Let's Talk Supply Chain

Export Development Canada has been Canada's credit agency for over 75 years. Through their years of industry experience, they've helped businesses across Canada to manage risk, secure finance and establish themselves on a global platform. Today, we talk to Zeeshan Fazal, Senior Account Manager - Technology Group at EDC to talk about helping SME's achieve global success, how COVID-19 has affected the nations' industry and the huge role EDC plays in supporting the Canadian economy. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [08.08] An overview of EDC, how they began and how they can help. [10.39] EDC's financial solutions, and their focus on managing risk. [13.45] EDC's non-financial solutions, and how they help Canadian businesses to navigate the international market. [19.26] How EDC's Global Trade Team find and facilitate opportunities, by analyzing the global market and 'matchmaking' with Canadian businesses. [24.15] The importance of championing SME's, and their benefits over big business. "The world is asking for innovative solutions, and flexibility." [26.43] A real life success story, and the EDC solutions that facilitated it, including risk management, and secure credit lines. "Try to protect yourself as much as possible when you're beginning a new relationship." [38.13] EDC's integrity and commitment to social responsibility. "We're all learning, but it's important to start off with a robust approach to ensure we're living in a fair world that promotes peace and justice." [42.24] The impact of COVID-19 and how EDC pivoted to support Canadian business in their time of need. [47.01] Ambition, growth and innovation, the future for both EDC and Canadian business. "Canadian companies have proven on the global scale that they're innovative and have the capabilities to respond to global demand." RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to EDC's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

This is the second show in our "What Does Intermodal Mean to You" series, in partnership with IANA. In last week's episode 'The Industry,' we spoke to Jim Newsome President and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority in Charleston. We found out more about what the intermodal industry is, how it works and how ecommerce has changed the landscape of the industry. We learned more about IANA and its role within the industry, and about the impressive investment in infrastructure that Jim has been overseeing over at the South Carolina Ports Authority. Today in Episode 2, 'The Equipment' we're talking to Frank Sonzala, CEO of CIE Manufacturing. We're going to explore what equipment is key within the intermodal industry, what role it plays in keeping freight moving, why maintenance is so important – and we'll be having a little bit of fun with a maintenance horror story, to remind you why paying attention to the details can make or break your supply chain. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [01.01] Frank's impressive 37 years in the industry, and how he moved from vendor to in-house with CIE Manufacturing. [02.45] From containers to cranes, the various components that come together to make up the intermodal industry. [07.29] The improvements Frank has seen in road safety. "In 2010 when CSA came in, the chassis really started to blossom into a maintenance machine that was taken care of on a timely basis instead of on a breakdown basis." [11.33] A maintenance horror story – why pro-active maintenance and repair is vital. "Quality and safety mean so much!" [14.31] IANA's maintenance and repair committee, and the benefit it brings to the intermodal industry. "We're all about preventative maintenance now." [18.21] How IANA established best practice for the industry and have so successfully connected its disparate elements. "The future is bright for intermodal and it needs bright young people to carry on the torch." [20.29] How technology has changed the face of intermodal. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to IANA's website and CIE Manufacturing's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Welcome to Blended! This is a brand new show for Let's Talk Supply Chain and it's going to be a little bit different to what you've heard before. We talk a lot about the challenges facing our industry as a whole – changing technology, network complexity, surprises like COVID-19 – but what we don't talk as much about is the people. The people that really drive our industry forward. And specifically, the under-represented people in our industry. I've been flying the flag for women in supply chain for a few years now, through the podcast and some of my other endeavors, but Blended is going to go much further than that. Because it's not just women who are a minority – we need to be thinking about the LGBTQIA community, people of color, those with disabilities, whether they're visible or hidden. As minorities, we need to join together to support each other and be each other's allies - to ensure we ALL have a seat at the table to make our industry the absolute best it can be. Today in Episode 1, 'What's in a Name,' we're going to be talking all about the language we use when discussing minorities – what do these words mean to us, and to others; are there right or wrong words to use, and what are the subtexts of those words; and what does diversity, inclusion and identity mean to us. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [03.29] Introductions to our Blended panelists. Prakash M Radhakrishnan – Courier Operations at Toll and award-winning YouTube producer with a focus on disability and mental health. Holly Qualman – VP of Marketing and Client Solutions America for Apex Logistics and adopted Korean-American woman, flying the flag for multi-racial unity. Matthew Hernandez – General Manger for North America at Xenata and representative of both the LatinX and LGBTQIA communities. Hope White – Founder and CEO of HD White Logistics, Founder of Hope White Consulting and Logistically Speaking Online and proud black woman. Greg White – Founder of Blue Ridge Global, host of Supply Chain Now and father of daughters, with native American heritage. [11.23] The word 'minority' and its connotations. "It's time to think about the world on a global scale." Greg. Is it a beneficial or derogatory term? Does it perpetuate the feeling of being 'other' or 'less than,' since its technical definition is less than half the whole? How does the insistence on labelling people affect mental health and self-esteem? How does being a minority affect your goals and ambitions – are they personal to you, or are they developed so you can conform to a societal norm? Are we designed to keep each other at arm's length; is the tendency towards segregation a result of evolution – how do we push the reset button on human nature? Are labels necessary at all, or are we all just people? "It's another stage of evolution – before we develop the language for it, we need to understand how we got here." Matthew. [33.20] What words should we be using specifically for the disability community? "There's no rulebook – and the disability community feel the same." Prakash [36.10] The impact of upbringing. Why the way that we're raised is so vital – prejudice is learnt, or tackled, at an early age. Why we need to support everyone to succeed, and make sure that those at a disadvantage get equal if not greater support. The danger in not taking on board peoples experiences and viewpoints because of preconceptions. How the use of incorrect labels muddies the water and creates confusion. Assumption is ignorance: the importance of being able to continue to interpret and learn. [44.12] What words should we be using specifically for the LGBTQIA community and people of color? Why it's important to take the time to listen. How some words have traditionally been used to separate minorities and make them 'an other.' Why education is so important. [55.28] The importance of identity. "It's not what you're called, it's what you answer to." Hope Why we all need to be in charge of our own identities. How descriptors have changed over time and the impact that those changes have had. Why it's OK to ask, as long as you're asking for the right reason. Why we need to pay attention to the nuances of individual identities. The responsibility of minorities to educate others. The importance of open and honest conversations, that come from a place of empathy and understanding. [69.09] Today's buzzwords: diversity and inclusion. So many of us minorities have to jump through so many hoops just to get a small slither of the pie." Hope What do these words mean to us? Can you have one without the other? How the meaning of diversity and inclusion can be influenced by how we're raised, or what we're exposed to on a long-term basis. Why diversity and inclusion also need to include processes to build the foundations for education and understanding and promoting acceptance. Often in the corporate world, we know there's a problem, but we very seldom have the opportunity to talk about it openly." Matthew [80.16] Our su

Pallet Alliance takes a holistic approach to pallet program management that's far more than just quoting pallet prices. Through managing cost drivers like sourcing, design and implementation, they deliver comprehensive solutions tailored to fit operational requirements, whilst investments in Iot-based logistics, customized reporting, and industry-leading expertise continue to drive their ongoing improvement. And Tyson Steffens plays a key role. After holding positions at General Electric and United States Gypsum, he initially joined Pallet Alliance in 2003 as a business development manager. But now, after nearly 20 years with the company, Tyson and the team are transforming pallet program management with new technology, tailored solutions and a fresh outlook. Today Tyson will be sharing his thoughts on the importance of partnerships, championing industry improvement, and how Pallet Alliance can help you to optimize cost, quality, and efficiency through their unique collaborative approach. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [08.50] How Tyson's background in engineering, and at United States Gypsum, led him to the pallet industry. [10.59] Exactly what Pallet Alliance does and how it helps its customers. "We're coming in as a cross functional team of speciality buyers." [13.37] The variety of options available in the pallet market, and how Pallet Alliance helps guide customers through them to find the right solution. "We're material, design and program agnostic – our goal is to help the customer." [17.33] The hurdles that companies often face when trying to source the right pallets for them, and Pallet Alliances' holistic approach to problem-solving. [20.21] How teamwork and sourcing the right product can save time and money down the line. [22.13] Some real-life examples of the positive change and value that Pallet Alliance has delivered for its customers. [27.23] A look at Pallet Alliance's ideal customer. [29.55] Why partnership is so important, both technically, and culturally. "Nobody can do everything by themselves – we really do need each other." [33.25] Pallet Alliance's commitment to social issues. [38.25] From organic growth to a focus on de-risking, the future for Pallet Alliance. "We're the people to marry the pallet world with technology." RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to Pallet Alliance's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

This is the first episode of our latest mini-series in partnership with IANA: The Intermodal Association of North America. Over the next four episodes, our "What Does Intermodal Mean to You?" series is going to take a closer look at the intermodal industry and its benefits, the equipment and technology that serves it, and all of the different people involved. Today in Episode 1, The Industry, I'm talking to Jim Newsome President and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority in Charleston. We'll be finding out exactly what the intermodal industry is and how it works; looking at how ecommerce has changed the landscape of intermodal in recent years; learning more about IANA and its role within the industry; and finding out about the impressive investment in infrastructure that Jim has been overseeing over at the South Carolina Ports Authority. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [01.25] Jim's background, his role with the South Carolina Ports Authority and a closer look at what the intermodal industry is. "To me it's the confluence of modes of transportation to provide an efficient product." [03.52] From 3PL's to container shipping, the key intermodal supply chain players. [06.51] The benefits of intermodal transportation. [10.09] The need for better infrastructure and the challenge of planning for growth. "Our port, by the end of next year, will have invested over 2 billion dollars in infrastructure." [12.55] Why global businesses, like BMW, set up home and invest near ports. [15.12] The possibility of re-shoring manufacturing post-COVID. [17.28] A closer look at the South Carolina Ports Authority's recent investment projects. [19.49] Exactly what an Inland Port is, and its benefits. "It's been a winning concept for us. We've quadrupled the volume of moves per day in the last decade." [22.34] What the next 5 years might look like for the industry. "We're seeing a renaissance in retail distribution." [25.30] The future of technology and automation in intermodal. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to IANA's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

