Creating and implementing a sound supply chain strategy is a complex challenge; the need to create a sound global supply chain strategy only magnifies that challenge. Georgia Tech designed its "Global Supply Chain Strategy" executive education course for supply chain professionals who are preparing themselves and their companies for broader and more challenging responsibilities in global supply chain management. Participants will learn how to manage and understand key global supply chain processes as well as the risk factors that affect them.
They will also develop a deeper understanding of how to manage relationships with global supply chain partners, including logistics service providers. CSCMP is a co-sponsor of this event and members receive a discount.
Program: Global Supply Chain Strategy Sponsors: Georgia Institute of Technology Supply Chain & Logistics Institute and CSCMP Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Dates: June 8-10, 2010 Info:www.scl.gatech.edu
The theory behind your practice
Many supply chain and logistics managers have learned about their field of expertise from doing their jobs day in and day out, not from sitting in a classroom. Knowing the theory and principles of the logistics discipline, however, can sometimes help you take your supply chain and logistics performance to the next level. Michigan State's "Supply Chain Logistics Management" course is geared for experienced executives who have not had the benefit of formal logistics training. Attendees will learn to identify and understand the logistics and supply chain trade-offs associated with global operations. CSCMP is a co-sponsor of this program.
Program: Supply Chain Logistics Management Sponsors: Michigan State University and CSCMP Location: East Lansing, Michigan, USA Dates: May 9-14, 2010 Info: www.bus.msu.edu/execed/programs/openEnrollment.cfm
Real-life supply chain stories
You can hear about real-life supply chain practices at the three-day certificate program offered by Rutgers Business School's Center for Supply Chain Management and co-sponsored by CSCMP. Many of the presenters are senior corporate supply chain executives with extensive practical experience.
They and other lecturers will cover the major aspects of supply chain management, including strategy, sourcing and procurement, logistics, operations, and organizational alignment. Participants will learn the principles of supply chain management strategy and how to link supply chain management to their overall business strategy. They also will study how to track supply chain performance and best manage both internal and external relationships.
Program: Strategies for Designing and Leading Your End-to-End Supply Chain Sponsors: Rutgers Business School and CSCMP Location: Piscataway, New Jersey, USA Dates: June 16-18, 2010 Info:https://scmcenter.rutgers.edu/cp
CSCMP, ICOR offer online courses
CSCMP has partnered with The International Consortium for Organizational Resilience (ICOR) to create one of the world's first e-learning courses on supply chain risk management. "Supply Chain Risk Mitigation" is an introductory course that focuses on ways to create risk mitigation strategies that add resiliency without increasing operating costs. The course runs over a two-week timeframe. Participants can review the course instructional material when it is convenient for them and then participate in an online discussion.
This is just one of several online classes that CSCMP has organized. CSCMP has also designed a course on RFID essentials and has partnered with Syracuse University's Whitman School of Management to create one on Six Sigma methodology. More information about the risk management class and other online education opportunities can be found at cscmp.org.
"Applying Lean Principles Across the Supply Chain" introduces a systemic approach for applying lean thinking to supply chain challenges. This executive education course from Penn State University (co-sponsored by CSCMP) offers practical, hands-on insights from industry leaders such as Kraft Foods and Dell. Participants will learn lean principles and tools that can help them achieve greater supply chain speed and efficiency. They will also discover how to extend these practices beyond their enterprises to suppliers and customers.
Program: Applying Lean Principles Across the Supply Chain Sponsors: Pennsylvania State University and CSCMP Location: University Park, Pennsylvania, USA Dates: June 7-11, 2010 and November 29-December 3, 2010 Info:www.smeal.psu.edu/psep/lsc.html
A better way to outsource
Instructors at the University of Tennessee promise that their "Vested Outsourcing" course will fundamentally change your approach to procuring outsourced services such as third-party logistics, supply chain management, information technology support, and facilities management.
Today, most companies approach their outsourcing relationship from a transactional perspective; they purchase activities or transactions from their suppliers. But the concept taught in this course—"performance-based outsourcing"— looks at how to create an outsourcing agreement that focuses on results instead of on activities. Attendees will leave the class, which is co-sponsored by CSCMP, well-grounded in a five-step process and best practices for implementing a performance-based outsourcing agreement.
Program: Vested Outsourcing Sponsors: University of Tennessee Center for Executive Education and CSCMP Location: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA Dates: June 8-10, 2010 and October 26-28, 2010 Info:https://thecenter.utk.edu
Learn best practices from the best
Participants at CSCMP's new Process Standards Workshop will leave the course armed with more than 300 supply chain best practices culled from leading companies such as Coca-Cola, Cummins, International Paper, and Welch's. Better yet, they will know how to benchmark their current performance against these industry leaders. Participants will learn how to evaluate the risks and rewards of potential supply chain initiatives and how to identify improvements that will increase financial performance.
