Tennessee on Supply Chain Management

For the second episode of Season 2, Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby speak with Terry Esper, professor of logistics at Ohio State University and Chair Elect for CSCMP, and Tom Nightingale, CEO of AFS Logistics and chairman of the board for CSCMP. They discuss professional development in the supply chain industry and highlight the paradigm shifts in organizational structures and talent acquisition strategies. Listen as Nightingale shares the latest initiatives by CSCMP, the growing trend of corporate memberships, the importance of local round tables, and the future of supply chain education. From the changing dynamics of professional organizations to the strategic engagement of CSCMP members, this episode is loaded with actionable insights that will redefine your understanding of the industry.Listen in as our co-hosts also discuss the near government shutdown, UAW strike, low water levels in the Panama Canal and Mississippi River, the Iran oil agreements, and more.Related LinksUAW strike newsLMI high-water markLow water levels in the Panama CanalTom Goldsby on the United Auto Workers strike’s roots in AI and ramifications for auto logisticsUT Haslam’s Ted Stank Honored with Supply Chain Hall of Fame InductionLearn more about ASF LogisticsYellow Logistics files for bankruptcy Learn more about CSCMP's roundtablesUT's Executive MBA for Global Supply Chain degree programUT's Masters in Supply Chain Management Online degree programSubscribe to GSCI’s monthly newsletterLatest news and insights from the GSCI team

For the first episode of Season 2, Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby speak with Denis Reilly, president and CEO of Kenco Group, a logistics provider based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. They discuss innovating, automating, and driving productivity even in the midst of a labor shortage. Denis, a member of the GSCI Advisory Board, also shared his approach to developing talent and what it’ll take to succeed as a senior leader in the future.Beyond the interview, listen in as Ted and Tom discuss consumer confidence reports, unemployment figures, the state of the current job market, economic projections for the remainder of 2023, and more. Related links:Consumer confidence wanes with high prices and a cooling job marketFed, economists make course correction on US recession predictionsWhat holiday shopping could look like in 2023Hiring settles into low gear as August unemployment rose to 3.8%Labor unions pushing for raises and better hoursTom Goldsby on the United Auto Workers strike’s roots in AI and ramifications for auto logisticsGen Z reconsidering the value of college degreesRead about Kenco’s Innovation Test LabListen to the Season 2 trailer and most popular episodes from the first seasonSubscribe to GSCI’s monthly newsletterLatest news and insights from the GSCI team

Hosted by the dynamic duo of Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby, Tennessee on Supply Chain Management will launch its second season later this month with a high-level discussion on innovation, automation, and driving productivity with Kenco Group President and CEO Denis Reilly. Prepare for a new slate of informative, insightful, and entertaining episodes with this teaser episode and relive the best from our first season below.Most popular episodes from Season 1:Delivering Hope for the Supply Chain Marathon with Pfizer VP Dr. Michael Ku (Ep. 13)Is LEAN Dead? (Ep. 4)How to Build a More Sustainable Supply Chain with Philips' Jeff DiLullo (Ep. 15)Growing into Leadership with Caterpillar VP Wendi Gentry-Stuenkel (Ep. 19)Will the Port Snarl Affect Santa's Deliveries? (Ep. 1)Learn more about GSCI and how our academic and talent development programs can benefit supply chain professionals and business leaders from early career to the C-suite at our website. Latest articles and insights explaining what’s trending in the industry:The implications of the Teamsters Union contract with UPSThe importance of companies building agile relationships with external stakeholdersMaking sense of the latest sustainability reporting requirements for the transportation industry.