From gaining her degree in Business, with a concentration in transportation, Michelle has gone from strength to strength. Her career has seen her achieve leadership roles within large organizations from Kraft to JC Penney, move all around the USA, and now sees her helping to shape the whole future of transport and supply chain, as the Vice President of Transportation for The Home Depot. She's also actively engaged within the industry and serves on the boards of a host of different associations, advising the industry and championing female leadership. Today Michelle tells us all about her impressive career, her love for, and commitment to, the industry and the importance of supporting women in supply chain. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [06.44] How lively conversations with her trucking Father brought Michelle to supply chain, despite wanting to be a teacher in her early years. "Never underestimate the power of a dinner conversation with your children! [08.28] How a part-time job at a burger restaurant in her early teens helped Michelle to find her voice, through a focus on customer service and communication with management. [10.17] The importance of mentorship and how, on reflection, the pressure of being a woman in a male-dominated industry meant Michelle didn't always use her voice the way she now feels she could, or should, have. [13.10] How The Home Depots' ethos matches with Michelle's; and the challenges as well as the positives of working for the company. "If you enjoy fast-paced, high-energy, challenging, thought-provoking workload, being in supply chain and transportation is a great area to be in." [14.50] How COVID has affected supply chain, and the benefits it's brought along with it, from improved technology to more flexible communication. [15.50] How an understanding of data is going to be key for the next generation. [17.30] The benefits of engaging with the industry and taking seats on boards, from networking to giving back. [20.11] How organisations like AWESOME are changing the game for women in business, and the importance of continuing to champion female voices. [21.37] An overview of AWESOME. [23.22] The challenges and benefits of the industry, particularly for women. "The benefits far outweigh the challenges I've experienced." [26.51] Why Michelle now serves on the board of the Supply Chain Academy at Indiana University, the same institution where she gained her own degree. [28.45] Michelle's passion for working with people and helping them to achieve their own sets of goals and dreams. "It keeps me energised every day." [29.39] Michelle's advice for up and coming women in supply in chain. "Just do it! If you don't allow it to intimidate you, you will be pleasantly surprised at all the wonderful things you too will accomplish." RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to LinkedIn to connect with Michelle and find out more. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Parsyl is on a mission to improve the quality of goods we all rely on; from the foods we eat to the medicines we need. They provide insurance products as well as GPS tracking technology, with cell phone monitoring and data analytics through their web platform, to allow companies to take control of their supply chain. And they're also utilizing that commercial technology to solve major global health challenges, making them a unique player in the supply chain industry. Today I'm delighted to be joined by Ben Hubbard, co-founder and CEO of Parsyl, to talk all about the company's amazing offering, including their game-changing software and insurance products, and the future of supply chain. Not to mention their partnerships with a range of organizations, from governments to ministries of health, to innovate and strengthen global health supply chains and improve lives. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [07.29] Ben's background in economic and global health development, an overview of Parsyl and why Ben founded the company. [09.29] How Parsyl is helping in the current pandemic with its international partnerships, risk management and insurance solutions. [11.31] A closer look at what Parsyl does, from technology to data. "We're really focused on the data insights – it's great to understand what happens on a particular shipment, but the deep insight comes from understanding what's happening across lots of shipments." [15.50] The changing face of insurance, including risk, cost and why it's so important. "We have the widest, best temperature sensitive insurance coverage at Parsyl." [20.16] The global health side of Parsyl and its incredible impact across the world. [24.46] A few real-life examples of how Parsyl have helped clients, with challenges from insurance to vaccine transportation. [28.56] Parsyl's ideal customer, and why it's so important to help all links in the supply chain to better understand and use the data Parsyl can provide. "Often data loggers are thrown in the trash, and it's a tragedy. We love data at Parsyl, and we want make sure it gets up to the cloud, analysed and integrated." [32.29] The future of supply chain. "The dividend from being strategic about data collection and use is going to create a real delta between the winners and the losers." [34.39] How Parsyl's software differentiates them from the competition. [35.38] From a focus on COVID-19, to rolling out insurance and delving deeper into the seafood industry, what the future holds for Parsyl. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to Parsyl's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

We're back with Episode 4, which I'm sad to say is the final episode, of our "Lessons Learned from Crisis" mini-series, in partnership with Tealbook. Over the course of these four episodes I've really enjoyed talking to some of the leaders from Tealbook; getting to understand their platform, how they work and their amazing ethos. And, of course, I've loved being able to dive into some important discussions around the challenges in our industry right now and the lessons we can take from them, to help us to create robust strategies for the future. I hope you've enjoyed the series just as much as I have and don't forget, you can still catch up on any episodes you might've missed HERE. In last week's episode 'Diversity Matters,' we were joined by Tealbook's COO Ian Woodbury to talk about the importance of diversity, what the COVID crisis has taught Tealbook about resilience and innovation and how, as a company, they continue to evolve to support a rapidly changing industry. Today in Episode 4, Collaborate To Success, I'm joined by Tealbook's VP of Customer Success Kate Hands to talk about the importance of easy communication and collaboration to the future of supply chain, Tealbook's many and varied benefits and their top 3 tips for surviving a crisis. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [01.07] Kate's background, why she was drawn to Tealbook and her role within the company. "After hearing more about the Tealbook offering, it was too compelling not to be able to help other clients with their procurement and supply chain transformation journeys." [02.58] Why empathy is key to surviving a crisis. "The very nature of a crisis is that it's unexpected, so it's so important for companies to be agile and be able to adapt quickly." [04.18] How the Tealbook platform has helped its customers pro-actively engage with suppliers, from giving loan relief to small businesses to supporting minority business in light of Black Lives Matter. [05.37] A typical relationship between Tealbook and their customers. [08.18] How Tealbook encourages collaboration, from innovating with clients to sharing the creative ways different companies have used their platform. [09.37] A closer look at Tealbook functionality and client-supplier collaboration. "Having this data, immediately, at your fingertips: you just can't put a price on that." [12.28] Why communication and collaboration are so vital in the current climate. [14.43] Kate's role in customer success, what that means, and the benefits that come from a customer-centric approach. [17.09] From cost savings and operational streamlining to supply chain continuity, the many benefits of the Tealbook platform. [23.30] How data has been neglected and how the COVID crisis has helped to shine a light on just how important good data is. "The pandemic has kick-started a lot of data-review initiatives, but data has been neglected for far too long." [24.03] Tealbook's top 3 tips for helping clients in crisis. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to Tealbook's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Hope White is the Founder and CEO of HD White Logistics, Founder of Hope White Consulting and of Logistically Speaking Online. Having previously worked for The Home Depot in various capacities, including inbound/outbound operations, EDI and vendor compliance, inventory control, and transportation, Hope had gained all of the knowledge and experience she needed to build a successful business of her own. Now, in her various roles as CEO, logistics consultant and trainer, Hope helps companies to improve operations, develop their skill-sets and strategize, and deliver, cost-effective solutions for their supply chains. Today, we'll be taking a closer look at Hope's businesses – how they came about and what problems they're solving for their respective clients – her strategy for spinning so many plates at once, and why women are the future of the trucking industry. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [09.00] How Hope's experiences working for The Home Depot, and assisting her husband with his own business, helped her to identify a niche and go on to found HD White Logistics. [11.20] Exactly what HD White Logistics do – and an exciting announcement! [12.48] Hope's second business, Hope White Consulting, which specializes in training for start-ups; and her 'baby,' Logistically Speaking Online – a comprehensive e-learning course. "We give our students an opportunity to learn, from A-Z, everything there is to know about how to establish your company the right way." [14.33] UPS, one of HD White Logistics key clients; from the challenges of working with a big-name client, to the advantage of being a small company with the ability to pivot quickly and collaborate. [18.04] How Hope came to realise the importance of diversity certification and why business now comes to her, as one of the first certified minority woman-owned cross docking facilities in the Georgia Port Authority area. [22.16] Hope's industry advocates, including sponsorship from Coca Cola. [24.32] How Hope's roles and responsibilities vary across HD White Logistics and Hope White Consulting, and how that consulting itself varies, from established businesses to start-ups. [26.53] Hope's ideal customers for HD White Logistics, including coming full circle and partnering with The Home Depot, several years after she left her role with them. "I have an affinity for retail, and groceries." [29.20] How Hope balances her extremely busy life, schedules and sets goals for the future, both on a professional and personal level. "I balance with the Law of Attraction." [32.38] Why women are the answer to trucking's problems. "A woman coming in can provide the trucking industry a refreshed view of the future." [35.02] Hope's mentor, a true female success story. [36.12] The future for HD White Logistics, Hope White Consulting and Logistically Speaking Online. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to HD White Logistics, Hope White Consulting or Logistically Speaking Online now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

We're back with Episode 3 of our "Lessons Learned from Crisis" mini-series, in partnership with Tealbook. In last week's episode 'Stay Ready,' we talked to Tealbook's VP of Strategy Matt Palackdharry to talk about the importance of good data, the value to be found in transparency and collaboration and why, despite only being founded in 2014, IDC recently ranked Tealbook as the #4 procurement platform tool currently in use today. Today in Episode 3, Diversity Matters, I'm joined by Tealbook's COO Ian Woodbury to talk about the importance of diversity, what the COVID crisis has taught Tealbook about resilience and innovation and how, as a company, they continue to evolve to support our rapidly changing industry. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [00.58] Ian's background, his role at Tealbook and why diversity is close to his heart. "I saw this incredible opportunity to improve the way businesses are approaching diversity." [03.25] Why diversity in supply chain is so important. [07.47] Tealbook's quick and easy Supplier Diversity Self-Certification process. "I've timed it – from start to finish, it will take you 30 minutes." [11.16] Tealbook's Tier 2 Diversity Program and its benefits to both big businesses and small suppliers. [16.35] Why it's so important for suppliers to participate in these kinds of programs, and really embrace a new world of diversity. "A key part of this transformation is for suppliers to see the change, embrace it and get the benefit of it." [21.20] Why technology needs to continue to evolve, and businesses need to continue to innovate so, as an industry, we can meet rapidly evolving requirements and achieve our goals. [24.48] How Tealbook invests in, and leverages, technology to stay ahead of the game and support that innovation. [26.55] How Tealbook builds trust, reduces cost and lowers risk for companies who want to work with diverse suppliers but are nervous about taking the leap. [28.51] The biggest lesson Tealbook learned from the COVID-19 crisis, and how it helped them find their niche. "We will keep innovating to provide the tools to respond to the next unknown unknown – and we all know there's always a next one." RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to Tealbook's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

