Supply Chain Radio

Global trade is an unfair game, leaving businesses to navigate a complex set of relationships with suppliers, shippers, financiers and, of course, the competition. In this episode we explore how data levels the playing field. 

One of the most innovative voices in sustainability, Michael Kobori discusses how Levi's built a program to reduce waste and promote environmental health and safety throughout the supply chain. He and Greg Kefer also take a look at what's next for corporate sustainability programs, and explore three issues the supply chain can help solve in the future.

Milestones. Depending on one's perspective they're either significant life events or rocks next to roads that help measure distance. We like to think of milestones as just another step in the journey ahead.  Through its first 99 episodes, Supply Chain Radio has covered everything from news and technology to horror stories and tales from businesses around the world. While no two podcasts have been the same, each has focused on some aspect of the many disciplines, processes and techniques we call the supply chain. For episode 100, we take a look at why supply chain matters. 

Supply Chain visibility is a building block for digital transformation. But it also means different things to different stakeholders. In this episode, Guy Courtin and Kurt Salmon's Akshay Madane discuss the true meaning of supply chain visibility, and how aligning business goals with technology can drive meaningful ROI. 

As retailers have adapted to the pressures of omnichannel, many have tried to meet today's challenges with yesterday's tools. But along the way, many have found these new business models put increased pressure on the supply chain. In this episode, Guy Courtin and Infor's Jerry Beaston discuss the biggest trends in warehouse management and how technology is paving the way for always-on commerce. Click here to read more on how supply chain management and WMS can work together. 

One topic rose above all else at this year's RILA Retail Supply Chain Conference: the customer. In this episode, Matt Gunn and Guy Courtin recap how supply chain is evolving to keep the customers happy and retailers in business.

Samsung, Takata, Volkswagen, Chipotle. Although no two product failures are alike, the consequences can be devastating to a company's reputation as well as its bottom line. In this episode, Suhas Sreedhar and Matt Gunn look back at recent product recalls and how various supply chains react.

The NRF show in New York attracted 35,000 attendees this year. Guy Courtin and Bryan Nella breakdown the major themes for the coming year. First and foremost on the list: reinventing retail to deliver new services and value to the consumer - particularly in-store.

The chemical industry has traditionally approached logistics and supply chain strategy with a goal of cost cutting. But as the industry evolves and chemicals executes seek out avenues to business growth, the supply chain poses a significant opportunity. This podcast reviews the latest chemical industry logistics report findings and looks at the future of supply chain strategy for the industry. Read the full LogiChem report here: http://www.gtnexus.com/resources/papers-and-reports/excellence-in-chemical-logistics-logichem-benchmark-report.

The fashion and apparel industry has always been a leader in managing global supply chains. But this year, a mix of technologies and societal changes are shaking things up. Matt Gunn and Suhas Sreedhar discuss the five most important (and realistic) developments to monitor in 2017.

Technology, turmoil, and the rise of the connected consumer. In this episode, Jenny Reese and Josh Calixto of the Reinventing Retail podcast join Matt Gunn and Guy Courtin to talk through some of the biggest supply chain stories of the past year and how these trends could shape the road ahead. Also check out the Reinventing Retail podcast: https://soundcloud.com/user-60686004

A recent survey by YouGov and GT Nexus found that a big majority of millennial shoppers turned on their favorite brands this year. More surprisingly, the research also suggests that supply chain, logistics, and operations can be the key drivers for the brand loyalty of this difficult to please age group. In this podcast, Boris Felgendreher and Greg Kefer discuss what supply chain executives can learn from this research.

As the Internet of Things (IoT) comes to supply chains, many businesses are excited about its potential. But will IoT simply be another proving ground for the time-honored notion of "garbage in, garbage out?"

VF Corp is an apparel company with some of the most famous brands on the planet: The North Face, Timberland, Nautica, Lee, Vans, etc. In this episode of Supply Chain Radio, we hear how VF Corp uses supply chain visibility and analytics to manage its day-to-day operations, and mitigate unexpected events like hurricanes.

Whether serving in the U.S. Navy, as a University of Tennessee professor, or CSCMP board member, Dr. Ted Stank has devoted his career to advancing the industry and educating the next generation of supply chain professionals. We had the chance to sit down with Ted at the recent University of Tennessee Supply Chain Forum to discuss risk, opportunity, and what the future might bring.

The 2016 U.S. Presidential election was fast-moving, unpredictable, and got everyone talking about global trade. Now that the results are in, we look at what a Donald Trump presidency could mean for supply chains, and how even the best predictions can still fall flat.

The auto industry is preparing for a massive digital disruption. From the economics of ride sharing to self-driving electric cars, automakers are recognizing the need to stay ahead of the technology curve, while also imagining new business models and services to carry them into the future.

A lot can go wrong in just one day. Whether it's a black swan event or a short-term supply shortage, it's how businesses handle disruptions that separates the winners from the losers. Here are some lessons in risk management from NASA, DOW Chemical, and others.

We often underestimate the risk in shipping goods on the high seas. Despite our best efforts, the world is still an unpredictable place, filled with uncertainty. This Halloween, sit back and enjoy a cautionary tale about the most famous disappearing ship in history. And let it be a lesson: supply chain risk is not something to be trifled with! Sounds used in this episode: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Daniel_James_Dolby/Hopelessness/12_-_Hopelessness_XII https://www.freesound.org/people/bigmanjoe/sounds/350761/ https://www.freesound.org/people/kupper/sounds/23640/ https://www.freesound.org/people/Rowy101/sounds/186907/ https://www.freesound.org/people/jazbavac/sounds/198525/ https://www.freesound.org/people/Mydo1/sounds/198962/ https://www.freesound.org/people/lennyboy/sounds/244053/ https://www.freesound.org/people/Xanco123/sounds/244110/ https://www.freesound.org/people/Xanco123/sounds/260689/ https://www.freesound.org/people/chrillz3r/sounds/336529/ https://www.freesound.org/people/miastodzwiekow/sound

In a global supply chain, risk often lies outside the four walls of your enterprise. We take a look at examples of risk management, operational excellence, and supplier collaboration through the lens of companies like Airbus, Levi's, and Puma.