For the final episode of the podcast’s first season, our co-hosts split responsibilities in light of Ted Stank being named the winner of this year’s Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) Distinguished Service Award, earning him a place in the Supply Chain Hall of Fame.Tom Goldsby interviews Ted about the two decades he has spent pioneering supply chain management education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, setting the standard for how universities can collaborate with industry to reap maximum benefits. Ted shares his journey into logistics and supply chain management from his time as an operations officer in the United States Navy, how he’s seen the field evolve, and the most significant achievements of his long and storied career. Ted currently serves as the co-executive director of the Global Supply Chain Institute and leads the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative, a joint initiative between UT and leading Fortune 500 partner firms to explore advanced concepts in the discipline.Beyond the interview, Ted and Tom discuss the implications of the UPS-Teamsters agreement, Yellow Freight’s closure, record-sitting e-commerce numbers, global challenges to supply chains in China, Ukraine, India, and more.Related links:Alan Amling on the early takeaways from UPS-Teamsters Union’s tentative agreement. UPS cuts 2023 forecasts, fights to regain business lost during US labor talksYellow Freight, third-largest small-freight trucking company in the U.S., ceases operations187,000 jobs added in July as unemployment falls to 3.5%Chinese imports down 24 percent; Mexico becomes U.S. top trading partnerAmazon touts ‘biggest ever’ Prime Day, online sales surge to $12.7 billionWhat does Amazon’s solid Q2 mean for Target and Walmart?Ukraine-Russia war disrupts shipments of grain and oil, threatens food and energy marketsIndia suspends rice exports, risking global food crisisTed discusses his career and the evolution of SCM education with European Business Review.Latest news and insights from the GSCI team.

In our July episode, co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby are joined by professor John Bell, department head for supply chain management in the Haslam College of Business, to discuss economic competition between the United States and China, the sourcing of rare earth elements essential for producing electronics and other technologies, and the growth of the University of Tennessee’s top-ranked supply chain programs. Bell, who was recently named the John “Red” Dove Professor of Supply Chain Management, was a career maintenance and logistics officer in the United States Air Force. As a supply chain researcher, he is considered an authority in the areas of supply chain strategy, resource scarcity, hazardous material transportation, and logistics with publications in prominent journals, including the Journal of Business Logistics, Transportation Journal, Advanced Engineering Informatics, and the International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management. This year, Bell has written a series of articles for GSCI exploring the understudied and misunderstood processes for sourcing natural resources used as raw materials by the industries that make the products we buy every day. Listen as Ted and Tom discuss slowing inflation, the delivery challenges posed by strikes and potential strikes in Canada and the U.S., nearshoring of manufacturing to Mexico, and more.Note: Ted was recently honored with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) Distinguished Service Award, earning him a place in the Supply Chain Hall of Fame alongside such innovators as Jeff Bezos, Henry Ford, and former UT professor Tom Mentzer. Stay tuned for our next episode in which Tom interviews Ted to get his take on receiving the award.Related links:Inflation rose just 0.2% in June as consumers get a break from price increasesU.S. service sector picks up as inflation slows, ISM survey showsFederal Reserve closing in on end of rate hike cycleCarriers divert ships from Canada’s strike-hit west coast portsGSCI Fellow Alan Amling’s five key questions and answers from UPS-Teamsters negotiations New restrictions at the Panama Canal due threaten the future of the shipping routeUS nearshoring wave grows as Mexico exports jump close to recordTension between China, U.S., Russia and Ukraine threatens global economic growthWhat are germanium and gallium and why is C

In our June episode, co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby are joined by professor Stephanie Eckerd and recent Ph.D. graduate Anne Dohmen to discuss the relationship between industry and academia at the University of Tennessee, the value of partnerships for research, and their own transitions from practitioners to professors.Eckerd, who was recently named the FedEx Chair of Supply Chain Management in the Haslam College of Business, is the director of UT’s SCM Ph.D. program. Dohmen, who was an engineer by training and worked for both General Mills and Procter and Gamble before transitioning into academia, researches supply chain planning, agility, and disruptions. This fall, she will begin a job as an assistant professor at Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business.Listen as Ted and Tom discuss highlights of the Spring Supply Chain Forum, the current state of inventory and imports nationwide, the role academic research plays in company performance, and more. Related links:Everything you need to know from Spring SCF 2023Several GSCI SCF partners named in Gartner’s Global Supply Chain Top 25, including Schneider Electric (1), Colgate-Palmolive (3), Johnson & Johnson (4), PepsiCo (5), and Pfizer (6)Listen to our May podcast episode with three leaders from Schneider Electric about how to cultivate supply chain talentRead a Q&A about the societal importance of UT’s supply chain research with Eckerd and professor Chris CraigheadThe latest updates on the U.S. debt ceiling legislationUPS strike looms with big repercussions for consumersLaredo remains nation’s No. 1 gateway for international trade.Rates decrease, volume falls, and new capacity comes online for ocean shippingTom, Ted, and Lance Saunders’ 2021 article on the bullwhip effect in the Wall Street Journal