After spending 16 years in management at Bimbo, part of the Sara Lee Bakery group, focusing on supply chain and purchasing, as well as sales and operations planning, Miquel combined his knowledge, experience and passion to found Solutions & Decisions in 2009. Their mission is to make operations more efficient, reducing costs and creating a clear global company vision. Through his three pillars of 'Change', 'Grow' and 'Share,' Miquel aims to simplify the complexity of supply chain, so that clients can see real operational and economic results. Today, we're talking about what led Miquel to found Solutions and Decisions, his wealth of experience, how he applies what he's learned to companies both big and small, and why he's championing people and talent as the future of supply chain. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [08.22] Miquel's career history, how he came to found Solutions and Decisions and the amazing story behind the name. [12.01] Exactly what Solutions and Decisions do for their customers. "We're like supply chain doctors!" [14.30] Miquel explains his three pillars: change, grow and share. "Supply chain is about the capacity and flexibility to adapt to what's going on, on the outside." [20.20] How Solutions and Decisions approach supply chain, breaking down its complexity to deliver results. [22.52] What Miquel has learned from working with both SME's and large organizations, and why companies are more similar than they think. [27.33] Why communication can be difficult in business, but why it's critical to get it right. [29.31] A real-life example of how Solutions and Decisions helped a key customer. "There was not an alignment between the different departments, because they had conflicting goals – there were no common goals aligned to the business strategy." [34.52] An ideal customer's approach: Solutions and Decisions can work with a business of any size, in any industry, as long as they're committed to the 'decisions' piece, as well as the diagnostic 'solutions' one. [36.53] Why Miquel became a coach. [40.32] From constant learning to talent development, the future for Miquel and Solutions and Decisions. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: Head over to Solutions and Decisions website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Miquel over on LinkedIn. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

We're back with Episode 2 of our "Lessons Learned from Crises" mini-series, in partnership with Tealbook. In last week's episode 'Bad Data,' we talked to Tealbook CEO Stephany Lapierre about the impact of poor supplier data, some of the biggest lessons learned from the COVID-19 crisis and exactly how Tealbook can help to revolutionize your data systems. Today in Episode 2, Stay Ready, I'm joined by Tealbook's VP of Strategy Matt Palackdharry to talk about the importance of good data, the value to be found in transparency and collaboration and why, despite only being founded in 2014, IDC recently ranked Tealbook as the #4 procurement platform tool currently in use today. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [01.05] Matt's background, and how his experiences led him to Tealbook. "The number 1 reason that these technology platforms were failing was never the software or the integrations themselves – it's actually the data going in that compromises everything downstream." [04.03] Exactly what good data is, and why it's so important. [07.03] The challenges of data, and the potential for success when you get the data right. "The amount of data that's being created in the space is increasing tenfold year after year, and we're still trying to make sense of that data with the same amount of staff." [09.02] Tealbook's Autonomous Data Enrichment – what does it mean, and how does it help. [12.38] How Tealbook deliver accuracy and transparency in their supply chain data to ensure they are a trusted industry partner. [15.30] How transparency builds trust and community and facilitates successful industry collaboration. "We do not promise perfect data: what we promise is that we'll give you all of the data at your fingertips so you can make informed decisions and that our data, through our mechanisms, will get better over time." [18.30] Why IDC recently ranked Tealbook as the #4 procurement platform tool currently in use today. [22.33] How COVID-19 highlighted some key industry flaws and the high-profile customers Tealbook were able to help steer through the crisis. [29.28] The key lessons Tealbook learned from the COVID-19 crisis. Head over to Tealbook's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

This week's episode of our Women in Supply Chain series features Jenti Vandertuig. Born in India, Jenti got her degree at Madras University in Chennai, one of the oldest and most well-respected universities in India, before moving to the USA and pursuing a career in government. After more than 25 years spent transforming public sector procurement through designing and delivering pioneering new solutions, it was time for a change. Now she's a trailblazer showing the sports and entertainment industry how important supply chain is to their organizations. Today Jenti will be sharing her fascinating life story with us, from scared but ambitious girl growing up in India, to the woman who decided to take control of her own destiny. She'll be talking about her successful career in government and what made her switch industries; overcoming challenges, and all about how she found her voice along the way. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [07.54] Jenti's background growing up in India, and the early experiences that began to shape her as a woman. "I sum up my life as a struggle for victory of owning my own life, even if it meant starting from nothing." [10.41] How an arranged marriage bought Jenti to California at the age of 21, the home of her 'riches to rags' story. [12.57] How a volunteering opportunity, a lucky break and a good mentor launched Jenti's career in the City of Sunnyvale. [15.57] How a strong mentor gave Jenti the courage to learn, and to succeed. "That encouragement truly gave me the passion to excel, to take some chances and go further than what I'd anticipated for myself." [19.13] After dipping her toes in the private sector, and the dot com bust, Jenti moved on to bigger and better opportunities as a contractor at the County of Santa Clara. "When opportunities came my way, I ran with it!" [21.15] Some of the challenges Jenti faced along the way, and the persistence she found to overcome them. [26.19] How Jenti found her voice. [30.28] The importance of communication, how Jenti found herself moving from government to the San Francisco 49ers and the new excitement and passion it has brought her. "It's like a brand-new life for me." [35.34] The lessons that Jenti has learned along the way. [38.04] Jenti shares her advice for girls and women looking to follow in her footsteps. Keep up to date with the amazing Jenti by connecting with her on LinkedIn. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Our new mini-series, in partnership with Tealbook, is called "Lessons Learned from Crisis" – it's a timely look at how individual businesses, and our industry as a whole, need to learn, adapt and use our findings to inform our shared future. Over the next four episodes, we'll be taking a closer look at the importance of data, managing risk, technological advancements, what COVID-19 has taught us about weathering the storm – and how Tealbook can support your business, through good times and bad. Today in Episode 1, Bad Data, I'm joined by Tealbook CEO Stephany Lapierre to talk about the potentially devastating impact of poor supplier data, some of the biggest lessons learned from the COVID-19 crisis and exactly how Tealbook can help to revolutionize your data systems. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [01.30] Stephanie's thoughts on many companies' cynical approach to data management, and how it highlights the need for a simple, effective and comprehensive solution to harnessing, unifying and synchronising data. "It's not as hard as you think to have good data!" [03.24] How Stephanie's experiences, and the problems she observed, inspired her to found Tealbook. [09.45] The importance of data-first digital transformation and how Tealbook enhances visibility, identifies opportunities for supplier consolidation and encourages collaboration to simplify data and create 'a single source of truth.' [16.08] Bad data, and why it's so harmful to business. "93% of supply chain and procurement executives claim to have negative impact on their business on a regular basis because of misinformation and poor data quality." [18.49] How Tealbook allows companies to take charge of their data, keeping it up-to-date, accessible and accurate, eliminating bad data. [24.08] Tealbook's amazing community spirit: how they helped over 170 business in the first 3 weeks of the COVID-19 crisis to access key data that enabled them to pivot quickly and effectively, and Tealbook's mission to help minority businesses in response to the Black Lives Matter movement. "We offered the market the ability to provide a supplier list for any organisation, in the private and public sector, that had a disrupted supply chain." [29.10] From operating a strong data strategy to employing supplier data platforms, what Tealbook has learned from the COVID-19 crisis and what the industry can learn for the future. "Don't hope technology will solve your data problem!" Head over to Tealbook's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Tax – for many of us, it can be a word that strikes fear into the heart of our businesses! Global tax is a complex area of expertise, that often isn't linked as closely as it should be to operations and decision-making. Enter Global Tax Focus. Their goal is to help you see the global landscape of an enterprise by focusing on the intersection of operations and tax. They partner with an international team of deep technical business and tax specialists, bringing the latest in global thought leadership, to help you to identify where business and tax efficiencies can be achieved, by focusing on cross-border transactions, business structure, and reducing both tax and operating costs. Today I'm joined by Jim Dawson of Global Tax Focus to talk more about the implications of tax on many different areas of business, why being pro-active with tax is so beneficial, and why tax and supply chain professionals need to collaborate to ensure their voices are heard. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [9.22] Jim's background in international tax, and the tax implications on supply chain. [11.20] How Jim helps owner-managed or family-owned middle market companies to understand and manage their tax implications, now and in the future. "If you start making decisions to move assets, people and risk around the world, those aren't decisions to be entered into lightly." [16.02] How recent tax changes disrupted the market, and the impact of that on nearshore and offshore investment, income and processes. [24.15] Jim's top 5 pieces of advice for the supply chain community on exactly how taxes should feature within their strategies. "For most companies, taxes represent 20% of the cost reported on an income statement – so it's very important that, in order to reduce that amount, supply chain professionals work collaboratively with the accounting/tax department." [29.18] The benefits of free trade zones. [31.58] A real-life example of how Jim is helping a client navigate current challenges and market changes. [35.55] Jim's thoughts on the idea that tax advantage is a business solution rather than a supply chain solution. "Tax should never way the dog's tail – it should be what's best for the company from an operation perspective, and then overlay tax on top of it." [38.17] An overview of transfer pricing. [43.09] The future for Global Tax Focus Head over to Global Tax Focus' website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too, or connect with Jim Dawson on LinkedIn. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

