BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS COLUMN, OUR COLLECTIVE
future for the next four years will have already been decided. I speak, of
course, of the U.S. presidential election.
Rarely has our nation seen so wide a divide as was evident in this
election cycle. Extreme opinions filled the airwaves and blogosphere in
a way we’ve never seen before. For the most part, I tend to avoid waxing
political in this column. However, there is one issue that was discussed
widely during the campaign that I think deserves commentary, especially
as it affects those of us working to grow our supply chains. That is the
issue of promoting inclusiveness and diversity in our society—as well as
our industry.
America was built on the backs of immigrants.
Immigrant workers fueled the industrial revolution,
allowing the U.S. economy to become the world powerhouse it is today. We needed those workers then, and
we still need immigrant workers now.
Some politicians advocate for turning back the clock
to simpler times or building walls to exclude immigrants. Others push for legislation that would repeal
trade agreements and reduce our ability to expand
supply chains abroad. Such policies are not sound.
Most of the distribution operations I’ve seen rely
heavily on immigrant workers. Often, these distribution jobs serve as an entry point into a career in supply
chain and other areas, helping these workers fulfill
their dreams while serving as a crucial cog in our supply chain operations. Tools such as voice and pick-to-light systems have
been developed to eliminate language barriers so that immigrant workers
can succeed and flourish. In many facilities, it is not uncommon to have
team members who speak half a dozen different languages working productively side by side.
As our population ages, good workers will be increasingly hard to
find. Automation will help fill the gap, but automated equipment can’t
do every job. If we choke off our supply of immigrant labor, we greatly
inhibit our ability to grow our supply chains.
Isolating ourselves from the world is also not wise. Supply chains thrive
on world trade and the ability to unite people with products, ideas, and
lifestyles. Call it “dollar diplomacy” if you wish, but helping other nations
to develop their economies, thus creating new markets for America and
our allies, may be the best defense and deterrent we have, and the greatest
hope for peace. A vibrant supply chain is critical to maintaining structure
and civility within the world. We can’t turn back the clock. The world is
different today. It’s time to think about tomorrow.
bigpicture
Chief Editor
Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow
David Maloney
Chief Editor
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Executive Editor - Features
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