In this episode, Zac Rogers, Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management at Colorado State University, offers a deep dive into the logistics landscape as we head into 2025. He discusses the vital role of the Logistics Managers' Index in understanding supply chain health. Zac highlights the eight-point wish list from the American Association of Port Authorities, addressing urgent policy needs. He also reveals alarming trends in workplace safety, where workers are pressured to cut corners, jeopardizing compliance and safety. The talk balances challenges with optimism for future improvements through technology.
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insights INSIGHT
Logistics Managers' Index (LMI)
The Logistics Managers' Index (LMI) assesses the speed of change in logistics.
It surveys director-level and above supply chain professionals monthly.
insights INSIGHT
Return to Normalcy
2025 marks the most normal start to the year in logistics compared to the pandemic.
Inventory levels are normalizing, indicating strong consumer spending and growth in transport.
insights INSIGHT
Growth and Uncertainty
Supply chain leaders predict growth in transportation and warehousing prices for 2025.
They anticipate a shift from just-in-time to just-in-case inventory due to tariff uncertainties.
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Our guest on this week's episode is Zac Rogers, associate professor of operations and supply chain management, Colorado State University. 2025 is just two weeks old and most of us have barely settled into the new year. Considering the unknown economic outlook, politics, possible tariffs, and ongoing turmoil around the world, it could be another interesting and a possibly volatile year for supply chains. Our guest shares his insights based data from on his role in helping to produce the monthly Logistics Managers' Index.
We’re in the middle of the transition season for a new administration in Washington DC. There are a lot of unknowns in this time of change, but one thing that's definitely happening is that business interests are busy lobbying politicians to protect their interests. And this week we saw some details that show what policies supply chain interest groups might want to happen in coming years. This was news from the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), which released an eight-point wish-list for its recommended policy agenda to support the nation’s seaports.
Manufacturing and logistics workers are raising a red flag over workplace quality issues according to industry research released this week. And it’s all related to internal and external pressures that are causing workers to cut corners, risking both safety and compliance demands.
Supply Chain Xchange also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane. It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A series of ten episodes is now available on the "State of Logistics." The episodes provide in-depth looks into the current states of key transportation modes, such as trucking, rail, air, and ocean. It also looks at inventory management, 3PLs and more. All ten episodes are available to stream now. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.
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