CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly

Collaboration among distribution and supply chain professionals could be the key to creating truly transformative changes that will result in stronger supply chains, happier customers, and wealth for all.

Facing greater pressure to be more sustainable, companies are looking for ways to make their supply chains more environmentally friendly. While efforts focused on transportation, warehousing, and procurement practices can have a major effect, so too can initiatives addressing packaging, reverse logistics, and technology.

The societal and economic disruptions of the past few years highlighted not only the crucial role of supply chains in the modern global economy, but also the growing role of digital technology, including artificial intelligence (AI) and automation. In this excerpt from The Magic Conveyor Belt: Supply Chains, A.I., and the Future of Work, Dr. Yossi Sheffi of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT’s) Center for Transportation & Logistics forecasts the skills the supply chain workforce will need to succeed in a technology-focused future. 

Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest integrated energy and chemical company, has long made resiliency a core tenet of its corporate strategy. By focusing on three core pillars—local manufacturing, multiregion sourcing, and strategic inventory management—it has been able to navigate turmoil and disruption to remain a reliable supplier of energy to the world.

Incoterms (or International Commercial Terms) are complex, inconsistent, and sometimes even contradictory, causing a great deal of confusion and headaches for supply chain practitioners. We need to start over with a simpler, clearer set of trade rules and specifications.

CSCMP’s 2023 Distinguished Service Award winner Ted Stank has made a name for himself through forming strong partnerships between academia and practitioners. 

“Digital twin of the customer” can improve demand forecasting accuracy, customer experience, and the use of AI/ML tools, firm says.

Jackie Sturm of Intel and Meredith Westafer of Tesla receive inaugural award.

Omnichannel retailing, smart packaging, work-life balance, and automation top the list of key trends that John Phillips is keeping a close eye on.

Michael Zimmerman provides advice for how to make reshoring and nearshoring work.

Current labor force numbers not enough to keep pace with "extraordinary" economic growth.

Retailer expands drive-up services from basic online order pick-up, adding fresh and frozen grocery pickup, drive-up returns, and Starbucks coffee order pickups

“CSCMP Executive Supply Chain Academy” now accepting applications until October 5 for six-month program to upskill the industry’s next leaders.

A recap at the annual awards given during this year's EDGE Conference October 1 - 4.