Trends and Innovation

How Investing in Supply Chain Agility Pays Off
Understanding and Valuing the Impact of Agility in Your Supply Chain
Everyone remembers the extreme toilet paper shortages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even today, shortages of new vehicles, supplies for home renovations, or baby formula are explained away as supply chain issues. Frustrating and all too common, these supply chain issues affect consumers and companies alike. So how can organizations and supply chain leaders nimbly navigate these disruptions? This white paper has the answer.

A Framework for Sustainable Procurement and Supply Chain Management
Unlocking Value Through Sustainable Procurement
Over the years, corporate sustainability has become increasingly important. In addition to being a competitive necessity due to rising consumer demand, corporate sustainability can be a valuable recruitment tool for talent-seeking, purpose-driven corporate cultures, as well as a business practice that boosts innovation and reduces costs. But how can companies achieve sustainability when synchronization and collaboration across the supply chain can be so difficult? This white paper provides a seven-pillar framework for sustainable procurement and supply chain management and guidance on how procurement executives can be successful, in-house sustainability catalysts.

Blockchain 101: Evaluating ROI and Blockchain for Supply Chain
When Isn’t Blockchain Right? A Decision Guide for Supply Chain Professionals
Blockchain has become an industry buzzword, with blockchain for supply chain touted as a game-changer for business operations. Estimates suggest blockchain technology will generate over $3.1 trillion in new business by 2030. But, if the mention of blockchain leaves you scratching your head (or your colleagues rolling their eyes), you’re not alone. Challenging enough to understand its own, Blockchain ROI is even harder to determine. This white paper explains blockchain 101 technology, its potential ROI, and the costs and benefits of application. Authors also present lessons from blockchain pioneers, like Amazon, Mondelez International, and Pfizer. Provided with the paper is a toolkit for effectively determining if blockchain for supply chain is feasible for your company.

Diversity and Inclusion in Supply Chain Management: How to Support Women in the Workplace
"Young Professional Women’s Perspectives on Supply Chain Diversity and Inclusion”
More than ever before, supply chain management is center stage. The increased scrutiny and complexities of global supply chains highlights the need for organizations to onboard, develop, and maintain fantastic talent. Research shows that companies with more diverse management teams have 19% higher revenue due to innovation. Yet only 15% of supply chain organizations are led by female executives. This white paper shares the experiences of new female supply chain professionals to illustrate opportunities for supporting women in the workplace. It also provides a framework for building more gender-equitable workplaces.

High Performance Organization (HPO) Best Practices: People are the Heart of the Supply Chain
What will it take for businesses to perform at a high level in the supply chain and hold a competitive advantage over their rivals in the next decade? High performance organizations (HPOs) align their values with their business and cultural objectives, and their leaders ensure they keep that alignment by adhering to best practices. Those […]

Supply Chain Best Practices: A Guide to Evaluating & Improving Your End-To-End Supply Chain Integration Strategy
Supply Chain Integration Strategy Best Practices: Redefining the Value Derived from End-to-End, Integrated Supply Chains
When supply chain best practices are in place, end-to-end supply chain integration strategies greatly benefit companies. Integrated supply chain structures create a common strategy, vision, and culture focused on increased value and improved performance. Despite the benefits of an end to end supply chain integration strategy, some supply chain leaders have yet to adopt this strategy and the supply chain best practices that come with it. And, even if they are, there remain ways to expand and further optimize their approach. Authors of this white paper interviewed people from inside 16 leading companies across eight industries to answer those exact questions. They also provide helpful definitions and concepts, integration benefits, supply chain best practices, an integration toolkit, case study, and answer six key questions supply chain leaders should be asking themselves.

End-to-End Supply Chain Collaboration Best Practices: Creating Supply Chain Value by Working Together
Sponsored by Maine Pointe. Revised June 2018 with updated research from the Vested program.

A Savvy Guide to the Digital Supply Chain: How to Evaluate and Leverage Technology to Build a Supply Chain for the Digital Age
Sponsored by IBM – A Report by the Supply Chain Management Faculty at the University of Tennessee.

New Product Initiative Best Practices: Driving Incremental Value through Proactive Supply Chain Involvement
Driving incremental value through proactive supply chain involvement. Sponsored by Bush Brothers and Company.

New Supply Chain Technology Best Practices: The Application of New Technology in the Physical Supply Chain
The application of new technology in the physical supply chain. Sponsored by Kenco Logistics and JDA.