The Global Supply Chain Podcast

Future Proof Your Distribution Center Against Uncertain New Business Realities

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:22:56 +0000

Are your distribution centers and supply chain operational strategy ready for the new rules of material handling? Most DC design is done based on past data, but using some strategy and technology, you can create a plan that lets your DC respond to unpredictable future needs and uncertain business realities. This podcast features Paul Faber, supply chain technology and systems integration expert, and Chris Ferrell, director of the supply chain benchmarking and best practices forum, the Tompkins Supply Chain Consortium.

Automation in the Grocery and Food Industry Supply Chain: The Final Frontier of the Warehouse

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:09:27 +0000

Automation can be found everywhere, from home computers to space missions. Now technology is set to impact the dinner table. Food DC automation offers better flexibility, better efficiency, and better productivity, but the grocery industry and food companies have been slow to adopt the technology. Experts are saying that ROI for automation is getting better and better, and more companies will be implementing it soon in the grocery supply chain. In this podcast, Tim Pyne, VP of business development for the food and beverage industry at Tompkins International, explores the benefits and cost savings automation can create. Listen and find out why automation applied to the grocery industry is different than in other industries, a profile of how employee training and expectations change in automated facilities, and competitive advantages from automation.

Podcast 96: Using Procurement to Deliver Value to Your Business: Strategic Category Management

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:32:07 +0000

Companies can get more out of their procurement dollars, and not just by reducing costs. Strategic category management helps companies manage material and service groups that have similar characteristics, specifically to better meet business objectives while saving on costs. Two directors of supply chain benchmarking and best practices consortiums, Roger Paulson from the University of Wisconsin and Bruce Tompkins from the Supply Chain Consortium, discuss the five key activities in strategic category management and the pressures companies face when dealing with procurement and sourcing costs.

Podcast 95: Don’t Forget to Order the Milk – Customer Expectations and the Biggest Shift Happening Now in the Food and Beverage Industry

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:31:07 +0000

Grocery shopping is one of the most hated chores, surveys tell us. But is changing this customer perception overdue for change? What can supply chain technology do to fix this while keeping costs to companies down? Food and beverage industry expert Tim Pyne explains how ecommerce is affecting customer expectations. Get a look at how these companies are responding with online ordering, same-day grocery pick-up, same-day delivery and other options.

Podcast 94: Increased Store Closings After Holiday Peak Season Ends – How Do We Respond?

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 21:19:14 +0000

As Business Reaches a Crossroads, Store Closings and Bankruptcies Sure to Continue As Forbes has reported, store closings went up 25 percent in the last months of 2012. CEO of Tompkins International Jim Tompkins believes that in 2013-2014, there will be more bankruptcies than in any other previous two-year period. As more and more stores close, and online sales continue to grow, Jim looks at these and other major tipping points that company leaders need to address, both in operations and in the supply chain.

Podcast 93: The LSP Customer’s Wish List: Emerging Trends in Distribution and Transportation Outsourcing

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 19:54:56 +0000

Distribution and transportation outsourcing were the topics for two surveys conducted by the Tompkins Supply Chain Consortium. In this podcast, consortium director Chris Ferrell and podcast editor Cheyanne Ritz discuss what the findings say about what shippers want this year from their outsourcing partners.

Podcast 92: Risk, Economics and the Environment – Defining Sustainability and Best Practices for Businesses

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:32:16 +0000

What does business sustainability actually mean? It is not just about the environment, but just as importantly, it is about economics and risk reduction too. Bruce Tompkins, Executive Director, Tompkins Supply Chain Consortium, shares more in this interview about the what, why and how of the practices businesses are using, especially in the supply chain, where 50 percent of a company’s carbon emissions can originate.

Podcast 91: Refocusing on Mobile and Online Sales

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 13:00:58 +0000

Today we're talking about the impact of e-commerce on today's distribution center operations with Kelly Reed, our partner in our material handling group.

