The Global Supply Chain Podcast

Produced by Tompkins International

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To see a list of all episodes in our archive, click here.

What Business Executives are Saying about the Biggest Supply Chain Challenges Today

In the short-term and long-term, today’s supply chain executives and operations experts face diverse challenges in every business sector. In this podcast, Bruce Tompkins, Executive Director of the Tompkins Supply Chain Consortium, goes over a new survey report that asked these supply chain leaders what they see as the biggest challenges today. Listen for a look at what they said about these challenges, including talent retention, cost issues, the global economy, and distribution operations.

What Business Executives are Saying about the Biggest Supply Chain Challenges Today [ 14:22 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Future Proof Your Distribution Center Against Uncertain New Business Realities

Are your distribution centers and supply chain operational strategy ready for the new rules of material handling? Most DC design is done based on past data, but using some strategy and technology, you can create a plan that lets your DC respond to unpredictable future needs and uncertain business realities. This podcast features Paul Faber, supply chain technology and systems integration expert, and Chris Ferrell, director of the supply chain benchmarking and best practices forum, the Tompkins Supply Chain Consortium.

Future Proof Your Distribution Center Against Uncertain New Business Realities [ 19:05 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Automation in the Grocery and Food Industry Supply Chain: The Final Frontier of the Warehouse

Automation can be found everywhere, from home computers to space missions. Now technology is set to impact the dinner table. Food DC automation offers better flexibility, better efficiency, and better productivity, but the grocery industry and food companies have been slow to adopt the technology. Experts are saying that ROI for automation is getting better and better, and more companies will be implementing it soon in the grocery supply chain. In this podcast, Tim Pyne, VP of business development for the food and beverage industry at Tompkins International, explores the benefits and cost savings automation can create. Listen and find out why automation applied to the grocery industry is different than in other industries, a profile of how employee training and expectations change in automated facilities, and competitive advantages from automation.

Automation in the Grocery and Food Industry Supply Chain: The Final Frontier of the Warehouse [ 10:46 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Podcast 96: Using Procurement to Deliver Value to Your Business: Strategic Category Management

Companies can get more out of their procurement dollars, and not just by reducing costs. Strategic category management helps companies manage material and service groups that have similar characteristics, specifically to better meet business objectives while saving on costs. Two directors of supply chain benchmarking and best practices consortiums, Roger Paulson from the University of Wisconsin and Bruce Tompkins from the Supply Chain Consortium, discuss the five key activities in strategic category management and the pressures companies face when dealing with procurement and sourcing costs.

Podcast 96: Using Procurement to Deliver Value to Your Business: Strategic Category Management [ 17:57 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Podcast 95: Don’t Forget to Order the Milk – Customer Expectations and the Biggest Shift Happening Now in the Food and Beverage Industry

Grocery shopping is one of the most hated chores, surveys tell us. But is changing this customer perception overdue for change? What can supply chain technology do to fix this while keeping costs to companies down? Food and beverage industry expert Tim Pyne explains how ecommerce is affecting customer expectations. Get a look at how these companies are responding with online ordering, same-day grocery pick-up, same-day delivery and other options.

Podcast 95: Don’t Forget to Order the Milk - Customer Expectations and the Biggest Shift Happening Now in the Food and Beverage Industry [ 10:52 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Podcast 94: Increased Store Closings After Holiday Peak Season Ends – How Do We Respond?

As Business Reaches a Crossroads, Store Closings and Bankruptcies Sure to Continue

As Forbes has reported, store closings went up 25 percent in the last months of 2012. CEO of Tompkins International Jim Tompkins believes that in 2013-2014, there will be more bankruptcies than in any other previous two-year period. As more and more stores close, and online sales continue to grow, Jim looks at these and other major tipping points that company leaders need to address, both in operations and in the supply chain.

Podcast 94: Increased Store Closings After Holiday Peak Season Ends - How Do We Respond? [ 13:46 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Podcast 93: The LSP Customer’s Wish List: Emerging Trends in Distribution and Transportation Outsourcing

Distribution and transportation outsourcing were the topics for two surveys conducted by the Tompkins Supply Chain Consortium. In this podcast, consortium director Chris Ferrell and podcast editor Cheyanne Ritz discuss what the findings say about what shippers want this year from their outsourcing partners.

The LSP Customer’s Wish List: Emerging Trends in Distribution and Transportation Outsourcing [ 16:24 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Podcast 92: Risk, Economics and the Environment – Defining Sustainability and Best Practices for Businesses

What does business sustainability actually mean? It is not just about the environment, but just as importantly, it is about economics and risk reduction too. Bruce Tompkins, Executive Director, Tompkins Supply Chain Consortium, shares more in this interview about the what, why and how of the practices businesses are using, especially in the supply chain, where 50 percent of a company’s carbon emissions can originate.

Podcast 92: Risk, Economics and the Environment - Defining Sustainability and Best Practices for Businesses [ 19:14 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Podcast 91: Refocusing on Mobile and Online Sales

Today we’re talking about the impact of e-commerce on today’s distribution center operations with Kelly Reed, our partner in our material handling group.

Podcast 91: Refocusing on Mobile and Online Sales [ 8:59 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Podcast 90: The Amazon Effect

This week, Jim speaks to us from the 2012 Leadership Forum in Denver about the crossroads all businesses are now standing at thanks to the Amazon Effect. What are the tipping points that, if addressed incorrectly, will lead to even more business bankruptcies by 2014? Listen to find out.

Podcast 90: The Amazon Effect [ 20:29 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Podcast 89: The Return of the ‘Dreaded Slash’? Selecting a Logistics Service Provider

LSPs do many things, and the term “LSP” doesn’t really pinpoint the specialized services these partners provide to global supply chain operations: 3PL/4PL/IMC/ just to name a few. Today we use the term LSP to avoid ‘the dreaded slash’ to make life easier. But maybe the dreaded slash needs a comeback? Learn what you need to know when finding the logistics service provider that is right for your supply chain’s unique needs in this interview with Director of the Tompkins Supply Chain Consortium Chris Ferrell and author of the new report, “Selecting an LSP – It’s Not One Size Fits All.”

Podcast 89: The Return of the Dreaded Slash? Selecting a Logistics Service Provider [ 15:55 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Podcast 88: World-Class Transformational Supply Chain Network Planning (Part Two)

Hello, this is Jim Tompkins, CEO and President of Tompkins International. I’m here today to give you part two of our two part series on world-class transformational supply chain network planning. Our first point of view on world-class transformational supply chain network planning is that we must result in improved profitability and shareholder value as [...]

Podcast 88: World-Class Transformational Supply Chain Network Planning Part 2 [ 9:05 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download