Guest: Andrei Quinn-Barabanov of Moody’s on supply chains five years after Covid hit us; Integrating diverse automation; New battery charging and energy solutions
Mar 21, 2025
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Andrei Quinn-Barabanov, Supply Chain Industry Practice Lead at Moody's, shares his insights on the altered landscape of supply chains five years post-COVID. He discusses how companies adapted during the pandemic and the lasting changes in risk management. The conversation shifts to the diverse automation technologies showcased at ProMat, highlighting the challenges of integrating these systems. Andrei also introduces innovative energy solutions, like battery storage and automated charging, that enhance efficiency and reduce costs in logistics.
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant vulnerabilities in supply chains, prompting a critical shift towards proactive risk assessment and management strategies.
As retail evolves post-pandemic, companies must enhance supply chain agility and focus on key suppliers to navigate ongoing market uncertainties.
Deep dives
Lessons Learned from COVID-19 on Supply Chain Risks
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the material risks inherent in supply chains, a fact that was often downplayed prior to the outbreak. Organizations have now come to understand that assessing these risks using quantitative methods, such as value at risk calculations, is crucial. As a result, there is a growing emphasis on being proactive rather than reactive, as predictive indicators can help prevent crises before they escalate. This experienced shift means that supply chain management must now prioritize risk assessment and mitigation strategies unearthed by the shocks of the pandemic.
Impact of Demand Shifts on Supply Chain Performance
The significant demand shifts caused by the pandemic revealed vulnerabilities within supply chains that many companies were unprepared for. Executives often overlooked the necessity of investing in supply chain risk management, which resulted in inadequate resources to deal with unforeseen challenges. Companies had previously operated with lean inventories, making it difficult to adapt quickly to rapid changes in demand. As businesses face ongoing uncertainty, there is a pressing need for companies to enhance their supply chain resilience to handle such fluctuating market conditions.
Future Trends in Retail and Supply Chain Dynamics
Retail has undergone significant changes post-pandemic, with brick-and-mortar stores facing challenges due to evolving consumer behaviors and lingering economic uncertainty. While some sectors of retail are likely to thrive, areas that require tactile customer interaction, like grocery or home improvement stores, stand a better chance of success. However, as companies reassess inventory levels and manage rising operational risks, understanding the ripple effects of potential trade wars will be pivotal. The need for companies to maintain an agile supply chain will require them to focus on their key suppliers and the underlying risks associated with their operations.
Our guest on this week's episode is Andrei Quinn-Barabanov, Supply Chain Industry Practice Lead and Senior Director with Moody’s. It was five years ago this month that our world was rocked with the Covid-19 virus. That is when businesses and schools closed and we were all stuck at home waiting for things to get better. All the while, supply chains kept us fed and happy at home, for the most part. Our supply chains had to adjust and they are still feeling the effects of the pandemic five years later. Our guest reflects on how supply chains reacted then and how they now will never be the same.
Most of our editorial staff was at ProMat 2025 this past week in Chicago – a huge supply chain show and the largest material handling exhibition in North America. And everywhere we looked, there were robotics and automation systems to be seen. Most distribution facilities and factories will eventually end up with a number of different types of automation and robotics within their facilities. So, the big challenge is to integrate all of these disparate systems to play nice with one another. We look at a couple of "orchestration" solutions on display at ProMat.
All of the automation solutions exhibited at ProMat take power. In this episode, we look at some innovative energy solutions that keep those automation systems operating at peak performance. We also discuss an energy management solution that can potentially lower the utility bills of facilities.
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. All 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.