I RECENTLY SAW AN INTERESTING QUOTE FROM LYNDON B.
Johnson that read: “Presidents quickly realize that while a single act might
destroy the world they live in, no one single decision can make life sud-
denly better or can turn history around for the good.”
That statement will resonate with a lot of supply chain managers. We
live in a rapidly changing environment, where one wrong supply chain
decision can seriously affect a company’s ability to remain competitive
and sometimes even survive.
At the same time, there is no single silver bullet that will make a supply
chain more efficient or less costly. It usually takes a combination of the
right moves to achieve meaningful gains.
Today’s supply chain decision-makers face greater
challenges than ever before. The pace of distribution
is faster, customer demands are greater, and competition is no longer just the guy around the block, but
also the guys on the other side of the planet. These
are just some of the challenges (and opportunities)
that require supply chain professionals to make good
decisions every day.
These are also what makes this industry exciting. In
my 20-plus years covering this field, I’ve learned that
no two situations are exactly alike. Each company’s
needs are different, based on the products it handles,
the customers it serves, and the size of its network, to
name just a few of the factors that determine how it
designs its supply chain. These differences always give
us fresh stories to tell.
As we saw at the recent ProMat show in Chicago, no two solutions are
exactly alike either. That’s why there were more than 1,000 exhibitors on
hand, all showcasing different supply chain solutions. The approximately
45,000 attendees were there to match those solutions to their specific
applications.
While traditional hardware such as lift trucks, conveyors, and storage
racks will always find a place in distribution operations, we also saw how
the digital age is impacting supply chains. Data is indeed king, and many
of the solutions addressed the need to capture and manage data for better
decision-making.
Robotic systems were also front and center at ProMat, with an increasing number of automated solutions on display. Even the aforementioned
“traditional” equipment and systems are getting makeovers to incorporate
the latest technologies.
The complexity underscores the need for supply chain professionals to
stay informed, so they can make smart decisions. We will continue to be
here to help you keep up. Let’s enjoy the ride together.
bigpicture
Editorial Director
David Maloney
Editorial Director
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