I'm so sad to say that this is the final episode in our 'You Won't Believe What We've Seen' mini-series, in partnership with SQA services. But over the course of these four episodes we've had a blast! We've chatted to some inspirational people, learned a lot and heard some amazing stories – we really can't believe what they've seen! I hope you've enjoyed the series just as much as I have and don't forget, you can still catch up on any episodes you might've missed HERE. In last week's episode 'High Stakes', we were joined by father and son team Jim and Mike McKay to tackle the ever-changing landscape of technology. We talked about the latest technological advances in the industry and really did a deep dive into the importance of quality, right from the outset, and how it's achieved through honesty, communication, collaboration and partnership. And today, last but definitely not least, we're headed to the multi-billion-dollar world of beauty. Mike McKay is joining us one last time alongside the incredible Ashley Goldberg, Executive Director of Quality and Operational Excellence at Merz North America. We're taking a closer look at the changing face of the beauty industry, the rise of social media and the impact of influencers, and why quality is more important than ever. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [01.03] Introducing Mike McKay. [02.19] Introducing Ashley Goldberg. [03.46] SQA's key beauty industry partnerships, from Estee Lauder to Colgate-Palmolive. [04.18] An introduction to Merz. [05.32] How SQA's early partnership with Colgate-Palmolive helped the business take off. "I went from zero sales to several hundred thousand, by employing two or three hundred people in three different cities and shipping over 38,000 tubes of toothpaste!" (MMK) [11.40] The importance of relationship-building in every stage – from raw materials to manufacturing to supply chain – to ensure quality, particularly in the start-up space. [15.26] The relationship between Merz and SQA, and the importance of teamwork. "They're going to come in as an honest partner… to support it, augment it, and ultimately make sure you have the ability to build a robust supply chain." (AG) [19.36] Why it's essential to ensure quality at source. "Ensuring that your entire supply chain and all of your partners have the same values and integrity you have for your product is so important, because ultimately your customer is what matters." (AG) [23.14] Why cost-cutting strategies aren't always the best approach, particularly for quality. "Is the risk really worth it? What's the cost of customer dissatisfaction?" (MMK) [26.25] How consumer behavior is driving supply chain optimization. [29.30] How social media, communication speed and influencer impact can have a very positive, or negative, effect on your brand – making quality even more important. [31.29] SQA's 'Quality Is' campaign and how it helps customers to ensure quality is an accessible and better understood topic. [35.08] Why designing quality into the supply chain from the beginning is going to be vital to the future of the beauty industry. You can connect with Mike on LinkedIn, or head over to SQA's website now to find out more, meet the team and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Ashley on LinkedIn or find out all about the different facets to Merz on their website. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Development of the Omnae Platform began fairly recently, in 2016, with a small team and a big vision. Harnessing over 30 years of deep industry experience, Omnae's mission was to build a network and service that was bigger than just manufacturing; to create a technology that was both industry and country agnostic, with the goal of connecting every facet of global production. Omnae's founders saw the potential – and necessity – for a global supply web, and knew they had the know-how to build it. And it's safe to say Omnae has gone from strength to strength, proving that their mission, and unique approach, is spot on. Today I'm joined by CEO Dan Lionello to talk more about the global supply web, the need for improved transparency, resilience and communication in supply chain and how Omnae's platform has the potential to transform supply chain for everyone.

We're back with Episode 3 of our 'You Won't Believe What We've Seen' mini-series, in partnership with SQA services, and I'm sure you're enjoying it just as much as I am. In last week's episode 'Saving Lives', we were joined by SQA founder and President Mike McKay, as well as the President & CEO of Civica Rx Martin VanTrieste, to talk about supply chain and the importance of quality in the life sciences industry. We explored the dark world of counterfeit drugs and shadow factories, the impact of COVID-19, drug shortages and ultimately the importance of supply chain in saving lives. Don't forget to check it out if you missed it! Today, we're taking on the complex world of technology and Mike McKay is joined by his Father, Chairman of SQA, Jim McKay. They're going to be exploring some of the latest technological advances in the industry and explaining how quality is so closely linked to honesty, communication, collaboration and partnership. And how, if you don't have a focus on quality from the beginning, the impact on today's technology-driven and dependent society is potentially devastating. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [01.03] Introducing Mike McKay. [02.08] Introducing Jim McKay. "The more things change, the more they remain the same – and that applies to what we're doing at SQA." (JMK) [03.46] SQA's key partnerships in the technology industry, from Apple to Google. [04.41] Finding the right experts and building customized teams to meet customer challenges. [05.56] How SQA bring their expertise to help their customers save time and money on vital audits and inspections. "Our product is our people." (MMK) [10.20] The origins of Intertek, which lead Jim to partner with Mike and found SQA. [13.50] Mike's background, his perspective on working with his Dad and pivoting the Intertek approach to find a new path for SQA. [16.49] The challenge of the 'hard sell' and encouraging customer investment in up-front strategies for quality. [20.27] Why SQA are constantly striving for quality, and how they work in partnership with their customers to continue to deliver it. "It's a relentless task!" (JMK) [24.54] How a focus on quality from the outset, alongside choosing the right partners, can reduce future defects and recalls. "We got out to one service supplier where the address didn't even exist!" [27.46] The rise of cyber audits and the importance of quality in security and data. [30.56] The importance of partnerships in an ever changing technological world. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: You can connect with Mike and Jim on LinkedIn, or head over to SQA's website now to find out more, meet the team and discover how they could help you too. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Founder and CEO of Tive, Krenar Komoni, has what can only be described as an impressive career, with more than 10 years spent in the wireless industry gaining expertise in chip design and business development. He worked with BitWave Semiconductor, where he developed the world's first 2G+3G+LTE radio in a single chip, Eta Devices – an MIT-based start-up developing the world's most efficient cellular base stations – and consulted for Fortune 500 companies launching new wireless products. But it was a simple conversation with his father in law, who was complaining of the challenges of supply chain, that sparked Krenar's entrepreneurial spirit, helped him identify a vital niche, and go on to establish Tive. Designed to help companies take the surprises out of their supply chains through true end-to-end visibility, their innovative solutions are taking the market by storm. Today, we're talking about the importance of understanding how the modern supply chain works and providing rounded solutions, accuracy and data, sustainability and how Tive are changing the face of supply chain visibility. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [06.37] How Tive was founded, and the story behind the name. [09.30] What Tive and its product trackers do for manufacturers and logistics suppliers. [11.15] An overview of the Tive product offering, including multi-use and single-use trackers. "We are the first in the industry to release the first single-use tracker that doesn't contain lithium batteries." [12.53] The benefit of using trackers at pallet level. [15.26] How Tive helps to bring visibility to supply chain. "Visibility has become a must-have, and one way to achieve it is by getting data from the assets that are moving the goods." [19.38] The interplay between hardware, software and service in supporting visibility. [22.11] Tive's top 3 trackers, what they do and why they're so special. [26.25] The future of 5G. [27.50] From security to perishable goods, some real-life examples of how Tive has supported customers and saved them time and money. "They were able to use the data, reports and analytics that we provided to reduce the number of shipment rejections by 90%." [31.15] Tive's ideal customer. [32.27] Krenar's best advice for other supply chain start-ups and entrepreneurs. "Every start-up has ups and downs, but the key is to really believe in your goal." [35.08] What the future holds for Tive. Head over to Tive's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

I hope you're enjoying our fascinating 'You Won't Believe What We've Seen' mini-series, in partnership with SQA services. In last week's episode 'Mission Control' (insert link), we talked to SQA founder and President Mike McKay, and industry professional and advisor to SQA Jeff Luckey, and delved into the incredible world of aircraft and aerospace. And we have an equally amazing podcast for you today, with episode 2 'Saving Lives,' as we dive into the life sciences. Mike McKay joins us once again, alongside President & CEO of Civica Rx Martin Van Trieste, one of Modern Healthcare's '100 Most Influential People in Healthcare' and the #2 leader on The Medicine Maker's 'Power List of Industry Influencers.' They're going to be exploring the dark world of counterfeit drugs and shadow factories, sharing their passions and experiences after many years at the top of their industry, and reinforcing that all-important topic of Quality. You don't want to miss it! IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [00.58] Introducing Mike McKay. [02.18] Introducing Martin Van Trieste. [04.28] SQA's key partnerships in the life sciences industry, from Pfizer to Johnson and Johnson. [05.01] Martin's long-standing relationship with SQA, and why he came to rely on their services. "Over 20 years, I've become enamored with their business model. But more importantly, I grew to respect Mike and his team so much – I trust them – and that's something that takes a long time to build." (MVT) [07.15] The importance of working as an extension of a customer's team, being flexible, efficient and meeting customized needs. [10.21] How saving time and money through using a team of specialists like SQA, means customers are freed up to work on the important things – saving lives. [12.02] Why working with SQA is not simple out-sourcing: it's all about information sharing, communication, honesty and collaboration. "It's a very interactive process." (MVT) [14.27] Shadow factories, their impact on the industry, and on saving lives. [16.52] Show factories, and Mike's eye-opening industry experiences. "Our auditor walked over to a drum, lifted up the top and saw the laminate still inside – no product had been made there!" (MMK) [19.12] Supply and demand during COVID-19. [23.15] SQA's passion and pride to be doing their part in developing vaccines and saving lives. [26.06] Why there are drug shortages, 'Just in Time' vs 'Just in Case' and how/why Martin's company Civica Rx are moving towards shorter, more robust supply chains. "Not all industries are the same: you can't apply every solution to the same problem in a different industry." (MVT) [31.45] Why quality is so important, both on a business and a personal level. [33.41] How SQA's 'Quality Is' campaign helps to keep quality at the top of everybody's agenda, both internally and with customers too. [35.53] Why without quality, you don't have safety – and you can't save lives. You can connect with Mike on LinkedIn, or head over to SQA's website now to find out more, meet the team and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Martin on LinkedIn or find out more about Civica Rx's pioneering work on their website. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

Back in 2001, Optessa Founder Srinivas (Vasu) Netrakanti identified an important but poorly served niche: to provide high quality planning and scheduling solutions that truly addressed industry needs. And as a management graduate and highly successful serial entrepreneur, he had the knowledge, experience and courage to deliver it. Vasu partnered with Founder and CEO Ashok Erramilli, who brought his own incredible skills – including an Electrical Engineering Ph.D. from Yale, years of experience as a consultant to engineering and networking corporations, and from his role as Research Manager at Bellcore (now Telcordia) – to the mix. The ambitious and highly skilled duo built Optessa with the vision of helping complex manufacturers optimize their production plans and schedules, utilizing intelligent solutions. Their Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) software creates complete, optimal, even quality solutions, and their software can model any manufacturing requirement, with speedy deployment. In today's episode Ashok discusses current industry challenges in light of COVID-19, the importance of evaluating supply chains by criteria other than simply cost, achieving balance and stability in supply chain and the power of data-driven analytics. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [06.30] The story behind Optessa, and how they continue to deliver and evolve. [10.50] How Optessa uses data optimization to allow customers to match supply with demand and stay efficient. "We help manufacturers answer these three basic questions: what do I make, where do I make it and when do I make it?" [13.15] How COVID-19 has hung a question mark over the industry, the challenge of trying to be prepared for everything, and how the crisis has highlighted a need for more robust supply chains. [16.20] From risk to stability, flexibility to responsiveness, the need to evaluate supply chains by criteria other than simply cost. [19.05] How the current crisis highlighted supply chain vulnerabilities companies didn't even know they had, and the importance of readily available good data, to allow companies to use predictive analytics to be proactive rather than reactive. "You can have the most efficient supply chain, but when you have a disruption like this one, that could be the end of your business." [21.01] The art of trade-offs – how you can use optimization to reconcile contradictory elements and achieve the best balance for your business. "Given your comfort level, your priorities – it will tell you the best trade-off." [23.57] The story behind the name Optessa. [25.11] What effect the USMCA might have on manufacturing. [28.02] Customer case study: how Optessa reduced the number of change points from 1200 to 300 for one client, saving them enough money to pay for a whole new software suite, by interpreting, anticipating and so minimizing change. "In the real world, as soon as you make a plan – things change!" [33.20] Optessa's ideal client, and the questions they need to ask themselves before getting in touch. [36.45] Why if a company has two out of three V's – volume, variety and value – Optessa can help. [37.54] What the future holds for Optessa. Head over to Optessa's website now to find out more, meet the team and discover how they could help you too. Check out our other podcasts HERE.

