He joins Matt Gunn to explain how on this episode of Supply Chain Radio.

From snacks and groceries, to razors and fashion, there's a subscription box for just about everything. As more consumers opt-in to receiving new goodies each month, it's created an entirely new opportunity to introduce new products and build brand loyalty. But as you'd expect, the supply chain plays a significant role in ensuring these products get there on time. In this episode, Georg Richter, CEO of OceanX, and Alon Waks, VP of marketing at Kustomer, join Matt Gunn to discuss how businesses can align the supply chain for subscription-based success.