Recorded live at the 2023 Spring Supply Chain Forum, our May episode has co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby speaking with leaders from Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management and automation with operations in more than 100 countries and premium SCF partner .Guests featured in this episode:Kelly Britt, Global Supply Chain North America Talent ManagerLisa Waters, VP HR Global Supply Chain North AmericaSamia Kaci, VP Logistics Global Supply Chain North AmericaListen as Ted and Tom discuss the latest news and trends in global supply chain management. They then  speak with Kelly, Lisa, and Samia about talent management and development, including how to make employees feel a part of the team, buying into the company’s larger mission, flexible working environments, managing diverse workforces, and providing tools and resources to help employees succeed.Related links:Watch a live recording of this podcast episode from the 2023 Spring SCFWhere the trucking and rail recession shows up in logistics dataWith inflation rising, retailers need to prepare for excess inventoryOffice occupancy declines according to recent Collier’s reportLabor shortage and retention among top supply chain concernsSchneider Electric ranked second in Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 for 2022

In our April 2023 episode, co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby speak with Kevin O’Marah, co-founder of Zero100, a membership-based think tank and research company that works with some of the world’s most notable businesses toward a zero carbon, 100% digital supply chain. Kevin has a long and storied career in the industry and is a member of the GSCI Advisory Board and a GSCI Fellow. Before Zero100, he was chief storyteller for Amazon’s Last Mile Logistics organization, chief content officer for SCM World, and a VP at Gartner, where he created its Supply Chain Top 25 rankings.Listen as Ted, Tom, and Kevin discuss the latest news and trends in supply chain management, including digitalization, the evolution of supply chains, consumer influence, reducing carbon emissions, and more. Related links:Federal Reserve raises key interest rate 0.25% amid banking turmoilCollapse of Silicon Valley Bank sows fear over banking systemProposed merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern railroads to connect United States, Mexico, and CanadaCould Mexico replace China as leader in global manufacturing exports?Gartner Supply Chain University Top 25 rankings for 2022The Seeing, Thinking, Acting decision-making process of supply chain managers, as described by Ted, Tom, and others in their paper, “Toward a Digitally Dominant Paradigm for Twenty-First Century Supply Chain Scholarship”  for the International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics ManagementKevin’s Zero100 article, “Digital Transformation is 80% Strategy and 20% Technology”Kevin’s Zero100 article, “Scope 3 Carbon Victory Needs Sector-Level Collaboration”Kevin’s Forbes article, “Supply Chain Saves the World”Read Zero100’s The Signal newsletter

In our March 2023 episode, co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby speak with Wendi Gentry-Stuenkel, vice president of procurement for Caterpillar Inc., about leadership. A member of the GSCI Advisory Board and recognized industry leader, Wendi spent 20 years in the automotive industry with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles before moving to Caterpillar, where she oversees a large and dynamic team spread over 26 countries. Tune in as Wendi discusses the value of honesty, learning from experience, growth that leads to innovation, mentorship, and more. Related links:Chinese spy balloons and supply chainsConsumer confidence falls for the second straight monthMajor retailers see shifts in consumer spendingTarget and Sam’s Club both announce big investments to speed up online deliveryUS petroleum exports at an all-time high amid war in UkraineAfter its derailment in Ohio, Norfolk Southern unveils safety plan as bipartisan bill makes its way through CongressLearn more about Caterpillar Inc. Wendi discusses learning, leading, and listening on The Caterpillar Podcast.

In this episode, co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby are joined by a live audience and three UT Knoxville graduating seniors in supply chain management. They discuss their journeys to the university and the major, the value of getting involved in student orgs, attending industry events, and networking, and what they looked for in future employers.The three guests featured in this episode:Lillian Qin, president of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) student roundtable. She will start her career with KPMG in procurement and outsourcing consulting in ChicagoHalie Fairchild, president of NeXus Women in Supply Chain student group. She has accepted a rotational role, starting in internal audit, from HF Sinclair Corporation in DallasJack Parr, who is heading to Cincinnati to work for P&G’s inventory team in a data analytics positionRelated links:Do massive layoffs in Big Tech suggestion an incoming recession?The Institute of Supply Management’s manufacturing index report for January 2023GDP report shows fourth quarter growth of 2.8%GSCI Fellow Alan Amling discusses potential UPS workers strike with Supply Chain DriveResources, including internship information, certificate programs, and student groups, for undergraduates at UTHow companies can recruit UT’s supply chain talentInformation and registration for students planning to attend the SCM Career Expo, Feb. 20Scholars of Distinction, an undergraduate honors program for top-performing SCM majorsListen to our previous episode with recent graduates at BP, Denso, and Eastman Chemical Company about transitioning from college to professional career

