Supply Chain Podcast: Abhijit Supekar on Risk & Resilience

Building the Unshaken Supply Chain with Abhijit Supekar

In Episode 1, host Aaron McMillan speaks with Abhijit Supekar, Senior Director of Global Supply Chain at Aeva, whose extensive cross-sector experience spans automotive, healthcare, industrial and advanced technology. With more than two decades of leadership in transformative operations, Supekar offers a clear-eyed perspective on what it truly means to build resilient supply chains in a world shaped by volatility.

Titled around the concept of the “unshaken supply chain,” the episode immediately moves beyond traditional conversations around cost and efficiency. Instead, Supekar reframes the modern supply chain leader’s role as something far more dynamic: “ambiguity manager.” In an era of geopolitical instability, supplier concentration risk, fluctuating tariffs and evolving customer demands, he argues that supply chain leaders are no longer simply moving products. They are building systems capable of performing under pressure.

Why Supply Chain Resilience Starts with Mindset

A key theme throughout the discussion is mindset. For Supekar, resilience is not about “de-risking” supply chains entirely, because risk never disappears. Rather, the focus should be on designing supply chains that can continue delivering regardless of disruption. This shift in thinking is central to his “unshaken” philosophy, which prioritises visibility, flexibility and availability as the foundations of sustained performance.

The episode also introduces Supekar’s concept of supply chain DNA, a framework for understanding how fragmented data, operational cohesion and network complexity intersect to shape outcomes across time, cost, quality and quantity. Rather than relying on broad, reactive strategies, he advocates for deep operational understanding and targeted interventions that solve specific vulnerabilities. This practical, systems-level approach offers valuable insight for organisations seeking to strengthen resilience without overcorrecting.

Supplier Risk, Visibility and Strategic Growth

Supplier strategy is another major focus. While single sourcing is often perceived as an immediate risk, Supekar challenges this assumption by arguing that supplier reliability, not supplier count, is what truly matters. His approach centres on identifying “risky suppliers” based on business impact, then actively monitoring and addressing those vulnerabilities through dual sourcing, diversified manufacturing and strategic logistics pathways. It is a measured, data-informed strategy that avoids what he describes as “boiling the ocean.”

Geopolitical disruption and localisation are also explored, but Supekar avoids simplistic narratives. Rather than viewing localisation as a universal solution, he outlines a more surgical strategy based on political awareness, trade policy understanding and selective network diversification. This reflects a broader shift in global supply chain thinking, where resilience is increasingly built through optionality rather than wholesale relocation.

Sustainability as a Supply Chain Imperative

Sustainability emerges not as a compliance exercise, but as a long-term business imperative. Supekar is clear that sustainable supply chains are no longer optional. They are essential to operational continuity, supplier longevity and cost control. By embedding sustainability into design, sourcing and packaging decisions, businesses can better position themselves for future growth while mitigating long-term material and environmental risks.

The Future of Supply Chain Transformation

The conversation closes with an important reflection on transformation itself: there is no perfect moment to change. In Supekar’s view, businesses must continuously evolve because markets will not wait. Successful transformation depends on executive sponsorship, ROI clarity and organisational patience, qualities often overlooked in fast-moving environments.

Overall, Episode 1 of the Supply Chain Digital Podcast provides a strategic and highly relevant exploration of what modern resilience looks like. Through Abhijit Supekar’s grounded insights, listeners gain a practical framework for navigating disruption, scaling innovation and building supply chains that are not merely reactive, but truly unshaken.

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