Podcast 90: The Amazon Effect

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 17:00:37 +0000

This week, Jim speaks to us from the 2012 Leadership Forum in Denver about the crossroads all businesses are now standing at thanks to the Amazon Effect. What are the tipping points that, if addressed incorrectly, will lead to even more business bankruptcies by 2014? Listen to find out.

Podcast 89: The Return of the ‘Dreaded Slash’? Selecting a Logistics Service Provider

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 13:30:25 +0000

LSPs do many things, and the term "LSP" doesn't really pinpoint the specialized services these partners provide to global supply chain operations: 3PL/4PL/IMC/ just to name a few. Today we use the term LSP to avoid 'the dreaded slash' to make life easier. But maybe the dreaded slash needs a comeback? Learn what you need to know when finding the logistics service provider that is right for your supply chain's unique needs in this interview with Director of the Tompkins Supply Chain Consortium Chris Ferrell and author of the new report, "Selecting an LSP - It's Not One Size Fits All."

Podcast 88: World-Class Transformational Supply Chain Network Planning (Part Two)

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 04:30:21 +0000

Hello, this is Jim Tompkins, CEO and President of Tompkins International. I’m here today to give you part two of our two part series on world-class transformational supply chain network planning. Our first point of view on world-class transformational supply chain network planning is that we must result in improved profitability and shareholder value as [...]

Podcast 87: World-Class Transformational Supply Chain Network Planning (Part 1)

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 04:02:40 +0000

In this first installment of a two-part series, Jim Tompkins explains the three approaches to network planning currently being used in the market. Two are limiting, but the third goes beyond typical approaches to consider the total financial picture of the supply chain network and its effect on a company. This approach is World-Class Transformational Supply Chain Network Planning – looking at many parts of the business, from strategy to taxes, energy to real estate, to understand the full business and supply chain strategy. Listen to this podcast to start putting the pieces together for a network strategy that is integrated for the best customer satisfaction and meeting goals for the business.

Podcast 86: Manufacturing Jobs Will Not Make a Return from China to the US

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:57:16 +0000

Despite recent reports to the contrary, productivity and wages in China and the US will not converge, and if wages in China go up, that won’t trigger a return of manufacturing to the US. If wages go up in China, manufacturing jobs could go elsewhere – but not back to the US; these jobs will go to another low-cost country. For the reasons why and what will really happen with manufacturing in the future, listen to the full podcast or read the transcript.

Podcast 85: E-Commerce in China

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:20:07 +0000

Jim returns with another Jim, Jim Serstad from our Asia Office, to discuss the booming e-commerce market in China.

Demand-Driven Supply Chain Series – Part 5 Conclusion and Path Forward

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 01:56:16 +0000

With the end of the Demand Driven Supply Chain Series, where are we headed next? Join Jim Tompkins and Gene Tyndall as they close the lid on this demand driven series.

Podcast 82: Demand-Driven Supply Chain Series – Part 4 Technology & Business Process Needs

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 02:15:04 +0000

Today Jim invites Greg Brady, founder and CEO of One Network, to cover three key questions in regards to a demand-driven network: Why is it required, what kind of value can it drive, and what is the implementation approach.

Podcast 81: Demand-Driven Supply Chain Series – Part 3 Process and Change Management

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 02:24:48 +0000

Is the idea of a Demand-Driven Supply Chain new, or just the natural evolution of ever growing need for efficiency? Find out from our latest guest, Brenda Enney, a principal and expert on this very topic.

Podcast 80: Demand-Driven Supply Chain Series – Part 2 The Ten Steps to Demand-Driven Supply Chains

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:33:15 +0000

In this second part of the Demand-Driven Supply Chain series, Gene Tyndall explains the ten steps needed to achieve the perfect Demand-Driven Supply Chain.

