Supply Chain on the Chopping Block

By Freddie Pierce
A poll conducted among finance leaders at The Economists recent CFO summit revealed that a two-thirds majority believe supply chain to be a key area to...

A poll conducted among finance leaders at The Economist’s recent CFO summit revealed that a two-thirds majority believe supply chain to be a key area to cut costs.  An even stronger majority think there are savings to be had in procurement, and will likely be pursuing tighter measures.

It’s not welcome news to a community that’s recently seen itself humbled by natural disasters – and blamed for the fallout with shareholders.

More puzzling still, this management inclination goes against the global trend towards more sophisticated supply chain operations. With the world’s most profitable company a de facto leader in supply chain solutions – Apple’s first post-Jobs CEO is a logistics officer – and greater efficiency on everybody’s lips, this seems like a bad time to cut back.

SEE RELATED STORIES FROM THE WDM CONTENT NETWORK:

·         The Coming Supply Chain Renaissance

·         Did Steve Jobs’ Death Shine a Light on the Supply Chain?

Click here to read the latest edition of Supply Chain Digital

Worse, the human and ecological costs of current supply chain methods are becoming clearer and clearer, and re-investment certainly seems like a good idea from the perspective of business leaders who wish to remain so.  Cutting back at this critical juncture might yield some short-term gains, but it imperils the industry at large and can drive market instability.

Let’s hope they all just had too much free champagne at the summit.

Click here to download Supply Chain Digital’s iPad app!

Share

Featured Articles

PwC Examines Digital Trends in Operations for 2024

PwC’s Digital Trends in Operations Survey for 2024 demonstrates a significant proportion of firms are struggling to achieve their desired outcomes

P&SC LIVE New York 2024 Virutal - SAVE THE DATE

Don’t miss out on your chance to attend Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE New York in 2024 Virtually, 5-6 June

Charities & NGOs Submit to The Global P&SC Awards for FREE

The Global Procurement & Supply Chain Awards hosted at P&SC LIVE London Sept 2024 welcomes charities and NGOs to submit for FREE

Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE: 2024 Dates to Remember

Digital Supply Chain

Gartner Unveils Top Supply Chain Technology Trends for 2024

Technology

What the Latest CSDDD Milestone Means for Supply Chains

Sustainability