SCM Topics

Nov 16, 2019

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… 

Sep 7, 2019

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… 

May 15, 2019

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… 

Apr 27, 2019

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… 

Feb 11, 2019

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… 

Sep 26, 2018

Changing Executive Mindsets on Global Product Integrity: The Fight Against Counterfeiting Is Here to Stay

I recently interviewed the Director of Brand Protection at a large pharmaceutical company, who shared with me the timeline around how his company gradually shifted and changed its views on… 

Jul 16, 2018

Pharmaceutical offshoring makes recalls more costly with more quality headaches

I spent some time working on a study of how offshoring impacts quality issues, specifically product recalls, with a number of researchers at the University of Palermo, led by Manfredi… 

Jun 29, 2018

Professor Cecil Chester Bozarth III, PhD:  In Memoriam

I lost a good friend on May 27, just as a son lost his father, a wife lost her husband, two parents lost a son, two sisters lost a brother,… 

Jun 21, 2018

The Risks and Benefits of Socializing with Suppliers

I had a chance to meet with a group of supply chain executives at the University of Calgary this week, which included a discussion by Ken Rawson.  Ken has over… 

May 29, 2018

The Lowly Wooden Pallet is a Critical Conveyance in the Supply Chain

In a recent interview, discussions with Patrick Atagi, VP for Advocacy & External Affairs at the National Wooden Pallet and Contain Association (NWPCA)  helped to educate me on just how…