According to a recent article in World Trade magazine, supply chain executives think that risk to supply chains today is higher than it ever has been – whether this means realistic expectations or the perception of risk. 

What can someone trying to manage all of this risk do?

Valerie Bonebrake, the Senior VP for Global Supply Chain Services here at Tompkins, says in the article that organizations need to work backwards from consumption to source in order to map the supply chain and identify points of risk. And simply playing the “what if” game works well too!

As you can tell from the long list of them on the right side of my blog, I collect quotations. At the Supply Chain Leadership Forum earlier this month in Dallas, I heard a good one relating to risk management: “Surviving the unexpected is not an accident.” Supply chain managers should be prepared for anything; whether it’s going for a walk around the distribution facility or trying to summit Mount Everest, preparation will help face down challenges that disrupt supply chains.

This quote originated from Roger Paulson’s presentation on Risk Management Tools and Techniques at the Leadership Forum. Roger is the director of the University of Wisconsin’s E-Business Consortium’s supply chain management, customer service and sales operations areas. It was a great discussion between Roger and the group.

Luckily, there’s a way for you and all the rest of the blog readers who could not attend the forum to “listen in” on the key points and issues covered in this risk management session. After Roger’s presentation, the executive director of the Supply Chain Consortium, Bruce Tompkins, interviewed Roger in a live podcast format.

You can hear Bruce and Paul explore risk management techniques and proven best practices, as well as the common challenges and supply chain disruptions that companies face. Listen to the podcast here or see the text transcript.

GoGoGo! And prepare for risk. 

Jim

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