Perspectives from the top

Ten influential thought leaders reflect on where we’ve been and what the next decade holds for supply chain professionals.

By Staff -- Supply Chain Management Review, 4/1/2007

Ten years ago when we launched Supply Chain Management Review, who could have predicted how quickly and dramatically the profession would change. But technology, the Internet, industry consolidations, and the emergence of a truly worldwide economy have utterly changed the nature and scope of how we bring goods to market—all in a single decade.

But what lies ahead for the profession and the people in it? Have we gone about as far as we can go? Hardly, say the ten experts we spoke to for this 10th anniversary issue. Most of the names will be very familiar to SCMR readers. These are the leaders whose thoughts and actions have shaped the business discipline we know today as supply chain management.

To each of these individuals, we asked the question: “What’s the single biggest challenge and opportunity facing supply chain professionals going forward?” Their responses show remarkable insights into how things change—and in some respects, stay the same.

• It's All About Trust by Tim Carroll
  With today’s globally distributed supply chains, how do you ensure trust when so much of what you do is shaped by entities outside of your organization?
• The China Syndrome by George Stalk, Jr.
  By smartly and aggressively managing your global supply chain, you can turn the China threat into an opportunity.
  
  
• Real-time Reality by Sanjay Sarma
  Executives need to forgo the batch-mode mindset in favor of real-time “fast-reflex” thinking that leverages all that technology has to offer.
  
  
• Out of the Silos by Joseph C. Andraski
  Real progress begins to happen when individuals realize that they can accomplish far more through collaboration than they could ever do alone.
  
  
• The Competitive Tiebreaker by Bud LaLonde
  In uncertain global times, strategic planning is often the differentiator that separates the winners from those that are barely hanging on.
• Masters Degree by Bill Copacino
  To succeed going forward, supply chain professionals must become masters of three forces: globalization, business strategy and execution, and information systems.
• Have Your Cake and Eat It Too by Hau L. Lee
  The big challenge and opportunity is to build cost savings into your supply chain operation at the same time you’re making it more responsive.
• Right Brain Trumps Left by Nicholas J. LaHowchic
  We pretty much figured out the science of supply chain management; now it’s time to take a look at the softer side of SCM as the main driver of progress.
• The Power of Patience by Rick Blasgen
  Learning what you really need to know about being a complete supply chain professional takes time, effort, and no small amount of patience.
• Linking to Shareholder Value by Tony Friscia
  The biggest opportunity for supply chain executives lies in linking their organizations’ performances to what matters most in the boardroom—shareholder value.

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