I'm incredibly excited to bring you a brand new 4-part series, in partnership with SQA Services. SQA Services has over 25 years' experience and is now widely recognized as a flexible global resource and a proven solution provider for today's complex supply environments. I've gotten to know them over the past few months and their industry knowledge, passion – and amazing stories – demanded their own platform. Inspired by their experiences and anecdotes, I'm proud to introduce the aptly named 'You Won't Believe What We've Seen' mini-series. Over the next 4 episodes, we'll be bringing you stories that showcase the importance of quality in supply chain and the fascinating places it's taken SQA. So, grab a coffee and find a quiet spot to enjoy Episode 1, 'Mission Control.' Featuring SQA founder and President Mike McKay, and industry professional and advisor to SQA Jeff Luckey, this episode takes us into the incredible world of aircraft and aerospace. IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [01.26] Introducing Mike McKay. [02.46] Introducing Jeff Luckey. "I know a thing or two, because I've seen a thing or two!" (JL) [04.28] SQA's key industry partnerships, from Boeing to NASA. [08.29] Jeff's relationship with SQA, their introduction to Boeing and the importance of quality. "Unless quality is actually built in at the beginning… you're likely to have quality issues at the end of the chain." (JL) [12.14] The responsibility, pride and pressure that goes hand in hand with being a part of supply chain for space missions. [15.34] The sheer scale of Aeronautic production, which really puts the importance of quality into perspective. [18.53] How Mike's son, who is a pilot, brings a personal angle to quality and safety. [21.04] How getting to know customers, as well as inspiring and trusting your staff, combines to build a great team. "I'm like the owner of a sports team: you hire your head coach and then let them go to work!" (MMK) [23.44] Jeff's Boeing projection figures and the future of aircraft. [28.57] How SQA will adapt and support the automation of the future. "The only constant is change." (MMK) [31.28] SQA's 'Quality Is' campaign. [35.52] Our expectation for excellence, and how that demands quality. RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED: You can connect with Mike on LinkedIn, or head over to SQA's website to find out more, meet the team and discover how they could help you too. Check out our other podcasts HERE

This week's episode of Women in Supply Chain Series features Martha Lumatete. Inspired by both her grandmother, who began her own construction supply business, and her father, an accomplished lawyer in Kenya, Martha Lumatete always had her sights set on success. In today's episode, she discusses her incredible journey so far, from those initial aspirations to the woman she is today. After graduating law school, she took a role at Pepsi working in data and analysis and became fascinated with the supply chain process – how a product works its way through manufacture and distribution, and the consumer behavior behind it. Driven by her natural curiosity, bravery and thirst for knowledge, Martha worked in a number of different industries and areas, gathering new skills and experiences along the way. Currently working for Southwest Airlines in software acquisition, Martha brings her own unique blend of integrity, passion and positivity to the table, reminding us that good business is not just about making good deals, it's all about nurturing great relationships. In this episode we discuss: [06.20] Martha's background and her journey to success [14.28] Her current role and responsibilities for Southwest Airlines "They lead with love, but they have a warrior spirit" [18.58] The importance of building strong partnerships "If there's no partnership, you're going to have a company that is struggling" [22.25] Martha's inspiration and the quote she lives by. "Be generous and expert; trustworthy and clear; open-minded and adaptable; persistent and present." [25.25] Personal courage and risk-taking, and how that links to the importance of agility in business: continuing to learn, grow, support others and grasp opportunity "The one thing that's constant is change" Resources and links mentioned: Head over to LinkedIn to connect with Martha and continue to follow her inspirational journey. Check out our other podcasts HERE

Like his Father and Grandfather before him, Founder and President of Logistics Titans Wes Streubing has supply chain in his blood. And he's on a mission to bring that passion, history and industry knowledge together to bring a new and innovative approach to supply chain. As the largest specialized and asset-based carrier in the US, Logistics Titans aim is to empower their clients with new possibilities through their commitment to seeking out the latest technologies, providing data-driven insights and bringing a customized, holistic approach to every client. In this episode, Wes discusses the challenges we're currently facing in supply chain and how the industry needs to continue to be creative and agile in its approach. And innovative industry leaders who continue to learn and grow are a vital part of this, especially in unprecedented times as we continue to face the impact of Covid 19. But, as Wes looks to the future, he's sure that Covid 19 is 'a short-term discomfort, not a long-term problem' and that the future for supply chain is bright. In this episode we discuss: [00.38] The history behind the Logistics Titans brand [02.08] Industry complexity and challenges, from accurate forecasting to predictive analysis [03.27] The importance of data "We've gone from just being people who provide transportation services and warehousing services to being someone who provides meaningful data back to business" [06.33] Working with partners and Wes's core philosophy in life and business "I'll be in your life as long as I can make it better" [07.42] Growth and self-awareness in leadership [10.01] Content consumption, and how Covid 19 has brought supply chain content all the way to the board room [12.45] How their holistic approach makes Logistics Titans different "Our mission is to facilitate our client's agenda" [15.56] The impact of Covid 19 and the importance of creative strategy and problem solving within supply chain [21.32] A real life example of how Logistics Titans revolutionized their customers' existing process [24.38] The process of working with Logistics Titans [27.23] How the future of logistics will marry people and technology [30.32] The future for Logistics Titans Resources and links mentioned: To find out more about Logistics Titans, or to book a free call to see how they could help you, visit their website. Check out our other podcasts HERE

Ram is the founder of SKUteam, a company that provides globalized supply chain with localized supervision. They help companies working in the apparel, furnishing and fashion accessories industries take control of their supply chain and cut out unnecessary middlemen. Ram explains that when it comes to production, 70% of processes happen in a factory. But brands have no idea what happens in the factories: they can't tell if workers are paid fair wages, if working conditions are at the right standard or whether the product is manufactured according to the specific requirements. SKUteam help brands track every section of the supply chain works by offering a whole range of services including accounting and finance, inspections, audits and inventory planning. With trends such as globalization and events such as Covid-19, brands want to move away from China and manufacture products elsewhere - but they aren't sure where to go next. SKUteam helps brands find the appropriate factories and sample inventory. They then manage the audits, inspections and factory management. As Ram says, the future of supply chain is about removing human involvement. With SKUteam's product, brands can be at the forefront of their industry simply by reducing costs and sourcing effectively. In this episode we discuss: [6.48] What influenced Ram to create SKUteam [11.51] What SKUteam does [17.48] How SKUteam helps customers throughout Covid [31.29] What their ideal client looks like [37.57] The future for SKUteam Resources and links mentioned: SKUteam Promo: refer Lets Talk supply Chain when you reach out to SKUTEAM!! First two Purchase orders, free!

Ranna is a supply chain professional who works for Resilinc, a supply chain risk management company that offers data analytics and insights on supplier performance. With their patented technology, Resilinc can produce simulations of potential catastrophes and help customers and suppliers mitigate risk. What is supply chain mapping? Ranna explains that supply chain mapping is about knowing who your tier 1, tier 2 and tier 3 suppliers are. Mapping is about knowing the full flow of your supply chain and therefore being able to successfully identify any points of failure. Large scale events such as Covid and have proved the importance of knowing how your entire supply chain works and being proactive rather than reactive. Ranna has worked in supply chain for 20 years, and says the industry has come very far. Thanks to advances in technology, companies can use data to prepare and handle risk efficiently. With more natural disasters happening every year, this is more relevant than ever. She also explains that the future of supply chain will involve more transparency and an even greater ability to connect directly customers with suppliers. Ranna loves her job as supply chain manager and she highly recommends it to anyone who wants a career that involves building strategic relationships, understanding how cultures work and international travel. In this episode we discuss: [0.30] Who is Resilinc? [2.55] What is supply chain mapping? [11.28] What Ranna loves about supply chain [16.55] How supply chain has changed in the past 20 years [27.14] Advice to young women interested in supply chain Resources and links mentioned: Resilinc

Melody is a supply chain professional who works for Alloy, a platform that offers in-depth data analytics for consumer good companies. For our Women in Supply chain spotlight for July, sponsored by Alloy, Melody tells us what her journey in supply chain has been like, what keeps her motivated and her plans for the future. Supply chain is constantly changing and advancing - yet many companies are sticking to manual processes. Although they recognise and understand the need for analytics, companies still use spreadsheets and adopting technology at a very slow pace. As Melody says, it's almost like companies don't believe the right tools are out there and that manual is more efficient. As someone who works in commercial software, Melody knows there is still a lot of work to do. What does success mean to Melody? To her, it means being in control of her destiny and being in a position to help others. She is driven by being surrounded by intellectuals who are eager to solve problems by tinkering and continuously testing. To others who are looking to get into a career in supply chain, Melody says: figure out what gets you motivated in the long haul and make sure to try as many different parts of supply chain as possible: after all, you won't know what you like unless you try it! In this episode we discuss: [8.14] How Melody fell into supply chain [14.48] What success means to her [15.43] The conversations she's having in supply chain tech [25.20] Advice to people looking at supply chain as a career [34.04] A moment when Melody had to take a leap of faith Resources and links mentioned: Alloy Dynamic Supply Chain Book Stay Connected with the Podcast: Find us at Let's Talk Supply Chain Women in Supply Chain Series

