According to the Institute of Supply Management (ISM), manufacturing is gaining strong momentum with the fourth month in a row in expansionary territory. Exports are gaining as well with the trade deals. Smart manufacturers are preparing to scale profitably and better utilize AI-enabled systems and technologies.
In this episode of Leveraged Supply Chains, Andrew Stroup talks with Lisa Anderson, President of LMA Consulting Group, about the gap between what mid-market manufacturers plan and what their suppliers actually deliver Listen to the podcast to learn how SIOP and supplier data and promise dates interact.
In this Supply Chain Byte, Lisa Anderson explains why the discovery of lithium matters: lithium is a critical input for batteries, electronics and electric vehicles - and the U.S. has historically relied on imports and overseas refining. Lisa outlines what manufacturers should be thinking about now to prepare and take advantage of this shift.
Crime is no way to make a point, but many in the logistics field can understand the frustration. The Ontario warehouse arsonist was allegedly angry about pay. But that's not the way to demand a raise. Logistics companies have to be competitive with the rest of the country even though there are high costs and regulations in the state.
As volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) increase, leaders who embrace what is possible will succeed. Instead of looking for roadblocks and considering them insurmountable, look for options, alternate paths, and creative solutions.
Planning is becoming more complex, but smarter planning makes the difference. In this Supply Chain Byte, Lisa Anderson outlines three key planning challenges manufacturers are facing today - and three ways to address them.
As the Iran war simmers, trade experts ask whether it could reshape supply chains more deeply than COVID, forcing companies to rethink strategies to counter further geopolitical shocks. The back-to-back crises of the pandemic and the Iran war have altered how many companies now assess risk.
In this Supply Chain Byte, Lisa Anderson explains what defines smart warehousing today: optimizing pick velocity; leveraging automation, robotics and advanced technologies; and managing energy and electricity demands. These factors are critical to improving efficiency, controlling costs and supporting customer service as volumes grow.
As supply chains reshape with changing geopolitical and trade conditions, transportation evolves. Transportation and goods movement systems remained largely intact, yet as supply chain networks evolve and artificial intelligence (AI) takes hold, transportation infrastructure and related networks will transform to provide superior customer value in an efficient and profitable manner.
Tariffs, sweeping policy changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill, heightened geopolitical risk and the accelerating impact of artificial intelligence, is leading companies to rethink where and how they build their products and serve their customers. After decades of offshoring, fragile global supply chains and margin pressure, U.S. manufacturing, mining, and construction are entering a decisive new growth cycle.
