Industry-Focused White Papers
The Global Supply Chain Institute’s white papers, written and researched by the University of Tennessee’s globally ranked faculty, explore supply chain trends and challenges and discuss innovative approaches to supply chain management to reveal today’s best practices. Research from these white papers has appeared in leading business and industry publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Harvard Business Review, Supply Chain Management Review and DC Logistics.
Supply Chain Strategy & Fundamentals: All About Supply Chain Agility
“Meeting the Challenge of Supply Chain Agility”
Leading companies are pursuing agile strategies, investing in digital, process, and physical capabilities that enable a rapid response to change. However, most organizations either misunderstand or rarely realize supply chain agility to their benefit. This applied research report was conducted in collaboration with Bush Brothers, Colgate-Palmolive, and IBM and introduces the concept of supply chain agility for business leaders and industry professionals. It provides a deep dive into the central challenges managers face in enhancing supply chain agility and offers practical advice for overcoming these obstacles.
Last Mile: Supply Chain Innovation for Today’s World of Delivery Demands
“Last Mile, Reverse Logistics, and the New World Order in E-Commerce Delivery”
According to Shopify, “a successful last mile experience makes up 53% of total supply chain costs and comes with its own set of challenges.” While challenges associated with last mile logistics are high, consumer expectations are higher. Following the global shake-up in shipping and supply chain management caused by COVID-19, consumers now expect shipped goods to arrive fast and free. This has forced supply chain leaders to innovate, pivot, evolve e-commerce methods, and deliver in ways they hadn’t before. To help business professionals better understand the shifting last mile and reverse logistics landscape, researchers working with the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative investigated this area as society’s emerged from the pandemic.
Modern Day Best Practices from Supply Chain Leaders
Winning Supply Chain Transformational Leadership Practices
The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented supply chain disruptions. But with these disruptions came increased recognition of the value provided by supply chain leaders, supply chain agility, and evolving supply chain best practices. This white paper and video illustrate what leading organizations are doing to succeed among new challenges, increased competition, and ever-changing dynamics. Inside are relevant supply chain best practices from top supply chain leaders, pulled from research and in-depth interviews with five global supply chain experts who have demonstrated transformational leadership in their industries and organizations.
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.
Supply Chain Design: Achieve Resiliency with End to End Supply Chain Agility
Advancing E2E Agile Resiliency in Supply Chains
Supply chain leaders have been through the wringer in recent years. While it’s easy to blame recent supply chain issues on COVID-19, experts warn that risks, uncertainties and supply chain disruptions will continue to challenge economies, marketplaces, and consumers alike. It’s never been more important to 1) evaluate how vulnerable your organization is to supply chain disruptions, and 2) add end to end supply chain considerations and agile resiliency capabilities into your supply chain design. This white paper offers practical “how-to” guidance for advancing and modernizing your approach.
Transportation in Supply Chain Management
"Future Trends Shaping Transportation”
Transportation is the chief agent of motion in global supply chains. Ensuring continuous connectivity and visibility into where products are once they’ve shipped (i.e., end-to-end supply chain visibility) is a great challenge highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This white paper explores best practices, challenges, and predictions for transportation in supply chain management, as well as solutions for supply chain leaders when it comes to evolving transportation industry trends.
End to End Supply Chain Synchronization: Building a Winning Strategy
End to End Supply Chain Synchronization: Orchestrating a Winning Strategy
Successfully executed end to end supply chain strategies drive value by verifying that all supply chain activities, processes, and transitions are synchronized to the core business driver of the benchmark company. Everyone in the organization is on the same page, with supply chain leaders acting as orchestra conductors. However, successful implementation of end to end supply chain synchronization requires several elements for readiness. First and foremost of these is 100% commitment from business leadership. Download this white paper to explore what else you’ll need to build your winning strategy. Includes a toolkit, case study, best practices, benchmarking data, and more.
EPIC Supply Chain Framework: A Global Risk Assessment & Readiness Resource
EPIC Global Supply Chain Risk Assessment
In an increasingly unpredictable world, business leaders can better assess risk by using the EPIC Report and associated EPIC Supply Chain Framework, which measures supply chain readiness from four perspectives: Economy (E), Politics (P), Infrastructure (I), and Competence (C). The authors of this white paper evaluated 64 countries from 10 geographic regions, with a particular focus on how supply chain leaders can manage risk and plan, prepare, and measure supply chain capabilities both globally and for their organizations. This report is must-read information for today’s supply chain decision-makers.
Supply Chain Risk Management: Cyber Risks in Global Supply Chains
"Managing Cyber Risks in Global Supply Chains: The Four Fundamentals”
Managing cyber risks within global supply chains is one of the top challenges facing today’s supply chain managers. Yet a key insight from interviews conducted with more than 30 cyber experts for this white paper was that most supply chain leaders do not have a clear understanding of how to reduce risk. Industry leaders have clear cybersecurity strategies and build cybersecurity-centric cultures. If your company needs to shift to a solid supply chain risk management strategy, this white paper is for you.