Robert and Lee are the founders of Mercado, a platform that aims to bring together every section of the supply chain from sourcing, to legal, to sales and much more. Supply chain still needs to be properly disrupted, and Mercado believes a marketplace is the key forward. Why is supply chain not disrupted yet? Rob explains that the complexity of supply chain is daunting and the combination of various processes makes it difficult to innovate as a whole. Many companies that claim to resolve an issue using tech only solve one specific piece of the puzzle. With Mercado, Rob and Lee want to fix the problem by transferring the entire "puzzle" online. Rob believes that the best place to fix an issue is at the beginning: the purchase order. The first mile is what needs digitizing first - and it's often the most inefficient part of the process. Imagine if every time you ordered a burger at McDonald's the workers had to go back and forth between you and the kitchen to get your order right? This is what is currently happening in the supply chain world. In 5 to 10 years, Rob hopes we'll look back on this period like we currently look back on taxis (thanks Uber). In this episode we discuss: [19.25] Where they got the idea of Mercado [26.05] The journey to launch [37.23] Why supply chain is not yet disrupted [43.20] Why digitizing the first mile changes everything [51.50] The future for Mercado Resources and links mentioned: Mercado EP 58 - Shining light in the dark corners of supply chain Stay Connected with the Podcast: Find us at Let's Talk Supply Chain

Rob is Head of Ethics at Airbnb and author of the book "Intentional Integrity". His role as head of an ethics team is to implement a code of conduct that encourages integrity, is aligned with brand values and help employees navigate the complex world of ethical dilemmas. Rob explains that a company with integrity must start with the leadership: the CEO needs to say upfront what the brand does and doesn't do. The leader must also create their own code of ethics and involve employees in the process: what do they think is important? How can we make our values as clear as possible? What are the main ethical dilemmas? A company that takes ethics seriously is more likely to attract ethical business and therefore have ethical stakeholders. Ethics is at the core of how Airbnb operates. Every team has their own Ethics advisor; this is someone on the team that takes part in a one-day ethics training every year and is the person employees can turn to in order to answer complex ethical questions. Airbnb also publishes ethics videos every month on how to work with integrity. Through their own code of conduct, Airbnb has addressed several issues such as not accepting gifts over $200 and not allowing romantic relationships within the workplace. As Rob says, there is nothing like a crisis to highlight the importance of integrity; companies with ethics at its core are more likely to stand out and even thrive through a crisis. In this episode we discuss: [2.50] Why Ethics Matters [10.12] How to involve integrity into a company [16.25] Real life example of an ethical dilemma [29.16] How to lead through a crisis [33.28] What's Next on the journey to integrity Resources and links mentioned: airbnb Intentional Integrity Stay Connected with the Podcast: Find us at Let's Talk Supply Chain

Jason is the CEO of MacGregor Partners, a supply chain solutions provider that uses IT and software to help companies work faster, smarter and more efficiently. What does their process look like? They ask a lot of questions, build a bespoke solution and then train every stakeholder that's part of the operation. They live and breathe digital and are revolutionizing the relationship between drivers, paper and staff. According to Jason, the top three challenges in supply chain are data, systems and analytics. As a supply chain solutions company, MacGregor Partners knows how hard it actually is to implement data correctly, and how to build systems that don't end up siloed. For this reason, they focus on Warehouse Management System (WMS) combined with analytics and visibility. MacGregor Partners' typical clients are companies that are interested in technology and are looking for ways to implement software to optimize their distribution center. At MacGregor Partners, Jason and his team are "dethinkers": they don't overthink data and focus on the journey. Their design process is very hands-on, with the team only moving onto the next functional area once the previous one has been completed and confirmed by the customer - this allows them to be much more agile and adaptable to unexpected shocks, such as Covid-19. In the future, MacGregor Partners will be focused on delivering better products, more experiments and an even more cost-efficient methodology. In this episode we discuss: [0.35] MacGregor Partners, where it all began [12.15] The nitty-gritty of what they do [17.55] Top 3 challenges in supply chain [23.15] How does the customer benefit? [33.25] The future of the company Resources and links mentioned: MacGregor Partners

Today Sarah chats with Scott and Greg from Supply Chain Now about the last in their super trend series: Start up Mentality. The Covid crisis has brought a pivotal moment on Earth for everyone, and therefore an opportunity to accelerate important trends. As Greg says, necessity is the mother of innovation; with the crisis, supply chain is on everyone's mind and companies are now serious about changing. As Scott declares, now is the time to seize the moment. Organizations are now more willing to challenge norms and be disruptive. As Scott and Greg explain, companies need to embrace the startup spirit: taking action, being disruptive (instead of disrupted) and giving authority to the people on the front line. The old way of working is slowly dying out, and those that resist change will die out with it. Greg believes that what's most important is being humble enough to learn something new every day and being patient. Scott says that it's important to remember that passion is not enough, that what entrepreneurs really need is obsession. In order to make a company work, you need to be willing to risk it all. Finally, Sarah reiterates that in order for effective collaboration to take place, large companies need to bring down barriers and make it easy for startups to work with them. And of course, at the end of the day, the most important is understanding what it is that a customer wants from you. In this episode we discuss: [4.01] How to stay innovative [13.10] Embracing the startup spirit [21.40] How to really rebrand [38.37] The importance of failing [54.52] Main takeaways Resources and links mentioned: Supply Chain Now Upcoming Twitter Chat Follow #SCSuperTrends from 2pm to 3pm EST @LetsTalkSChain Super Trend #1 Super Trend #2 Super Trend #3

Diane has worked in supply chain for 25 years. Her career has taken her from Ireland, to Australia, China and finally California. She started her work in travel management and eventually fell in love with designing business systems, logistics and leveraging technology to improve supply chain. Thanks to her upbringing, Diane isn't someone who shies away from making her voice heard and being a leader. Early on in her career she worked hard to create a culture where the team provided regular feedback which in turn helped her become a better leader. Her objective has always been to find someone to replace her position once she moves on, so the team can thrive without her. To Diane, success is her client's success. This is what gives her a sense of fulfillment and encourages her to keep working. Her advice to other leaders is to hire people who have initiative, who are ambitious and inherently curious. She also places a lot of emphasis on being able to admit mistakes, and knowing that one cannot grow without first making mistakes. Finally, on diversity, Diane believes in picking the right candidate rather than scoring "diversity points". Instead, she focuses on fostering open communication with other women. In this episode we discuss: [0.52] Diane's goes global [4.40] How she adapted to working in different countries [6.44] Finding your voice [18.42] The importance of feedback [24.07] Advice for other leaders Resources and links mentioned: Omnichain Women in Supply Chain Series

We are finding that a lot of supply chain software takes a lot of time for on boarding and our guest today is here to tell us about their solution that can be implemented in days! Thats right Chris from Right Sized inventory is here to tell us all about how they make that happen and what they are doing for warehouses everywhere, Chris is the Vice President of Right Sized Inventory, an optimization software that helps companies eliminate inventory imbalances through real life simulations. By gathering the correct data all in one place, RSI helps companies get started with predictive analytics and supply chain optimization. With safety stock being questioned these days because of Covid and organizations are looking at different solutions to help diversify their inventory such as just in case instead of just in time, Chris tells us how his clients are using the data RSI provides them with differently, and they are seeing requests they have never seen before. The unique selling point with RSI is that they help companies manage their inventory more efficiently at an affordable price. How? They use their own patented technology that gathers and synthesizes data in a couple of hours. By using their software, clients are able to manage their inventory surplus and excess, helping them save them millions of dollars as well as improve customer service levels. Since RSI is affordable and based on tech, they are able to work with companies of all sizes. Using one real life example, Chris explains how they decreased a client's inventory levels by 20% and helped them save over 6 million dollars. With the Covid-19 pandemic, they are still able to help businesses prepare for when demand increases and any other what-if scenarios. For the future, RSI is focusing on growing their organic approach, partnering up with consulting firms and embedding their patented technology into their systems. In this episode we discuss: [0.40] The story behind RSI [5.30] Data and real life simulation [14.53 manage your inventory [19.12] decrease inventory levels by 20% [24.20] The future is collaboration Resources and links mentioned: Right Sized Inventory

Mike works for Apex, the third largest freight forwarder in the world and number one forwarder transporting products from China. In 2019 they flew 500 charter flights, and have grown by $1 billion in 10 years! Apex transports all types of products, from high tech, to retail, to ecommerce. They have charters that transport over 100,000 kilos and their planes can reach every corner of the planet. How have they adapted to the current crisis? Apex has been instrumental during the pandemic: they've offered space on aircrafts to government response teams, have transported PPE products to many countries and played a big role in protecting front line workers. Do they have a secret to success? Mike says that Apex focuses on growth by adding talent that shares the same vision as them. From the words of their customers, this is what makes them a company that "always finds a way to get things done" and are able to find unique solutions to problems. Having invested in tech early on, Apex has been able to pivot more easily than other forwarders, giving them an even bigger competitive advantage. Although the future is unclear on how Covid will impact supply chain, Apex's ambition is still to become the major freight forwarder across the globe. In this episode we discuss: [0.42] Who is Apex? [10.40] 150 Million pieces of PPE and Counting! [15.00] Their secret to success [24.05] How Apex will be helping customers post-Covid [29.39] What's next for Apex Resources and links mentioned: Apex Global Logistics

The biggest challenge in industrial manufacturing is customer acquisition and retention. When it comes to marketing in the traditional world of Industrial manufacturing many companies see marketing as a cost center rather than an investment. This means marketing budgets are given low priority, especially during a recession when in reality marketing should be at the forefront of any strategy because it will set you apart from your competitors and keep your brand top of mind. In the long run, this ends up being more expensive, since companies need to start from ground zero when the market picks up. Only some companies are realising that marketing is the key to future success - especially when trying to get through a revenue plateau. Christopher realised this was an issue and started helping more industrial companies with their marketing. His system focuses on creating momentum, producing value and building a community before launching a product or asking customers to buy. Consistency and the long play is what sets one marketing strategy apart from the rest, marketing should work hand in hand with sales to keep the leads flowing in. Sales should be encouraged to showcase their thought leadership online with the help of the marketing team and together the business will have a winning strategy. Christopher is a big believer in social and uses social media such as Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn (3 hashtags!) as a platform to educate, entertain and build up a consistent brand image. As consumer behaviors keep shifting, more industrial companies will have no choice but to turn to more effective marketing in order to gain a competitive edge. Christopher is also the leader in the profile rings you see on Linkedin, he gave back to the supply chain community by doing this for professionals for free to stand out, in a time of so much noise its efforts like these that will be the most rewarded In this episode we discuss: ● [0.35] Industrial Manufacturing ● [4.46] Top challenges in the industry ● [11.59] Winning marketing strategy ● [16.35] How different platforms provide communication opportunities ● [23.00] The carbon footprint of manufacturing companies Resources and links mentioned: Nesbit Marketing Christopher Nesbit

