Freight corridors are a critical component of effective supply chains. And understanding the living, working and purchasing habits of the community are also critical in managing the demand side, and for order fulfillment of many companies.

The changes to the demands and the requirements on transport corridors are constantly changing, yet redesigning and building roads, highways, city and suburbs takes time, often years. Sometimes, the approval process alone can take a long time.

Large future changes are coming fast: EVs, hydrogen vehicles, autonomous vehicles, the move away from working in the CBDs, more Working from home and much more. Business and Supply Chain managers need to stay abreast of the issues and the changes and the opportunities.

Technology alone will be a challenge. ‘The pace of technological change will never again be as slow as it is right now’.

In this episode James has a long chat with Michael Kilgariff, the Chief Executive  of Roads Australia. It’s an illuminating, wide-ranging discussion covering economics, the challenge of dealing with governments at three levels nationally, the challenge of understanding the future traffic needs of the future, designing for an unknown future,  the possibility of autonomous vehicles,  and so much more.

An important addition to the knowledge base of Australian supply chain operators.

For more on Roads Australia, Roads Australia

For more on Michael Kilgariff, check out his LinkedIn page

Each year the United Nations convene a conference of the world’s nations with the purpose of managing and negotiating a universal agreement to limit the increasing in average global warning. Attended by world leaders, bureaucrats, businesspeople, scientists, and policy makers the meeting is known as ‘The Conference of Parties’ (to the agreement) or COP.

This year’s conference is in Egypt between November 6 -18.

So what does all this mean for business operators in Australia?

In this episode James poses this question to Tennant Reed, the Head of Environment and Energy for Australian Industry Group: Tennant has attended several COPs, he is going to Egypt, and he has a unique understanding and insight into the conference and what it achieves (or doesn’t).

James and Tennant explore the difficulties of achieving agreements on global change, the impact of global events on the decision making, and the success of the conferences over years.

Tennant suggest things businesspeople should keep an eye on as the news emerges from the conference this year.  And he shares some personal stories.

For background on COP27 click here

For Tennant’s blog on last year's Conference click here  

 For Tennant’s daily insights to the conference, his Twitter feed is here

James chats with small business owner Tracey Lovelace and asks her how small business can thrive in Big Industries. Tracey is a director of Defence Seals and Spares, a long-term supplier to the Australian Defence Industry. The company has successfully delivered several long-term contracts and procurement opportunities to both the Department of Defence and to Prime Contractors and is a fascinating example of small business success in a demanding industry. 

In response to James’ usual thoughtful questions, Tracey provides insights into

• The importance of innovative thinking in small business... find a better way when the obvious way is not available
• The importance of focusing on the details of the client’s expectations and requirements.
• Your buyer and suppliers are people. Treat them right and they will treat you right.
• The difficulty and challenges of managing supply to the Defence Industry. but the fun too.

Tracey is an inspiring SME business owner: a wonderful reminder of the power and the fun and the challenge of being a small business supplier in Australia today.  Her tales of innovative thinking are particularly inspiring.

For more on Defence Seals and Spare, check its website here and its Linked page here

To follow Tracey, access her LinkedIn page here   

For details on recruitment agency, Ability Options click here

Today’s guest is Jonathan Kemp, the founder and CEO of Shipz and the Asia-Pacific host of the ‘Let’s Talk Supply Chain’ podcast. Jonathan has over 20 years’ experience as a technologist, an entrepreneur, a systems thinker and a supply chain practitioner. He is a supply chain professional with big ideas and lots of great thoughts…. just don’t call him a thought leader.

In this wandering and enjoyable conversation, Host James Scotland and Jonathan merrily contemplate the great mysteries of the world, including the rather large concepts of: the challenge of modern global container shipping, the challenge of digitalisation and technology to smaller businesses, and the challenge of the bullwhip effect in supply chain.  Not afraid to tackle big topics, it seems.

Thankfully they somehow avoided addressing world peace, solving hunger and the meaning of life itself.

They discuss, in a fascinating and engaging conversation….

• Some reasons for the ongoing disruptions in the global container industry.
• The potential future monetisation of the industry and the opportunities this provides.
• The difference between digitization (making things that weren’t, digital) and digitalization (using digitized things in a transformational way).(it really is a thing!).
• The bullwhip effect in supply chain management (worth knowing) and….
• The impact of the emerging ‘Low Earth Orbit’ (LEO) capability on global shipping.

They also agree they are ‘contemplating thinking about thinking’……. at some stage. In the future. Probably.

A useful episode for every business struggling with current container shipping issues and the future digitalisation of their business

For more about Jonathan, check out his Linked In page.

For more about Shipz, click here

For an intro into Digitalisation vs Digitalization, here’s one link worth reading.

For a deep -dive introduction into Bullwhip Effect, here’s a link to a very good academic paper

Join James and Hema as they engage in a delightful and inspiring conversation on leadership in the digital age.

Hema is the Remote Operations and Digital Services Manager for Aust/ NZ the Tier 1 global engineering contractor and valued Ai Group member, ‘Worleys’. She is a lifelong learner, a skilled communicator and an inspirational leader.  

James frames the discussion as follows: “We talk a lot about the need to digitalise our businesses and our supply chains. But what’s it like when your business is already digitalised? How do you manage a digitalised workforce? How do you get the best out of a digital, dispersed workforce? And how to you manage client expectation and requirements when the business is based on digital supply?

Put simply: How do you lead?

Hema’s responses, insights and suggestions are inspiring, and this is a ‘must listen’ episode for leaders and managers in both the digital supply chains of today, and those planning their digital journey (and isn’t that everyone!)