Instructors will cover how to assess a process, decide which parts need to be improved, develop a roadmap for improvement, create an implementation plan, and build a business case for the initiative. As part of the registration fee, attendees receive the newly published second edition of CSCMP's Supply Chain Management Process Standards book.
Program: Process Standards Workshop Sponsor: CSCMP Location: Lombard (Chicago), Illinois, USA Dates: May 13-14, 2010 and November 11-12, 2010 Info:https://cscmp.org
Bridge the gap between action and strategy
When CSCMP created its Strategic Supply Chain Management Workshop, the organization wanted to help supply chain managers bridge the gap between managing the functional elements of their supply chains and creating and implementing an optimal supply chain strategy. The course's lectures, presentations, and exercises focus on what makes a successful strategy: understanding each supply chain partner's needs, strengths, and weaknesses as well as how these competencies can best be aligned.
This course is designed for general managers and supply chain directors, particularly those who have multiple functional responsibilities.
Participants will work in groups to examine case
studies and exercises, exploring the breadth of the supply chain and its relevance to overall business. They will hear specific, real-world examples from recognized experts in the field. The sessions are interactive, and instructors are prepared to answer questions about specific industries and/or geographic regions.
Program: Strategic Supply Chain Management Sponsor: CSCMP Location: Lombard (Chicago), Illinois, USA Dates: April 12-13, 2010 Info:https://cscmp.org/events/strategic-scm
Creating a coherent supply chain picture
Having a coherent vision of what effective supply chain management entails can help your company achieve its strategic goals. The Ohio State University, working in partnership with Cranfield University, has created an executive education course on supply chain management that provides a framework that can help guide your efforts. This framework, created by The Global Supply Chain Forum, consists of eight essential supply chain processes: customer relationship management, supplier relationship management, customer service management, demand management, order management, manufacturing flow management, product development and commercialization, and returns management. This course is co-sponsored by CSCMP.
Program: Supply Chain Management: Processes, Partnerships, Performance Sponsors: The Ohio State University, Cranfield University, and CSCMP Locations and Dates: Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA: April 19-23, 2010
Cranfield, England, U.K.: May 10-14, 2010 Info:www.fisher.osu.edu/centers/scm/executive-education
In a statement, DCA airport officials said they would open the facility again today for flights after planes were grounded for more than 12 hours. “Reagan National airport will resume flight operations at 11:00am. All airport roads and terminals are open. Some flights have been delayed or cancelled, so passengers are encouraged to check with their airline for specific flight information,” the facility said in a social media post.
An investigation into the cause of the crash is now underway, being led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and assisted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Neither agency had released additional information yet today.
First responders say nearly 70 people may have died in the crash, including all 60 passengers and four crew on the American Airlines flight and three soldiers in the military helicopter after both aircraft appeared to explode upon impact and fall into the Potomac River.
Editor's note:This article was revised on February 3.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and the economy were hot topics on the opening day of SMC3 Jump Start 25, a less-than-truckload (LTL)-focused supply chain event taking place in Atlanta this week. The three-day event kicked off Monday morning to record attendance, with more than 700 people registered, according to conference planners.
The event opened with a keynote presentation from AI futurist Zack Kass, former head of go to market for OpenAI. He talked about the evolution of AI as well as real-world applications of the technology, furthering his mission to demystify AI and make it accessible and understandable to people everywhere. Kass is a speaker and consultant who works with businesses and governments around the world.
The opening day also featured a slate of economic presentations, including a global economic outlook from Dr. Jeff Rosensweig, director of the John Robson Program for Business, Public Policy, and Government at Emory University, and a “State of LTL” report from economist Keith Prather, managing director of Armada Corporate Intelligence. Both speakers pointed to a strong economy as 2025 gets underway, emphasizing overall economic optimism and strong momentum in LTL markets.
Other highlights included interviews with industry leaders Chris Jamroz and Rick DiMaio. Jamroz is executive chairman of the board and CEO of Roadrunner Transportation Systems, and DiMaio is executive vice president of supply chain for Ace Hardware.
Jump Start 25 runs through Wednesday, January 29, at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel & Convention Center.
Overall disruptions to global supply chains in 2024 increased 38% from the previous year, thanks largely to the top five drivers of supply chain disruptions for the year: factory fires, labor disruption, business sale, leadership transition, and mergers & acquisitions, according to a study from Resilinc.
Factory fires maintained their position as the number one disruption for the sixth consecutive year, with 2,299 disruption alerts issued. Fortunately, this number is down 20% from the previous year and has declined 36% from the record high in 2022, according to California-based Resilinc, a provider of supply chain resiliency solutions.
Labor disruptions made it into the top five list for the second year in a row, jumping up to the second spot with a 47% year-over-year increase following a number of company and site-level strikes, national strikes, labor protests, and layoffs. From the ILA U.S. port strike, impacting over 47,000 workers, and the Canadian rail strike to major layoffs at tech giants Intel, Dell, and Amazon, labor disruptions continued its streak as a key risk area for 2024.
