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Resilient Supply Chain — How Leaders Keep Business Moving

Resilient Supply Chain is for supply chain, operations, procurement and technology leaders who need practical ways to manage disruption, reduce risk and keep business moving.

Each Monday, technology and sustainability analyst, keynote speaker and former SAP Global VP Tom Raftery speaks with the executives, operators, founders and innovators redesigning how goods, information and decisions move through global supply chains.

These are candid conversations about what works in practice—not polished PR narratives or vague predictions. Guests explain how they are responding to supplier failures, geopolitical shocks, volatile costs, capacity constraints, changing regulations and rising pressure to improve both performance and sustainability.

The podcast examines:
Faster planning and decision-making under uncertainty
Supplier risk, sourcing strategy and business continuity
AI, automation, visibility and operational intelligence
Warehousing, logistics and fulfilment performance
Scope 3 emissions, circularity and responsible sourcing
The systems, incentives and organisational changes needed to turn data into action

The central question is simple: what helps a supply chain withstand disruption, adapt quickly and continue serving the business?

New episodes are published every Monday at 7am CET. Resilient Supply Chain+ subscribers also receive bonus analysis, highlights and briefings on emerging industry trends.

Follow Resilient Supply Chain for practical lessons from the people solving real operational problems—and building supply chains that perform when conditions do not go to plan.

All Episodes

Resilient Supply Chain — How Leaders Keep Business Moving

The Future of Supply Chains: AI, Agility, and Reducing Environmental Impact

August 26, 2024 • Tom Raftery / John Sicard • Season 2 • Episode 31

0:00 | 42:55

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In this episode of the Sustainable Supply Chain podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with John Sicard, CEO of Kinaxis. We delved deep into the shifting landscape of supply chain management, exploring how traditional approaches are giving way to more agile, concurrent techniques. John shared invaluable insights into why the old cascaded, siloed methods no longer cut it, especially in a post-pandemic world where resilience and sustainability are paramount.

We also discussed the role of technology in this transformation, with a particular focus on AI and machine learning. John made a compelling case for automating the "obvious" to improve efficiency and reduce waste, underscoring the critical need to measure and mitigate the environmental impact of supply chain decisions. He emphasised that the pursuit of sustainability isn't just about achieving net-zero; it’s about making continuous, incremental improvements that will benefit both business and the planet.

Finally, we touched on the cultural shift required within organisations to embrace these new methodologies. Change is never easy, but as John pointed out, the cost of standing still could be far greater. This is a must-listen for anyone looking to future-proof their supply chain while making a positive impact on the environment.

If disruption hit tomorrow, would you know where your supply chain was most exposed? In 15 minutes my free scorecard helps you assess 27 resilience statements, calculate your score, and turn the result into three priorities and a 30 day action plan. You can download the scorecard free at tomraftery.com/scorecard.

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I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's generous Subscribers:

Alicia Farag
Kieran Ognev
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🎤 Looking for a keynote speaker on supply chain resilience, AI, and sustainability?
I help leaders understand the forces reshaping global supply chains, from geopolitical disruption and climate risk to AI and real-time decision-making.

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