Supply Chain Radio

What's in a name? Ask anyone in the supply chain community what "visibility" means and they'll surely be able to give you an answer. The problem is, not everyone's answers will be the same. In this episode, Greg Kefer and Guy Courtin examine definitions and their consequences. Can companies still achieve "visibility" and operate as "networks" without a clear consensus on what those terms mean?

Every year, the CSCMP publishes a report on the state of the logistics industry within the US.  Countless hours of research goes into the project.  What we get are some fascinating and important facts, like the fact that logistics, as an industry accounts for 7.8% of total GDP, a staggering $1.3 trillion.  But how can the report help you plan for the future?  In this episode, Greg Kefer sits down with one of the authors of the report,  Sean Monahan of A.T. Kearney, for a behind-the-scenes look.

Global trade management is an oft-used and often misunderstood term in supply chain. In this episode, we chat with American Shipper's Eric Johnson on the evolution of GTM and what it means for business today.

Recorded live from the Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference, where big themes are front and center, this episode delves into the current and future state of supply chain.  John Atherton of Accenture's supply chain consulting team talks with Greg Kefer about the latest trends in supply chain, including the changing science and art of managing tomorrow's supply chains.

Gartner’s 2017 Supply Chain Executive Conference was all about bi-modal supply chains, supply chain visibility, and digital transformation.  We also saw new concepts emerge around networks – Gartner opened by describing “digital ecosystems” a new way to orchestrate across global value chains.  Recorded on the show floor, in this episode, Greg Kefer and Guy Courtin discuss key observations from the event.

On-demand services have changed the game for consumers. And now even companies like UPS and FedEx are learning a thing or two from the Ubers and Lyfts of the world. Particularly when it comes to surge pricing -- you know, that cost multiplier that comes into effect when demand is high and supply is low. In this episode, Matt Gunn and Guy Courtin discuss how business services are changing, and why supply chain visibility and demand planning are more important than ever.

We all know that technology is the great disruptor. But the extent to which big data, analytics, AI, and machine learning are taking over industries as diverse as marketing and supply chain is eye-opening. In this episode, Greg Kefer and Suhas Sreedhar share their thoughts about the consequences of 'data, data everywhere'  - are we losing sight of what's really important?

The 3rd annual Fashion Revolution Week highlights growing pressure for brands to answer the question, "who made my clothes?" in greater detail.  Supply chain transparency is at the heart of the issue.  It' a complex, multi-layer problem, but there are tangible steps businesses can start taking to satisfy growing consumer pressure.

Shifting demographics and an increasingly informed consumer base are affecting the supply chains across multiple industries, leading companies to adapt quickly to challenges that are often outside of their control. Are businesses up to the challenge? Guy Courtin and Matt Gunn explore how leaders in highly distributed global supply chains step up to the task.

Consumers know more than ever about the products they buy. And so do lawmakers. With global trade coming under the regulatory microscope, there's a looming threat of disruption ahead. American Shipper's Eric Johnson joins Matt Gunn to discuss the uncertain future of trade and how supply chain professionals can rise to the challenge.