Adapt and Thrive

Enlisting in the Army at age 17 and rising through the ranks from private, to sergeant, to Lieutenant General, Larry Wyche served as the second highest ranked logistician and supply chain professional in the United States Army. In this episode, General Wyche shares his experiences running a $58 billion supply chain and provides insight on managing logistics and operations challenging times. Tune in for perspective on how to develop strong leaders within a global organization, and what it means to keep the supply chain running when lives are on the line.

In past episodes we have explored how traditional methods to forecast demand simply don't work anymore. Customers need a better forward-looking signal to balance the data inside systems that are influenced by data outside the system and beyond control. In this episode, LLamasoft's Ryan Chan and Vikram Srinivasan join Matt Gunn to discuss the topic of demand-driven design. Through a free ranging exploration of several examples involving network design, policy modifications and data-backed science approach, our guests illustrate how to make better, forward looking decisions. 

In the blink of an eye, the COVID-19 coronavirus swept through China and parts of the globe, bringing with it a near-immediate impact on  human lives. As the epidemic set in, it quickly became apparent that the coronavirus would quickly disrupt the global supply chain as well. With operations and demand so heavily entrenched in China, few industries will escape its effect. Dr. Madhav Durbha joins Matt Gunn to examine the near and long-term effect COVID-19 will have on the global supply chain and whether the outbreak will cause enterprises to rethink their operations to build greater agility and adaptability over the long run.

We are not too far removed from the days when supply chain simulation and optimization were a mysterious art practiced by mathematicians and scientists locked away in the deepest, darkest corners of the enterprise. But in the past decade, advances in computing power, analytics and AI have given modelers a new set of tools to increase the speed, frequency and opportunity unlocked through their work, elevating the art from the realm of arcane wizardry to an essential foundation for enterprise transformation. In this episode, Ben YoKell, Managing Director of Operations Transformation at Grant Thornton joins Matt Gunn to discuss the evolution and opportunity of the digital twin.

In achieving the strategy to thrive, it's critical to weigh the strengths of the technology you have available to help you make decisions and execute your plan. Planning systems are a great way to have a forward look to balance your supply and demand balance, and when combined with a "system of innovation" can deliver greater value in holistic visibility across your end to end supply chain. In this episode, Spinnaker SVP of Consulting John Sharkey, and LLamasoft Group Vice President, Industry Strategies Madhav Durbha chat about expertise, technology, creating a digital twin, and how the combination of these can help you harness more from your investment in SAP IBP. 

Food waste is a $750 billion problem globally - especially when it comes to produce, where it's either fresh, frozen or on its way to a landfill. The supply chain plays a major role in ensuring the viability of food when it reaches grocery shelves. But what happens if that extended supply chain is eliminated? Babylon Microfarms CEO Alexander Olesen joins Matt Gunn to discuss his company's approach to bringing the farm directly to the store, and why produce is the gateway to a post-supply chain world. 

While the retail industry has swiftly adopted omnichannel fulfillment strategies, grocery stores still largely depend on in-store visits. But as more consumers demand delivery, will traditional grocery stores get left behind? Farmstead CEO Pradeep Elankumaran joins Matt Gunn in this episode to discuss the digital disruption of grocery shopping, and why the future of food is fast, fresh and subscription-based. 

External market changes are outpacing businesses' ability to keep up. Traditional methods to forecast demand simply don't work anymore. Relying on historical data to point the way is only going to give you a piece of the answer.

In this podcast, Vikram Srinivasan, Senior Director of Product Management at LLamasoft joins Matt Gunn to describe what it means to model demand in today's complex business environment to drive your desired business outcomes.

In the world of high stakes poker, players make critical decisions every 90 seconds without any knowledge of what hand their opponent holds. Each decision could be worth thousands — if not millions — of dollars, and there's no reward for second place. Do you fold under pressure, or make a calculated bet based on all the risk factors and information you have in hand? In this episode of Adapt or Die, Cambridge-trained economist and former professional poker player Caspar Berry joins Matt Gunn to talk about what it means to make critical decisions under tremendous pressure.

When it comes to new product launches, seasonal offerings and balancing inventory to meet customer demand, businesses still depend heavily on spreadsheets and email to chart the course ahead. But these manual processes often fall short, leading to stock outs, lost sales, or excess waste throughout the supply chain. LLamasoft's Matt Tichon joins Matt Gunn to give perspective on how industries can leverage advanced technology to improve their processes and break organizational silos, paving the way for transformational advances in forecasting.