Anju is the product manager at Coupa Software, an all-in-one business spend management platform. In today's Women in Supply Chain series, Anju tells us how she got into supply chain, the valuable lessons she learnt from failure and why it's important to put a focus on diversity. Anju moved from working in the corporate world at Oracle to a fast paced beauty startup. She was passionate about understanding the various pieces, solving business problems and growing both as a person and in her career. She says it's important to be flexible, say yes to opportunities and be willing to take a leap into the unknown; this is what got her to where she is now. Our world has never been so diverse and inclusive, and yet there is still a lot of work to do. Anju explains why it's important to have role models to look up to, and that in order to move the needle of diversity we need to encourage more discussions, be aware of our biases and lead with empathy. Her advice to other women in supply chain: think about what you want out of your career and be willing to pursue your dream. Women are sometimes afraid to verbalize who they want to be - Anju urges them to take risks and not be afraid to change. In this episode we discuss: [0.38] Anju's journey [7.32] The importance of being courageous [11.50] Valuable lessons from failure [19.33] How to move the needle of diversity [22.23] Advice to other women in supply chain Sponsored by: COUPA and GWPP Global Women Procurement Professionals (GWPP), is proud to have Coupa as a Platinum Sponsor for our community. GWPP's focus is to promote women in the procurement and supply chain industry and to have them grow. Coupa is an amazing example of how to be a thought leader within procurement and supply chain - we are grateful to have a community partnership together. Resources and links mentioned: Coupa GWPP Women in Supply Chain

How does replenishment work in your warehouse? It is probably very manual, lots of paperwork and different stakeholders involved making it impossible to be be agile and efficient. Because of that I thought it was important to introduce you to a company that is revolutionizing this. Andrew is the CEO of ShelfAware, a company that helps suppliers see in real-time what is on their customers' shelves through hardware tracking RFID technology. This technology allows companies to see the exact moment a customer takes an item off the shelf, how many items they take and how much is needed to replenish stock. Using RFID technology together with real-time software means that suppliers can easily replenish stock without worrying about waste, workers don't have to waste time counting items and companies can gather data on their customer habits. From a cost effective standpoint, everyone wins. ShelfAware works as a 3rd party SaaS (Software as a service), so they don't need to touch the product at any point in the supply chain. The software connects with a tracking code that can easily be printed by the supplier and is put on the product itself. Who is ShelfAware's ideal client? As Andrew says, he keeps discovering new industries this system could be useful for. They started with industrial suppliers and manufacturers, but anyone from a dentist to a large scale conglomerate can make use of their product and software. Andrew has helped businesses drastically lower inventory without losing the rate at which they replenish items. Once again, this is proof that collaborating with other companies can make them stronger together. Lastly we get a sneak peek into Andrew's new show on The SC Supply Chain TV on Youtube called From the Frontlines where he brings us into the frontlines of business, entrepreneurship and supply chain! In this episode we discuss: [0.37] The story behind ShelfAware [6.50] Why RFID is so under-utilized [17.10] Who should consider RFID [21.17] Does it actually work in real life scenarios? [30.20] From the Frontlines Resources and links mentioned: ShelfAware

Alloy was founded 4 years ago when Joel and his co-founders realized there was a huge lag between supply chain and the retail industry. From the very beginning, the company focused on customer centricity and invested most of its resources into R&D. Now, Alloy helps everything from small companies to Fortune 500s optimize their supply chain by connecting their data to customer demand. Focusing on customer experience for not only their customers but their customers, customer has been their key to success in this very competitive landscape of supply chain technology. The main challenge when it comes to retail supply chain is the huge shift in consumer habits, partly due to e-commerce. Nowadays, consumers expect a seamless customer experience, an infinite amount of stock and personalized offers. However, realizing that that there is a direct mis match between customer demands and retail distribution, Alloy were really able to dive deep into this challenge and come up with solutions that are not seen on the market yet, that is why they have a growing base of some of the biggest names in retail. Alloy really wants to make sure that their clients supply chains are giving them a competitive advantage and they do that by helping retailers coordinate all the different moving parts of their supply chain. The landscape and technology is constantly evolving, so how does a startup like Alloy adapt? You guessed it: collaboration. Right from the beginning Alloy was partnering with companies and made sure to be grounded to real world problems. As the number of partners and clients increased, the more they were able to take a holistic approach to resolving their clients' pain points. Alloy's future involves more effort on the data side through R&D, and more specialization of every element of the supply chain. In this episode we discuss: [0.29] Who is Alloy? [9.45] Consumer Habits driving supply chain [18.09] A customer success story [25.18] Data and Collaboration [30.10] The future for Alloy Resources and links mentioned: Alloy

Today's special episode features Scott and Greg from Supply Chain Now! Scott, Greg and Sarah have a lively discussion about whether we are seeing the death of the end-to-end supply chain. You will also hear about how the circular economy and supply chain is the answer plus how the role of sustainability will play out with consumers and the future of consumerism. Organizations have spent a lot of time and money trying to perfect their end to end supply chain, but Greg says the circular supply chain is here to stay. The circular supply chain consists mainly of turning waste into opportunity. As the world's resources become increasingly limited, companies are having to look for other ways to source and distribute their products and services. This, together with a huge shift in consumer behaviour towards sustainable practices, means companies will soon have no other option but to adopt a circular mindset. How can companies adopt a more sustainable supply chain? Sarah talks about collaborating with startups in order to find innovative solutions and challenge the status quo. Scott and Greg talk about the importance of changing mindsets and focusing on customer experience. This includes encouraging suppliers to take on more responsibility and looking for materials that are economically viable, sustainable and convenient for the customer (like 3D printing, for example). Companies should put more effort into building a brand and communicating their concept and vision, as well as identifying specific ambitions and building business cases. Some best practices include educating employees, finding the right KPIs and being willing to "do good" and talk about it. In this episode we discuss: [1.15] End to End has been costly [12.26] Consumer behavior pushes for circular [26.40] Circular mindset shift [30.11] The key drivers to success [36.55] Best practices for a circular economy Resources and links mentioned: Supply Chain Now

Angie has worked in supply chain all her life, with her earliest career memories involving a master thesis and meeting Ted Ruhly, the CEO of Maersk. Since then, Angie has continuously sought career growth and built extensive experience within the industry. Featuring Angie in our "women in supply chain" series has a personal significance to Sarah and is a career highlight for Angie with all her hard work in helping to close the gender gap. In this episode, Angie talks about the guidance she received from her father, why she is passionate about this industry and how the people make all the difference. Angie's main challenge in supply chain was the pushback she got from colleagues and coworkers when she advocated for change and innovation. Angie knows that disruption is what encourages progress, but it can be difficult to implement when leaders are being pulled in so many different directions. As a woman in supply chain she has worked hard to challenge the status quo at all times in her career in order to encourage more diversity amongst male and female leaders. What's her advice for the younger generation? She explains that it's worth exploring the different partnerships your universities may offer. Be willing to go to conferences and reach out to leaders, look for ways to optimize the supply chain ecosystem and consider getting into cyber security. As she says, there is a shortage of talent and therefore many opportunities for students looking to get into the industry. For Angie herself, the future is focused on finding a healthy work balance and driving innovation forward. In this episode we discuss: [2.41] Sweats and the CEO of Maersk [7.53] Taking some major risks [11.30] Overcoming challenges thats career throws at you [16.24] Diversity in the industry [25.18] Next Gen of Supply Chain, what you need to know Resources and links mentioned: Crowley

With procurement departments finding themselves lean and mean these days, where are you spending gaps? Are you leaving money on the table? You might be, so what are you going to do about it. Some of your biggest savings lie within your nuisance expenses like uniform, waste disposal and pest control services and you may be like many other procurement departments that only review these expenses every few years. Rich Ham from Fine Tune is here to tell us why we should reconsider that strategy and how his company helps companies save money by optimizing those difficult-to-understand expenses. The current challenges of procurement professionals are that expense categories are segmented, some requiring much more management than others. This means that many business strategies leave money on the table, waste time and energy and don't allocate resources adequately. With Fine Tune, companies can outsource all the complex, confusing expense management processes and focus on their core competencies and as Rich says "offloading headaches". How does Fine Tune do this? They partner with the right people and focus on collaboration amoung all parties. This is very apparent when Rich shares with us a real life example of a client who had 14 different suppliers with several different contracts. Fine Tune helped that company reduce their suppliers to 4 through consolidation and that resulted in a huge cost savings of 35%. Rich goes on to say that their true speciality is removing friction from procurement and operations. The result? Companies invest in the Fine Tune management program because they don't want to let go of Fine Tune! In this episode we discuss: [0.30] Where are your biggest savings [5.56] Where are you leaving money on the table? [24.15] Reducing costs by 35% [28.07] Removing friction from procurement [35.58] The future is bright Resources and links mentioned: Fine Tune

What does your digital future look like? That is the question on everybody's mind as tech changes on a daily basis, In Sweetbridge's episode in 2019 Scott said the knowledge base is changing every 1.5 years. Diane is the Vice President of Omnichain, a company that offers end to end supply chain solutions to companies looking to optimize workflow, manage different channels and orchestrate correct supply strategies. They are the partner for the future. Currently, many team members of companies need to manually add data into systems, losing information, accuracy and time. This is because the supply chain industry is still very fragmented, with organisations struggling to connect and collaborate. Omnichain's platform describes itself as a digital supply chain fit for the future, thanks to its better forecasting, operations system and proactive push model. Omnichain's solution is what distinguishes it from its competitors; no need to download or integrate anything, everything can be done directly within the platform! Omnichain prides itself on using blockchain, a kind of distributed ledger and database that allows you to maintain and record all devices and transactions across a supply chain. Most people co-relate blockchain to crypto currency but that is not always the case. This technology allows you to hold information quickly and securely, which allows Omnichain to keep the entire supply chain management securely under a blockchain key. Omnichain's ideal client is someone who faces the challenge of a fragmented operation and is looking for a better day to day workflow. Its solution encourages companies to go from a reactive management situation to proactive, allowing them to deliver real value from their data. In this episode we discuss: [0.30] A Different approach to blockchain [9.39] What is a digital supply chain fit for the future [15.17] No integration needed! [19.40] blockchain is perfect for supply chain management [25.05] The future is bright