In the first episode of 2023, co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby discuss the holiday season, how supply chains held up, and offer some predictions for business and the economy in 2023. They are joined by GSCI Fellow Kate Vitasek, a business leader, educator, and speaker who founded Vested, a model for creating highly collaborative business relationships in which both parties are equally committed to each other’s success.Related links:Learn more about the Vested approachTom and GSCI Fellow Alan Amling’s commentary, "A New Year’s Resolution for Stemming Retail’s Returns Tsunami" for Wall Street Journals’ Logistics ReportChina reverses COVID policy, surge could cripple supply chainsU.S. labor market ends 2022 strongTech sector announces big job cutsAfter supply challenges in 2022, demand is weakeningPrevious episode on future of retail with former Walmart CEO Bill SimonKate’s articles for ForbesKate’s keynote speech for Reuters’ Supply Chain Execution eventVested executive education courses through UT

Listen as co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby discuss the origin and implications of the new University of Tennessee, Knoxville – project44 Fleet Sustainability Index with Alex Scott, assistant professor of supply chain management, and Thomas Deakins, SVP of global partnerships and alliances for project44.Related LinksBlack Friday: Record high 196.7 million in person shoppers, up from 179 million in 2021UPS and FedEx holiday shipping deadlinesNational unemployment rates at 3.5%-3.7%Inventory levels are highChinese market and COVID shutdownsApple iPhone Pro shipping delaysUS as world's top foreign direct investment in 2021Rail strike updateWest Coast Ports backlog, or lack thereofOPEC continuing production Lean more about the University of Tennessee's Executive MBA for Global Supply Chainproject44 and UT Knoxville Fleet Sustainability IndexCSCMP Edge article about the Fleet Sustainability IndexLearn more about the Global Supply Chain Institute's research on agilityRead more of the Global Supply Chain Institute's research on agile resiliencyHow much are supply chain disruptions costing your organization? GSCI blog article seriesBrowse GSCI's research on sustainabilityUniversity of Tennessee Research Foundation

Join co-hosts Tom Goldsby and Ted Stank as they chat with Jeff DiLullo, head of services and solutions delivery and field operations for Philips North America, about how to build a resilient, agile supply chain. Jeff, who graduated with an MBA in marketing, logistics, and supply chain from UT in 2001, shares sustainability efforts underway at Philips, from reducing the carbon footprint of its healthcare supply chain to creating value through science-based targets for suppliers in order to create a circular economy. Related LinksUPS and FedEx raise rates U.S. manufacturing purchasing managers index rose to 50.7 Earnings reports coming in Mixed bag with healthy top lines, challenging bottom lines, and income statements being weighed down by inflation.Highway diesel prices riseGeneral rate increases for parcel and LTL FedEx and UPS made headlines, 6.9% on average. Old Dominion in at 4.9%. Freight volumes are downPeloton's inventory issuesLearn more about University of Tennessee's Master's of Science in Supply Chain Management Online degree programLearn how to build resilient agile supply chainsRelated Links — Philips Philips signs health care sector pledgeSustainability at PhillipsPhillips went carbon neutral in 2020Philips' circular economyLargest telehelth E-ICU deployment

Joined by UT supply chain professor and information systems expert Randy Bradley, co-hosts Ted Stank and Thomas Goldsby discuss filling supply chain gaps and creating efficiency with automation, liberating data with insights, and the benefits of digitalization and digitization. Ted and Tom also discuss consumer spending, demand shaping, product shortages, and FedEx's announcement that it would fall short of its income numbers for the quarter.Related Links:CSCMP Edge ConferenceMeet Mike Burnette and learn about "Winning Supply Chain Leadership Best Practices" session with Thomas Goldsby, Daniel Meyers, and Dave HoytGermany EMBA-GSC RPLearn More about our Executive MBA for Global Supply Chain Residence PeriodsConsumer Spending - WVLT Interview with Co-Host Thomas GoldsbyListen the episode with a discussion about a potential recession and current inflation with UT Knoxville Professor Marianne WanamakerFord blue oval logo shortage informationDetails on the butter shortage FedEx reports first quarter results and cost savings planRandy Bradley’s research on digitization and digitalizationGSCI Blockchain ResearchGame Changing Trends in Supply ChainDemand/Supply Integration Best Practices ResearchWearables in the Warehouse Article

