In this episode of The Chain Podcast, we sit down with Mike Bunge, Vice President of Global Supply Chain Operations at Hamilton Beach Brands, explores how SCOR®-based maturity assessments can help supply chain leaders take control of trade, customs, and global logistics.

Bunge shares how Hamilton Beach used a SCOR assessment to move beyond reactive decision-making and identify where trade costs, risks, and inefficiencies were truly coming from. Rather than treating tariffs and trade policy as uncontrollable external forces, the assessment created a shared, data-driven view across supply chain, finance, legal, and IT — allowing the organization to prioritize improvements and align on outcomes.

The conversation highlights how SCOR enables leaders to diagnose root causes, balance lean operations with resilience, and connect trade strategy to enterprise performance metrics like cost, agility, and asset efficiency. Mike also explains why cross-functional ownership and disciplined analysis are critical for turning assessment insights into measurable business impact.

For supply chain leaders navigating constant disruption, this episode offers practical insight into how SCOR maturity assessments provide clarity, focus, and a roadmap for action—especially in complex areas like global trade and logistics.

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