Podcast 79: Demand-Driven Supply Chain Series – Part 1 Principles and Benefits of Demand-Driven Supply Chains

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:43:29 +0000

Demand-Driven Supply Chains (DDSC) are becoming the standard of operational strategies when it comes to the supply chain. Just what is a DDSC and what can it do for your supply chain? Jim Tompkins opens the new year with an introduction to the principles and benefits of DDSCs and shows us what we'll learn over the course of this series of podcasts.

Podcast 78: Replacing China Myths with Facts – Part 9

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 02:51:47 +0000

While many myths about China are still very rampant, but Jim Tompkins has cleared a great deal of the fog over the course of this podcast series. For his final entry in the China Myth and Facts series, Jim goes over every myth and it's corresponding fact that has been discussed.

Podcast 77: Replacing China Myths with Facts – Part 8 China is on the Move & Will Not Wait: Comparing Supply Chain Technology, Processes, Labor, Systems, and Management in China to the US and Europe

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:11:15 +0000

What are the biggest differences when comparing China to the US and Europe in terms of supply chain processes, including transportation, procurement, planning, distribution and fulfillment? John Spain, partner at Tompkins International, goes through all the supply chain processes with Jim to pinpoint the toughest operations issues in China, and how the country's growth is set to affect each part of the global supply chain.

Podcast 76: Replacing China Myths with Facts – Part 7 Distribution In China

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:18:10 +0000

Distribution in China is in its infancy. However, developments and changes are on the way. Denny McKnight, distribution operations expert in China and partner at Tompkins International, talks to Jim Tompkins about the challenges and individual industries dealing with the state of distribution in China, as well as upcoming investments into specific product categories such as cold chain infrastructure.

Podcast 75: Replacing China Myths with Facts – Part 6 Understanding Logistics Service Providers by Valerie Bonebrake

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:23:17 +0000

Logistics Service Providers can be a tough thing to understand, and understanding LSPs in another country can be worse. Where's a good place to start? Jim talks with Valerie Bonebrake to learn more about this complex system and what it helps to solve.

Podcast 74: Replacing China Myths with Facts – Part 5 Past, Present and Future of Sourcing and Manufacturing in China

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 18:31:06 +0000

In this fifth part of the "Replacing China Myths with Facts", Jim joins Michael Zakkour, a Principal with our China-based firm Technomic Asia to talk about Sourcing in China and what the future holds for companies wishing to move business there.

Podcast 73: Replacing China Myths with Facts – Part 4 China’s Overall Evolution

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:38:33 +0000

Steve Ganster joins Jim Tompkins this week to talk about where China is going and how best western firms can respond.

Podcast #72: Replacing China Myths with Facts – Part 3 Continuing on China’s Business Evolution

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 18:45:17 +0000

Jim Tompkins and Steven Crandall had way too much to say last week to fit into a single podcast, so this week the two return to continue their conversation of China's Business Evolution.

Podcast 71: Replacing China Myths with Facts – Part 2 China’s Business Evolution

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:52:41 +0000

This week Jim Tompkins speaks with Steven Crandall, the Vice President and General Manager of Technomic Asia and Tompkins International, who’s headquartered in Shanghai about the evolution of business in China.

Podcast 69: An Intro to This Year’s Leadership Forum

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:59:56 +0000

The Seventh Supply Chain Leadership Forum (SCLF) is happening soon. Listen in to find out the when, where and everything else you need to know about this year's SCLF.

Podcast 68: The Conclusion Leveraging the Supply Chain for Shareholder Value, Part 8 of 8

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:05:26 +0000

In this final piece of the Shareholder Value Podcast series, Jim lets Gene Tyndall take the wheel and discuss everything we have learned in this eight part series. What are the largest and most important points that have been discussed? Listen in to find out.

Podcast 67: Optimizing the Supply Chain with Network Planning Part II Leveraging the Supply Chain for Shareholder Value, Part 7b of 8

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 17 May 2011 19:09:26 +0000

Jim finishes his discussion with John Spain about optimizing the supply chain network, including common questions that network modeling can answer, the processes for using the full power of network modeling, and the biggest associated challenges and what companies can do about them.