Join co-hosts Tom Goldsby and Ted Stank for a supply chain discussion about consumer spending and sentiment, the West Coast labor situation, and a holiday supply chain forecast.They’re joined on this episode by Pfizer Vice President of Global Clinical Supply Dr. Michael Ku, who explains the race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine and the mindsets that carried his team to the finish line.Related LinksSpecial Guest Dr. Michael KuPfizer, a GSCI Supply Chain Forum and Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative partnerDelivering Hope video by Dr. Michael Ku, required for students taking the Intro to Supply Chain course.More information about GSCI's Advisory Board Contextual Intelligence: the ability to understand the limits of our knowledge and to adapt that knowledge to an environment different from the one in which it was developed. Drive Innovation with Better Decision-MakingFDA coronavirus announcement (Aug 31, 2022) 

We're switching it up in this episode! GSCI's Executive Director Shay Scott joins Tom Goldsby as co-host and guest this week to discuss GSCI initiatives, executive education, SCM rankings and more.Show Notes and Resources:Special guest, Shay Scott - Executive Director, Global Supply Chain Institute; Professor of Practice; Benz Supply Chain Leadership Fellow.Shay Scott named one of DC Velocity’s 2022 The RainmakersUT Haslam’s Graduate Supply Chain Programs Climb to No. 1 in Premier RankingUT’s Haslam Undergraduate Supply Chain Program Rises to No. 2 in Distinguished Gartner RankingMessage from Shay Scott - We’re proud of our highly ranked programs. Still, we measure ourselves primarily through the practical and relevant impact we have on the hundreds of businesses and the thousands of individuals we interact with through GSCI.Compare Graduate Programs - Our classrooms are enriched by GSCI’s network. Students have the opportunity to learn from industry leaders and globally ranked faculty in our No. 1 graduate supply chain programs. Compare Talent Development Programs - A primary focus of GSCI is helping our corporate partners develop supply chain leadership internally. We take great pride in helping our partners foster supply chain knowledge and innovation.Supply Chain ForumBuilding Tomorrow’s Supply Chain (The Purchaser, 2022)Theodore Stank and Thomas Goldsby, 1998, “Bridging the Gap Between Academic Responsibilities and Practical Application in Logistics,” Journal of Transportation Management, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 1-9.

Inflation is here and a recession could be on the horizon. Co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby are joined by Executive Director of the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy Dr. Marianne Wanamaker to discuss the business cycle of the U.S. and how the economy and supply chains could fare in the coming months.Topic #1: Beware the bullwhip effectTopic #2: Consumer spending trendsTopic #3: Is inflation tempering?Topic #4: Where is the labor and will there be a recession?Resources and Links:UT’s Haslam Undergraduate Supply Chain Program Rises to No. 2 in Distinguished Gartner RankingCommentary: Caution - Bullwhip Effect Ahead (The Wall Street Journal, 2021)Special guest, Marianna Wanamaker

Our next episode is all about retail. Ted and Tom are joined by Wal-Mart's ex U.S. CEO Bill Simon to discuss retail demand and how the response to COVID is still affecting supply chains. What does a new normal look like in supply chains and what does the future hold for inventory planning and demand? 

Ted and Tom are joined this episode by UT Knoxville Ryder Professor in Supply Chain Yemisi Bolumole. They'll tackle tough transportation topics, all highly relevant to many of today's supply chain challenges.Topic #1: Trucking DemandTopic #2: Chinese COVID ShutdownsTopic #3: Russia-Ukraine Supply Chain Fallout

Recorded live at GSCI's spring Supply Chain Forum, Ted and Tom sit down with Forum Mega Session speakers Lance Saunders (UT Knoxville Professor), Todd Caywood (Eastman Chemical Company), Caroline Jones (BP) and Chris Qualls (DENSO) to discuss how prepared they felt when entering the supply chain industry, share advice on the transition and how to avoid pitfalls as a new employee. You won't want to miss our first ever in-person recording!