And financial risk areas, including business sales, leadership transitions, and mergers and acquisitions, rounded out the top five disruptions for 2024. While business sales climbed a steady 17% YoY, leadership transitions surged 95% last year. Several notable transitions included leadership changes at Boeing, Nestlé, Pfizer Limited, and Intel. While mergers and acquisitions saw a slight decline of 5%, they remained a top disruption for 2024.
Other noteworthy trends highlighted in the data include a 146% rise in labor violations such as forced labor, poor working conditions, and health and safety violations, among others. Geopolitical risk alerts climbed 123% after a brief dip in 2023, and protests/riots saw an astounding 285% YoY increase, marking the largest growth increase of all risk events tracked by Resilinc. Regulatory change alerts, which include tariffs, changes in laws, environmental regulations, and bans, continued their upward trend with a 128% YoY increase.
The five most disrupted industries included: life sciences, healthcare, general manufacturing, high tech, and automotive, marking the fourth year in a row that those particular industries have been the most impacted.
Resilinc gathers its data through its 24/7 global event monitoring Artificial Intelligence, EventWatch AI, which collects information and monitors news on 400 different types of disruptions across 104 million sources including traditional news sources, social media platforms, wire services, videos, and government reports. Annually, the AI contextualizes and analyzes nearly 5 billion data feeds across 100 languages in 200 countries.
Cargo theft activity across the United States and Canada reached unprecedented levels in 2024, with 3,625 reported incidents representing a stark 27% increase from 2023, according to an annual analysis from CargoNet.
The estimated average value per theft also rose, reaching $202,364, up from $187,895 in 2023. And the increase was persistent, as each quarter of 2024 surpassed previous records set in 2023.
According to Cargonet, the data suggests an evolving and increasingly sophisticated threat landscape in cargo theft, with criminal enterprises demonstrating tactical adaptability in both their methods and target selection.
For example, notable shifts occurred in targeted commodities during 2024. While 2023 saw frequent theft of engine oils, fluids, solar energy products, and energy drinks, 2024 marked a strategic pivot by criminal enterprises. New targets included raw and finished copper products, consumer electronics (particularly audio equipment and high-end servers), and cryptocurrency mining hardware. The analysis also revealed increased targeting of specific consumable goods, including produce like avocados and nuts, along with personal care products ranging from cosmetics to vitamins and supplements, especially protein powder.
Geographic trends show California and Texas experiencing the most significant increases in theft activity. California reported a 33% rise in incidents, while Texas saw an even more dramatic 39% surge. The five most impacted counties all reported substantial increases, led by Dallas County, Texas, with a 78% spike in reported incidents. Los Angeles County, California, traditionally a high-activity area, saw a 50% increase while neighboring San Bernardino County experienced a 47% rise.
Manufacturing and logistics workers are raising a red flag over workplace quality issues according to industry research released this week.
A comparative study of more than 4,000 workers from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia found that manufacturing and logistics workers say they have seen colleagues reduce the quality of their work and not follow processes in the workplace over the past year, with rates exceeding the overall average by 11% and 8%, respectively.
The study—the Resilience Nation report—was commissioned by UK-based regulatory and compliance software company Ideagen, and it polled workers in industries such as energy, aviation, healthcare, and financial services. The results “explore the major threats and macroeconomic factors affecting people today, providing perspectives on resilience across global landscapes,” according to the authors.
According to the study, 41% of manufacturing and logistics workers said they’d witnessed their peers hiding mistakes, and 45% said they’ve observed coworkers cutting corners due to apathy—9% above the average. The results also showed that workers are seeing colleagues take safety risks: More than a third of respondents said they’ve seen people putting themselves in physical danger at work.
The authors said growing pressure inside and outside of the workplace are to blame for the lack of diligence and resiliency on the job. Internally, workers say they are under pressure to deliver more despite reduced capacity. Among the external pressures, respondents cited the rising cost of living as the biggest problem (39%), closely followed by inflation rates, supply chain challenges, and energy prices.
“People are being asked to deliver more at work when their resilience is being challenged by economic and political headwinds,” Ideagen’s CEO Ben Dorks said in a statement announcing the findings. “Ultimately, this is having a determinantal impact on business productivity, workplace health and safety, and the quality of work produced, as well as further reducing the resilience of the nation at large.”
Respondents said they believe technology will eventually alleviate some of the stress occurring in manufacturing and logistics, however.
“People are optimistic that emerging tech and AI will ultimately lighten the load, but they’re not yet feeling the benefits,” Dorks added. “It’s a gap that now, more than ever, business leaders must look to close and support their workforce to ensure their staff remain safe and compliance needs are met across the business.”