Podcast 66: Optimizing the Supply Chain with Network Planning Leveraging the Supply Chain for Shareholder Value, Part 7a of 8

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Sun, 08 May 2011 19:23:01 +0000

What is driving supply chain network planning? Can optimizing the supply chain network really help increase shareholder value? John Spain joins Jim Tompkins to discuss just how much it can help in part 7a of the Shareholder Value series.

Podcast 65: Capital Efficiency: Leveraging the Supply Chain for Shareholder Value, Part 6 of 8

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 19:29:52 +0000

Tompkins' expert on inventory, Ralph Cox, joins Jim in discussing the importance of Capital Efficiency, particularly in relation to reducing inventory and how to optimize the supply chain network to reduce fixed assets.

Podcast 64: Improve Speed and Productivity: Leveraging the Supply Chain for Shareholder Value, Part 5 of 8

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:39:27 +0000

Today Jim has Lilian Wang, a Principal at Tompkins International, to talk about her area of expertise, working with clients to increase speed and productivity throughout the supply chain and to improve margins.

Podcast 63: Keeping the Margin Healthy: Leveraging the Supply Chain for Shareholder Value, Part 4 of 8

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 19:46:15 +0000

Dan Avila, a Partner in our Global Supply Chain Services group at Tompkins International joins Jim Tompkins to discuss the second objective of the Shareholder Value podcast series: Margin Improvement. Make sure to listen in for ways to reduce the cost of goods sold while still maintaining high profitability and dealing with outside variables such as gas prices and more.

Podcast 62: Beating the Competition, Profitably: Leveraging the Supply Chain for Shareholder Value, Part 3 of 8

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:53:02 +0000

Today Jim Tompkins brings in Valerie Bonebrake, a Partner at Tompkins International who knows the details on how to beat the competition. Listen in to find out how best to get ahead of the competition and what processes are key to achieving this goal.

Podcast 61: Strategic Market Planning and the Paradox of Profitable Growth New Frontiers for Profitable Growth in Business: Leveraging the Supply Chain for Shareholder Value, Part 2 of 8

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 20:00:45 +0000

Is all business growth good? Not always. Today Jim is joined by Steve Ganster, the CEO of Technomic Asia, to talk about the profitable growth paradox.

Podcast 60: The New Frontier for Profitable Growth in Business: Leveraging the Supply Chain — Shareholder Value, Part 1 of 8

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:05:30 +0000

Jim Tompkins reveals his latest eight part podcast series on one of the most important opportunities of the upcoming decade in the supply chain: Supply chain value creation and increasing shareholder value.

Podcast 58: Top 11 for 2011 Podcast, Part 1

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 01:09:43 +0000

This week, Jim Tompkins shows his excitment for the new year, and for the new decade. He also talks about how the supply chain will be impacted as we leave the great recession behind us, and what key factors to keep an eye on as the year progresses.

Podcast 59: Top 11 for 2011 Podcast, Part 2

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:24:54 +0000

Jim Tompkins finishes his Top 11 Supply Chain related issues for 2011 such as what to prioritize, what to upgrade and keep current, and what a lot of people have missed during the past year related to making the supply chain more profitable. Listen in to find out more.

Podcast 57: Procurement Series, Part 4 of 4

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 01:16:12 +0000

Gene Tyndall, Leader of our Global Supply Chain Services Practice, joins Jim Tompkins to expand on some of the topics mentioned in previous podcasts in this series. Gene also talks about common mistakes made in the area of procurement and some of the best solutions to the problems.

Podcast 56: Procurement Series, Part 3 of 4

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 01:26:15 +0000

For Part 3 of the Procurement Podcast series, Jim Tompkins invites Tompkin's Procurement Service Line Leader, Justin Brown, back onto the podcast to continue discussing the four key functions of procurement. Today Justin talks about the last two pieces of procurement excellence, Procurement IT and Supplier Relationship Management. Listen in for why these four functions are so important to procurement excellence.