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 […]
End-to-End Supply Chain Planning Frameworks, Concepts, and Best Practices
"End-to-End Supply Chain Planning Framework and Key Concepts: Why Planning is the ‘Brains’ of the Supply Chain”
In a complex global supply chain environment, the role of a supply chain planner cannot be underestimated. Increasingly, business executives are recognizing the importance of supply chain planning, with an urgency to improve systems, staffing, and processes. Supply chain leaders are adding dedicated, highly qualified supply chain planners to eliminate waste as well as to lead and manage processes that will more efficiently deliver on corporate goals. This white paper provides supply chain planning frameworks, concepts, research, and best practices for planning as one of the essential roles of supply chain management.
Driving Shareholder Value with Your Supply Chain: Insights to Help Unlock Value across Your Supply Chain for Competitive Advantage
While supply chains are increasingly recognized as vital to corporate finance and risk mitigation, not all supply chain managers yet understand the need to be total business leaders and provide growth solutions. The institute’s new white paper aims to mitigate the issue.
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.
Supply Chain Best Practices: DSI and Why S&OP Hasn’t Yet Worked Well
"Advanced Demand/Supply Integration (DSI) Best Practices: Why S&OP Has Largely Not Been Effective in Last Four Decades"
During field interviews about demand/supply integration (DSI), GSCI researchers uncovered a friction point that required further investigation. Across 18 benchmark companies spanning several industries, and through a partnership with global DSI expert Mark Moon, they found that: 1) Supply chain leaders support and believe in DSI and dedicate time, money, and resources to DSI processes and S&OP implementation, and 2) DSI and S&OP have been largely ineffective for decades. Download this white paper to dig into the supply chain best practices we’ve unearthed for creating the right culture and rewards to ensure DSI's success.
Supply Chain Technology: A Savvy Supply Chain Digital Guide
How to Navigate Technology in Supply Chain Management
Today’s supply chain leaders must be able to adapt and thrive in the face of new and constant disruptions to their organization’s supply chains. Recently, technology has been developed to mitigate the impact of these challenges. But adapting to new technologies and processes, on top of the daily tasks associated with your role, can be daunting. This white paper considers research that suggests supply chains, and the organizations that support them, are in the early stages of a digital transformation. It can serve as a guide for professionals who are evaluating and leveraging technology to build a supply chain that’s ready for the digital age.
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.
How To Apply New Supply Chain Technologies
New Supply Chain Technology Best Practices: The Application of New Technology in the Physical Supply Chain
Keeping up with the latest supply chain technologies can feel like a full-time job. Understanding, adopting, and integrating the growing list of modern supply chain innovations is an even greater challenge. This white paper illustrates supply chain best practices for applying new technology advances to your physical supply chain and organizational strategy. In an era of unprecedented advances, Paul Dittmann outlines an easy-to-follow, well-researched guide for navigating innovation.
Creating a Transparent Supply Chain Best Practices: How to Enhance a Sustainable Supply Chain Efforts through Transparency
How to Enhance Sustainable Supply Chain Efforts Through Transparency
Selecting and Managing a Third-Party Logistics Provider: Best Practices
Sponsored by KENCO Logistics
Platform Life Cycle Management Best Practices: Building Profits through Simplification, Standardization, Speed, and Scale
Sponsored by Mondelēz International
Transportation 2025 MegaTrends and Current Best Practices: Navigating in a Digital Economy
Sponsored by Proctor & Gamble.
Supply Chain Talent: Our Most Important Resource
Sponsored by Ryder – A Report by the Supply Chain Management Faculty at the University of Tennessee
The ABCs of DCs – Distribution Center Management: A Best Practices Overview
Sponsored by Kenco – A Report by the Supply Chain Management Faculty at the University of Tennessee
Global Supply Chains
Sponsored by BT Global – A Report by the Supply Chain Management Faculty at the University of Tennessee
Managing Risk in the Global Supply Chain
Sponsored by UPS Capital – A Report by the Supply Chain Management Faculty at the University of Tennessee
Purchasing and Logistics: Supply Chain Management Challenges and Best Practices
"Bending the Chain: The Surprising Challenge of Integrating Purchasing and Logistics"
For decades, supply chain leaders have focused on performance issues emerging from a lack of business alignment with supply chain operations. With significant business integration improvements and systemic processes like Integrated Business Planning (IBP) and Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP), our research has uncovered a new opportunity for supply chain optimization within the traditional supply chain functions. Firms that do not align purchasing and logistics are missing an opportunity to create value. Our team worked with hundreds of companies to identify supply chain best practices your business can implement, as well as to illustrate how high performers are “bending the chain” to better align these two key functions.
