Businesses look to their supply chain operations for performance that meets customer expectations at the lowest possible cost. In order to achieve these desired outcomes, we expect our supply chains to be highly productive — meaning they are fully capable, reliable and efficient. These are the essential qualities of supply chain performance. But, what more can we expect from our supply chains? This session illuminates how flexible and agile supply chains can serve as dynamic enablers of growth. Responsive supply chains not only flex to mitigate risks but pivot to opportunities. Further, the supply chain network can serve as a wellspring for product and process innovation. This session will examine how top companies are climbing out of operational ruts and harvesting good ideas by tapping existing and prospective members of the supply chain for market growth.

Matching supply with demand sounds obvious and simple enough, but recent years have proven otherwise. Supply chain management (SCM) is the cross-functional, cross-firm effort to ensure that supply meets demand while earning targeted margin for the business. A well-managed supply chain can anticipate changes in demand, mitigate risks associated with supply shortages and reduce lead times, all of which help the business maintain operational efficiency. Supply chain resilience enables businesses to capitalize on emerging opportunities, maintain customer satisfaction and reduce costs, ultimately positioning companies for long-term success and growth. This session presents proven methods for internal integration and external collaboration that help organizations to not only weather the storms of chaos, but to excel and win in the face of uncertainty.

This special session from the 2024 FEDA Annual Executive Leadership Conference featured Chad Autry, associate dean of faculty and research at the University of Tennessee’s Haslam College of Business. In his presentation, Autry explored how companies can create a more effective supply chain in an era of rapid technological development and increased global instability.