Podcast 55: Procurement Excellence Procurement Series, Part 2 of 4

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 01:38:33 +0000

In this latest episode of the Procurement Podcast series, Jim Tompkins discusses the topic of Procurement Excellence with Tompkins' Procurement Service Line Leader, Justin Brown. Justin discusses two of the four key functions of procurement: Strategic Sourcing and Purchasing Today. Listen in for how these two functions are so important to procurement excellence.

Podcast 54: How Procurement Connects to Every Supply Chain Link Procurement Series, Part 1 of 4

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 01:46:04 +0000

Jim Tompkins debuts his latest podcast series with an introduction to procurement and how it fits into the mega-supply-chain processes such as Plan-Buy-Make-Move-Store-Sell and more.

Podcast 53: Goals and Challenges of Achieving Profitable Growth – Podcast Part 9 of 9

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 01:53:50 +0000

In this final part of the Profitable Growth series, Gene Tyndall, the EVP of Tompkins International for Global Supply Chain Services practices joins Jim Tompkins to discuss Lessons Learned over the course of the past few years with regards to protifable growth, including what it means, why it appeared, and why it seemed to disappear in business for a time.

Podcast 52: A Successful China Strategy for Profitable Growth – Part 8 of 9

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 02:06:29 +0000

In the eighth part of the Profitable Growth series, Jim Tompkins talks with Kent Kedl about China and the opportunities for Profitable Growth there, along with the potential risks of jumping head first into China without some research beforehand.

Podcast 51: World Class Inventory Management – Profitable Growth Podcast Part 7 of 9

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:21:01 +0000

In the seventh part of the Profitable Growth series, Jim Tompkins invites Ralph Cox, Tompkins International' thought leader on inventory management to discuss that very topic. Listen in to find out more about how best to manage inventory to assist in Profitable Growth and determine whether or not it can create growth or merely support growth caused by other factors.

Podcast 50: Supply Chain Technology for Profitable Growth – Podcast Part 6 of 9

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:34:28 +0000

The world of supply chain technology is challenging organizations more than ever before. For our 50th podcast, Kevin Hume joins Jim Tompkins once again to give us his unique perspective on profitable growth and how it relates to supply chain technology, as well as where it is today to help you get the latest perspective on supply chain technology.

Podcast 49: Global Supply Chain Podcast Special Edition: Discussing Risk Management Tools and Techniques Live from Dallas at the Supply Chain Leadership Forum

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:41:59 +0000

What are the top risk management tools and techniques that businesses are employing today? Is your organization prepared for anything, and what are the biggest risks to your supply chain? At a session held at the Supply Chain Leadership Forum, members of the Supply Chain Consortium discussed their experiences and best practices for risk management. In this podcast, Bruce Tompkins, executive director of the Supply Chain Consortium, interviews Roger Paulson, director of the University of Wisconsin E-Business Consortium’s supply chain management, customer service and sales operations focus areas. At the forum, Roger delivered a presentation and led a discussion on risk management, with input and participation from the consortium’s members. Bruce and Roger chat live in this podcast from the Supply Chain Leadership Forum, held in Dallas August 31-September 1

Podcast 48: An Operational and Strategic Focus – Profitable Growth Podcast Part 5 of 9

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:13:04 +0000

In the fifth part of his ten part podcast series on profitable growth, Jim Tompkins invites Darius Zand, Managing Director with Tompkins International, to discuss operational and strategic focus approach to profitable growth.

Podcast 47: Service Supply Chain – Profitable Growth Podcast Part 4 of 9

info@tompkinsinc.com (Tompkins Associates) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:22:44 +0000

In the fourth part of his ten part podcast series on profitable growth, Jim Tompkins invites Shibesh Banerji, a Principal at Tompkins International, to discuss how service supply chains can be strategically placed within an organization to help support profitable growth.