Procurement Foundry is an online private community for people working in supply chain. Mike founded this community when he knew he needed a safe place to network and discuss challenges with other professionals, but didn't have the time or energy to go to regular networking events. Procurement Foundry now has over 2,000 highly engaged members with 20 chapters in the world. How can you join Procurement Foundry? If you're a professional working in supply chain, you can head to the website and fill in their membership request form. Then, your application is vetted and processed by a team to make sure you're not a consultant or salesman. Once in, you have access to several discussion channels, job boards and even virtual meeting rooms. Mike says that Procurement Foundry has a huge amount of potential he hadn't foreseen when he first started the community. First of all, the huge amount of empathy amongst the members means people are willing to share templates, strategies and advice to other professionals. Secondly, the huge amount of expertise in the community means there are plenty of talent opportunities, which translates into a great talent pool for hiring managers and great learning opportunities for students. Finally, the high engagement means that Mike is able to accumulate a lot of data on the members, which helps understand the direction in which the industry is going. If you're all for collaboration, Procurement Foundry is the place to be! In this episode we discuss: [1.35] What is Procurement Foundry? [6.23] Everyone wants to join [10.43] What we all can learned from the community [20.40] What can you expect, resources, content etc [29.33] data like you have never seen it before Resources and links mentioned: Procurement Foundry

Akshay is the co-founder of Terminal 49, an online platform that helps importers, trucking companies and brokers track all their container movements. In the container world, things are still being done as they were 10 years ago. Terminal 49 aims to simplify global trade with much more efficient workflows. Visibility is a big challenge in supply chain: truckers, shipping companies and freight forwarders don't communicate effectively and lack collaboration. Everyone's solving a different problem, there's a lack of education and cooperation is non-existent. This disconnect is what Terminal 49 aims to resolve. Akshay provides us with two excellent examples of a shipper and a broker. Before using Terminal 49's dashboard, this shipper had several spreadsheets used for forecasting reports, ETAs and container management. When an incident happened, all information had to go through several different people in the chain. Now, with an all-in-one dashboard, the shipper can easily track every container and keep on top of demand. Oh, and all they need to do is import their spreadsheets onto the dashboard - no need to copy and paste thousands of numbers. Although the logistics world is a competitive space, Akshay says there's a lot of room to innovate and create value, and that really, it's still early days! In this episode we discuss: [1.00] Terminal 49's story [15.25] Why visibility is a challenge in supply chain [20.10] Successful examples of using Terminal 49's dashboard [31.34] Advice for people who want to get into supply chain tech [33.59] The future of Terminal 49 Resources and links mentioned: Terminal 49

Supply Chain can change the world Elizabeth got into supply chain after discovering her love for writing so she fell in love with the supply chain industry. That makes Elizabeth perfect for our Women in Supply Chain feature on the podcast for the month of March because Beth believes that this industry truly has the power to make the world a better place and that is why she has stayed working with ASCM for over 16 years. Global is where is it at What is the future for supply chain media? Rennie believes that there's a trend for high quality content that's not focused on day to day tasks, but instead on more important global issues. She's contributed herself by working with Mr Supply Chain (Daniel Stanton) and his book titled Supply Chain Management for Dummies. Elizabeth is also very proud to have contributed in-depth interviews with successful women in supply chain, and believes these are great opportunities for women to learn from each other. No longer the only Woman in the room In terms of diversity, Elizabeth is so excited to see that more and more women are joining the supply chain industry. Like at one point in her career she would look around the room at conferences and could maybe count the number of women in the room on one hand. More organizations are working to increase diversity which in turn creates a healthy form of tension created by different points of view and more innovative conversations. So, Are you looking to get into supply chain? Her advice to the younger generation is to always be open to opportunities and taking risks, you never know where it can lead. In this episode we discuss: ● [1.16] Falling in love with Supply Chain ● [4.30] Learning to become self aware ● [12.31] The future of supply chain media ● [18.02] The proudest moment in her career ● [21.52] No longer the only woman in the room Resources and links mentioned: ● Supply Chain Management for Dummies ● ASCM

The damage and loss of products in supply chain cost the industry billions of dollars every year. That's a huge amount of money and waste in products that are being thrown out - That's the issue Spotsee is tackling with their product: indicators that track and record data such as temperature, tilt and impact throughout a shipment journey. There are a lot of challenges in this area that supply chain professionals are facing, Angela talks about the top realities companies are facing and how exactly Spotsee can help you save time, money and waste. Spotsee allows companies to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to damaged products. Instead of receiving damaged products, blaming the shipment company and filing an insurance claim, companies can now collaborate with the freight forwarders to determine why and how the damage happened and work on fixing the problem together, all based on data. These monitoring programs reduce damage to 40%, which can translate into tens of thousands of dollars saved for certain companies. Spotsee works with several market segments as well as SMEs that are looking to grow. By having real time data on product journeys, companies waste a lot less time, energy and money fixing these issues. In the long run, this is a much more sustainable business model which can give companies a huge competitive advantage. Spotsee are also big on company culture, find out more about how they are encouraging the next generation to come and work in supply chain. Their ambition? To aggregate all the data from every journey, product and company so their customers can take real actionable steps from large-scale data analysis. In this episode we discuss: [0.25] Who is Spotsee [9.10] Damage is costing you Billions! [14.30] data on your products journey [18.36] Who can benefit? [23.50] encouraging careers in supply chain Resources and links mentioned: Spotsee

Meet Catapult, an intuitive digital platform that helps businesses make decisions based on freight rates. The founders were tired of the manual process of keeping track of rates through word documents, excel spreadsheets and decided to build a solution to help manage all the different rates from different carriers. What does all this technology mean for your business? Virgil Ferreira, the CEO of Catapult joins us to talk about how their platform helps businesses see rates from different carriers including ocean, air and ground, giving logistics providers more visibility into their rates so they can increase their margins. A Challenge that logistics providers face is that they don't have access to industry data but Catapult changes that as providers can also compare their own data with industry data and see it all in a standard, easy-to-use view. The biggest challenge logistics providers face is understanding how to get the best market rate. With Catapult, businesses can use the tool to see the gaps in their system and focus on improving profit, which all providers are looking to do! Their typical clients are mid to global sized forwarders with a large number of vendors and a large customer base. These are clients looking for technology enabled solutions and need help getting their rate management house in order. By using a rate management platform, logistics providers can apply margins where they want, map different features into an internal format and use this across different modes. As Virgil says, the main things companies should be focusing on in 2020 is understanding what the customer is expecting and encouraging interoperability across different structures. In this episode we discuss: [1.47] Who is Catapult? [4.02] Freight Management is critical to success [8.12] The main challenges for logistics providers [15.08] Get your Freight Management house in order! [23.47] What you should focus on in 2020 Resources and links mentioned: Catapult

BEHIND THE SEAMS - Suuchi Ramesh is a software engineer with a background in supply chain, she is also the founder and CEO of a tech company that is bringing supply chain and fashion together called, Suuchi. Suuchi is the next generation technology platform for fashion, managing everything from design through distribution. The main challenge the fashion industry faces is that the entire supply chain needs to be unbelievably fast, diversified and efficient. Suuchi helps companies get to the next level by taking care of the back end, and letting companies focus on what they do best: scaling the brand. Suuchi helps companies diversify the supply chain by digitizing the entire process, because all brands must start thinking of supply chain as a strategic competitive advantage What sets them apart? Transparency. They're able to track and trace every process in the supply chain, which allows them to provide their customers with truly data driven solutions. Suuchi has the flexibility to work with all size of companies and their customers use their software in a few different ways: some use their software just for supply chain, others use the software from the design of products all the way to the distribution of their products to their end consumer. Suuchi is also very passionate about helping their customers and brands become more sustainable and reduce overall waste in their businesses. When creating Suuchi, they were mindful to include in-depth data and analytics that helps to optimization sustainability and the reduction of waste strategies. Suuchi is now going into series B and expanding their reach in supply chain, all while providing smart, sustainable solutions. In this episode we discuss: [2.45] Fashion and Supply Chain [6.32] Supply Chain is becoming the back bone of Fashion [10.37] Scale Your Brand [15.03] Transparency is key [19.55] Reduce waste and become sustainable Resources and links mentioned: SUUCHI Suuchi Ramesh

Claudia is our Women in Supply Chain Feature for February and is someone who enjoys life to the fullest. Her attitude is: family first, career second and community third. She graduated in engineering, joined IBM, ran an entire supply chain, worked in GE Healthcare and is now working in supply chain for Google. Her career has been a huge adventure, and today she shares some of the nuggets of wisdom she's learned over the years. She's had many challenges in her career as a female on a supply chain team, but it's her positive attitude and openness to taking care of others that helped her get to where she is now. She's really had to push for opportunities, and has seen the industry evolve over the 36 years that she's been working in supply chain. Things are getting better, with now 25% of leadership positions held by women. Claudia works hard to educate leaders and encourage the right conversations about diversity and openness. What about supply chain? Claudia explains that companies aren't using data as they should be. She says that it's important to get the basics first, make sure to have the right KPIs in place and then analyze the big picture. Her advice to fellow supply chain leaders is to meet with customers on a regular basis. Understand the voice of the customer and don't always think of optimizing a function but instead, the end to end journey. Her plans for the future are to keep on learning and growing, never wasting a day and keep pushing for diversity. In this episode we discuss: [4.14] Claudia says, Live life to the fullest [13.14] What is Supply chain at Google [18.42] Claudia's advice for younger self [26.55] Supply chain leaders, meet with customers! [30.34] Pushing for Diversity Resources and links mentioned: Claudia on LinkedIn

Anthony is the president and CEO of UNA, a dynamic group that works with procurement managers, business owners and executives to save money, time and effort. How? Through Collaboration, partnerships, software and strategy. Una offers a consolidated approach to procurement with a mission is to support sourcing and procurement heros in the supply chain industry. They're all about collaboration, a top down approach and an emphasis on culture. They believe in empowering and giving a voice to professionals by acting on accurate and well analyzed data. As an example, just one of the ways Una gets involved is by helping professionals negotiate solid contracts and develop key relationships with suppliers. How are they so successful? They understand that their solution is not a fit for everybody. They position themselves more as a dietitian rather than a broker - meaning they assess the problem, procure the trust and work with their partners in a solution driven environment based strictly on what works best in their structure. What does it look like to work with Una? Tune into the episode to find out, as they share some amazing stories. Anthony believes that this industry is heavily untapped - Una's future is focused on getting the word out and building more relationships with customers who share their core values In this episode we discuss: [1.50] Una unique perspective of Procurement [7.13] Biggest challenges facing procurement professionals in 2020 [17.15] Why collaborate with Una? [28.39] Working with Procurement and Sourcing Hero's [32.20] The Future is NOW Resources and links mentioned: Una