The Supply Chainer

Geopolitical tensions in critical chokepoints expose long-hidden operational vulnerabilities. The Strait of Hormuz did not invent new supply chain risks - it made invisible ones visible. Multiple industries confronted shared upstream dependencies on materials and geographies few had mapped beyond immediate vendors. What appeared as a supplier issue revealed itself as a deeper materials and concentration problem building across tiers. This shift from traditional supplier manag

While traveling on the train this morning, I noticed how fragmented the logistics around me felt - delayed connections, suppliers scrambling for updates, and constant notifications pulling attention in every direction. As I opened my laptop, I couldn't avoid thinking about how similar challenges plague procurement teams daily: scattered data across systems, mounting regulatory pressures from ESG mandates and cross-border rules, and the urgent need to evolve automation into ge

The latest Resilient Supply Chain Podcast examines why slow decision-making is becoming a critical vulnerability in modern supply chains. Hosted by Tom Raftery, the episode features OMP’s Robbert de Looff. The discussion centres on decision...

Transportation networks face persistent volatility that forces shippers to move beyond static planning toward continuous optimization of cost, service and emissions. Leading shippers leverage AI for earlier risk identification and network adjustments. Heather Mueller, Chief Client Strategy Officer at Breakthrough, a provider of sustainable fuel and freight solutions, replied in writing to The Supply Chainer inquiry: "Leading shippers are using AI to move beyond retrospective

Procurement teams in manufacturing and public sector environments face growing structural challenges as ESG requirements and international regulations increase data volumes and compliance complexity. AI Shifts from Automation to Decision Support Manual processes no longer scale at the level of global supplier bases. Organizations need better tools for supplier visibility and exception management. Kristian O’Meara, Chief Commercial Officer at Pairsoft, replied in writing to Th

Operational pressure is mounting for mid-market manufacturers and distributors as fragmented data across ERPs and inconsistent forecasting continue to drive financial surprises in procurement and inventory planning. Data Consistency Remains a Core Execution Gap Mid-market operators struggle to maintain accurate, unified views when consolidating information from multiple systems and branches. This fragmentation delays alignment between purchasing and finance teams and limits t

This week, early June 2026, foggy weather combined with heavy export rushes exacerbated congestion at Shanghai and Ningbo, pushing vessel waiting times to three to seven days at key terminals and disrupting critical apparel shipments for U.S. fast-fashion retailers. American importers sourcing from China continue to navigate persistent logistical and regulatory challenges in trans-Pacific supply chains. Port Operations Under Strain Major hubs such as Shanghai Port and Ningbo-

Major retail supply chains are facing a growing decision-making challenge. As network redesigns, automation programs, and service transformation initiatives increase in scale and complexity, many organizations are struggling to understand how strategic decisions will affect day-to-day operations before implementation. That is one of the central findings of Kallikor's new Deciding in the Dark report, based on research conducted among 200 senior retail supply chain leaders in t

Operational pressure is mounting as tariff uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and capacity constraints reshape how companies approach transportation strategy. What once centered on aggressive rate negotiations has shifted toward building reliable access and resilience in an increasingly unpredictable global environment. For many transportation and logistics leaders, the challenge is no longer simply securing the lowest available rate. The growing frequency of disruptions has

Operational pressure is mounting on planning teams as manual approvals slow response times amid volatile demand and tight margins. High-volume decisions in inventory, supply prioritization, and exception handling increasingly risk lost revenue or excess costs when delayed. Planning teams across manufacturing, retail, and distribution networks face significant challenges with traditional manual processes. Planners are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of daily adjustments requir

The world’s container fleet stands at approximately 33.6 million TEU across more than 6,700 vessels. This capacity supports massive annual trade volumes, yet the real picture for retail and manufacturing supply chain leaders is one of constant anxiety. Asia holds 50-60% of active containers, Europe and North America 15-20% each, with 20-30% always at sea. The fear is real: one major disruption can turn predictable ocean legs into weeks of uncertainty, stockouts, and eroded ma

Everyone seems to be developing a new AI platform that will forever change the world of supply chains. But will it really? Let’s review a few facts about AI and what it means for retail business strategies. Artificial Intelligence is the study of the “general principles of rational agents and components for constructing them” (Russell and Norvig 2016). On the other hand, agents are systems that can take actions based on the inputs they perceive. A rational agent is thus “one