Commodities forecasting

Sep 4, 2024

Is “Price Gouging” by Grocery Stores and Food Producers Really Going On?

It’s election season, and the accusations are flying! The price consumers are paying for food is one of the most controversial issues during this election season. Both sides are making…

Jan 2, 2024

Supply Chain Leadership Series VIII: Todd Imhoff, CEO, Restaurant Supply Chain Solutions (YUM)

Running a Purchasing Cooperative involves many stakeholders! As President and CEO Restaurant Supply Chain Solutions (RSCS), Todd Imhoff is responsible for all aspects of RSCS’s business strategy, overseeing the quick-service restaurant…

Nov 2, 2023

Supply Chain Leadership V: Howard Richman

Lessons Learned from a Career in Procurement As part of our weekly Supply Chain Leadership, I interviewed Howard Richman, who I am co-authoring a new book with (“Procurement Confidential”). His…

May 11, 2023

Shining a Light on the EV Supply Chain: A Poor Environmental and Human Rights Record

For years, the public has been going around buying electric vehicles, claiming that they are promoting “clean energy” and contributing to less global warming, feeling very smug about themselves. However,…

Apr 30, 2023

Which Industries are Most Affected by Fed Rate Increases?

NC State statistics grad students, Shaoyu Wang and Bryan Bittner collectively worked on a project to analyze the impact of the federal rate hikes on various industrial sectors. I challenged…

Aug 19, 2022

Inflation is Here for Awhile… Let’s Start to Manage It!

I concluded the last of the three-part series with my good friend Tim Cummins from World Commerce and Contracting today on inflation, and the implications for contract management and supplier…

Jul 6, 2022

What’s the deal with the semiconductor shortage?

We hear a lot about the shortage of semiconductors these days in the news, and the complaints are especially loud in the automotive sector. On top of that, many new…

Apr 27, 2022

Dealing with Supply Chain Uncertainty After Covid: Insights from the Experts

A small group of executives enjoyed a particularly interesting set of insights yesterday at our first Supply Chain Resource Cooperative meeting since December, 2019. Meeting on a rainy day at…

Apr 22, 2022

The reality of green energy: “green metal” supply chains won’t be able to keep up

A recent set of investigations by the Economist provides a realistic view of the likelihood of a smooth transition to a green energy economy. Big Picture Up Front: it won’t…

Mar 10, 2022

The Supply Chain Impacts of the Russian Attack on the Ukraine

As we all sit and watch the tragedy unfolding on our television screens, everyone can agree that this unprovoked war is leading to a terrible loss of life and destruction…