For more about Dr Wadhwa, here is her LinkedIn page

To hear her speech to the graduates of University of WA, click here

For more on Worleys, click here

How do industry networks and business clusters add value and incentive to businesses wanting to enter a new supply chain? Do industry clusters provide value to a regulated and structured supply chain and help to strengthen it? What do businesses gain by engaging with industry clusters?

In this episode James ask these questions of Tim Owen, the Chair of Hunter Defence in Newcastle NSW. They discuss the complexity and enormity of the Defence Industry supply chain in Australia and the reasons for the high expectations on suppliers.

They discuss the many traditional opportunities in the sector, the emerging new opportunities, the expectations on suppliers, and the process Hunter Defence uses to assist local businesses to navigate it all.

Tim speaks passionately of his belief that the Defence supply chain suits small to medium sized businesses, and he provides a realistic and honest view of the future.

Listen in to hear two good friends enjoy a unique Australian supply chain in an engaging, informative and surprisingly positive discussion.

Why should an Australian business start decarbonising its operations and its supply chains? How soon? What’s the first steps to decarbonising? What’s the difference between decarbonising and achieving Net Zero? Is there a difference between decarbonising one’s own business and the supply chain?

James asks these questions of Business Facilitator Dr Kate Brookes and finds out about her current project working with SMEs to answer these questions. Kate says the old dictum of ‘if it’s not measured, it’s not managed’ very much applies to the decarbonising journey, and she provides insights into how to start. Kate also lists the areas of business to consider first, and she shares some great success stories of businesses already on the journey.

Both James and Kate agree on the need to start decarbonising asap, and finish the conversation addressing the question: What’s the one thing every SME should be doing right now, to start the journey?

Another insightful episode that adds to the library of supply chain work developed by the Australian Industry Group for business owners and supply chain professionals in Australia today. Links are below. For more information on anything discussed in this episode, or for assistance with your business, please email [email protected] .

References from the episode:

https://www.climateactive.org.au/

https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/growth-services

https://www.climateactive.org.au/be-climate-active/tools-and-resources

An example of a free-online calculator

https://www.climateclever.org/business

Thriving in today’s fragile global trade system with Dr Jeff Wilson, Ai Group’s Director, Research and Economics

James speaks with Dr Jeffrey Wilson, Director of Research and Economics at Australian Industry Group, to find out what’s happening in the world of global trade and what it means for Australian businesses.

Covering a host of issues, James and Jeff discuss:

• How economists view global trade and how the rules-based system is changing
• The fundamentals to re-shoring and near-shoring by countries everywhere
• The importance of identifying where value is created in global supply chains
• The importance of understanding geo-politics when designing international and global supply chains
• The China+1 strategy and the reality of de-coupling Australia from China  
• The role of ‘carbon miles’ in transport and logistics
• ‘Carbon tariffs’ (CBAMs) around the world and the growing importance of carbon accounting for businesses everywhere
• Th economists view of ongoing issues such as port operations, the cost of transport, the pandemic, and global inflation pressures
• And much more.

Dr. Jeff Wilson is Australian Industry Group (Ai Group)'s Director of Research and Economics. With a broad range of skills and knowledge Jeff has particular expertise in Australia's trade and investment with Asia. Jeff has contributed to Commonwealth and state economic strategy development with Indo-Pacific partners over many years, and has been actively involved in industry development programs for the critical minerals, batteries and defence sectors. 

Jeff lives in Perth, Western Australia.

Andy Brightmore leads Australia’s largest and most complex procurement and supply chain operation. He says: “Every day is different, every challenge unique”.

In this podcast, James and Andy discuss the challenges of modern-day procurement: from a starting point of purchasing departments being tasked with ensuring a business kept running and with finding value via effective buying, Procurement Department have evolved to a complex mix of balancing issues such as sustainability goals, ESG, Modern Day Slavery, carbon miles and much more with achieving overall good buying decisions. It’s a tough, demanding and complex challenge.   

Andy explains the importance and the role of company and personal values in building sustainable and profitable supply chains. He also addresses the issue of innovation vs procurement systems, the issue of inventory management in times of shortages, and the importance of data and people in successful systems.

He assesses the role of transaction vs relationship procurement, and the differences between tactical and strategic procurement.

Andy is passionate about building systems of value and with values. He believes both are necessary to manage the multiple challenges of modern-day business. And he has runs on the board to prove it.

 We thank Andy for providing great insights into the challenging world of modern-day procurement and supply chains.  For more details on both, check out the links below…

For more details of Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS)

Australia New Zealand | CIPS

For information on Compass Group Australia and Foodbuy

Compass Group Aus - Market Leading Contract Food & Support Services (compass-group.com.au)

Foodbuy - Leaders in Food & Hospitality Procurement

In this episode James investigates the emerging supply chain challenge of building and managing ‘reliable, repeatable system and processes’ within ‘a world full of confusion and change and inconsistency’.

His guest is Kerryn Fewster, Founder and CEO of Change 2020 who explains we now live in a world of  ambiguity.. much more than just ongoing change, its a world of unknowns, including an unknown end point: no one knows what’s ahead, or how it will change our businesses. We must accept ambiguous trading operations as the new normal.

Kerryn and James investigate and assess ways to manage ourselves, our teams and how to lead in this era of ambiguity. The two also discuss the leadership challenges of working from home within a supply chain management structure and consider ways of managing the people aspect of cyber-physical systems.

In an uplifting interview, Kerry speaks positively of managing ambiguity, and explains how it can be a game changer for supply chains.

A timely, insightful and relevant conversation.

About our guest…

Kerryn Fewster is the Founder and Director of Change 2020. With over 20 years experience advising world leading organisations, Kerryn has also consulted extensively in the area of Transition and Transformation.

Kerryn places emphasis on strategy development and solution implementation to minimise people and operational impacts associated with major change, and she believes in the future, despite its challenges.