One of the most compelling changes I envision will be the elevation of supply chain management to power-broker status in organizations worldwide. Supply chain management will finally earn its well-deserved promotion to the vice president/revenue generator level. As we emerge from this economic malaise, supply chain management will become a more than ever strategic function.
Supply chain managers are educating business leaders about their supply chains’ irrefutable, significant impact — from production to distribution — on the bottom-line and long-term viability of our organizations. They’ve proved they know how to cut costs and become more efficient.
Now I believe executives will hone in on the opportunities supply chain management offers to build revenue throughout the supply chain, and will begin examining it from end-to-end to see where these unique opportunities lie. To move their organizations into the future, corporate leaders will begin thinking about how supply chain management participates in the revenue-generating engine of a company. That will be a very strategic move for companies this year.
Sustainability and green initiatives also will be important, and even more crucial as the economy resurges and trade volume comes back.
Transportation capacity is a concern, as is all the regulation coming the industry’s way.
As we emerge from the downturn, we hope money will be invested in new and innovative ideas to make our supply chains even more efficient, to understand visibility of inventory better and how we can forecast more accurately, to implement innovative programs between suppliers and manufacturers and retailers, and to focus on the consumer.