SCM Topics
Human-machine Tradeoffs in Supply Chain Decisions (and the LA Port)
The current set of supply chain disruptions is bringing increased focus on the need for digital transformation of our supply chains. Nowhere is digital transformation needed more than the Los Angeles port, where major operational disconnects are occurring between ships, […]
Los Angeles Port Bottlenecks Don’t Have Any Short-term Fixes
There is no question that the LA port is one of the biggest economic bottlenecks facing the United States. The success of the port is undeniably tied to the success of the global economy. The Los Angeles port has experienced […]
Rob Handfield on Amazon’s Struggle with Bad Business Practices in China
Rob Handfield, professor of operations and supply chain management, explains why quality control has become Amazon’s logistical downside with its suppliers in China. “Amazon’s whole business model is about distribution, not sourcing, so they never developed capabilities like auditing or […]
Coronavirus reminds us to review supply chain continuity plans
The rapid escalation of the Corona virus has now devastated China and other regions, resulting in more than 800 deaths and more than 37,000 cases worldwide. The most critical outcome of this issue is the tragic loss of life, but […]
Perspectives on the Global Trade Environment: A Panel Discussion
On December 5, 2019, we held a panel discussion that focused on different perspectives related to global trade. As the global environment is shifting based on political debates, EU/British negotiations, tariffs driven by the Trump administration, as well as the […]
Decoding the Signals of the Global Tariff and Trade Wars
What will global trade and commerce look like in the coming years, and how will it influence the business landscape? This question has moved to the forefront of executives’ minds as the US administration seeks to renegotiate relationships with key […]
Physician Preference Cards: The Key to Hospital Low Inventory Utilization and Waste
Almost every hospital or IDN faces significant challenges in managing their operating room inventory, which can be traced to a simple concept: utilization. Utilization is simply a ratio of the $ value of clinical purchases BILLED to patients or insurance, […]
First NCSU Procurement Leadership Program a Great Success!
We held our first ever Procurement Leadership workshop this week, hosting a group of executives from Altria, American Red Cross, Cheniere Energy, Smith & Nephew, RSCS (YUM! Brands) and the US Air Force. The mix of executives from both the […]
Closing the Gap Between Buyers and Sellers: “Everything is Changed, Nothing is Different”
We hosted an extremely successful set of speakers at our SCRC meeting this past week. One of my core beliefs, that I’ve espoused over the 30 years that I’ve been working in this field, is that working together for mutually […]
New Flex CEO Revathi Advaithi Highlights our LIVING Supply Chain Book
I recently learned that the new incoming CEO of Flex, one of the largest global contract manufacturers in the world, has highlighted the book I wrote with Tom Linton last year called the “LIVING Supply Chain: The Imperative of Operating […]