The SupplyChainBrain Podcast

Big data is threatening to swamp small companies. The good news is that there's more data than ever before with which to manage global supply chains effectively. The bad news is that the cost of that effort can be punishingly high. That's not a problem for big multinationals, but how is a smaller entity supposed to keep up? Storage costs alone can be prohibitive. At least until now: new technologies, along with the declining cost of deploying them, are helping smaller competitors to level the playing field. On this episode, we speak with Don Baptiste, chief executive officer of Trax Technologies, who offers guidance on how companies of all sizes can thrive in the age of Big Data without becoming overwhelmed. We learn how they can get started on initiatives to access, cleanse and analyze the rich trove of data that's being generated both within the organization and by a multitude of supply-chain partners.

Cyber thieves, hackers and terrorists are targeting the Internet of Things. Every device that's connected to the internet is vulnerable. Witness last fall's massive distributed denial of service (DDOS) attack on the internet infrastructure provider Dyn. The incident took down some of the net's most heavily trafficked websites. It was a distressing demonstration of the inadequate security that has been put into place to guard against breaches. And it's not just about stolen credit-card data anymore. The growth of the Internet of Things has made critical systems more open to attack than ever before. Everything from home appliances to automobiles, aircraft and the nation's power grid is susceptible. On this episode, we learn of the scope of the problem from attorney Creighton Magid, partner and head of the D.C. office of Dorsey & Whitney. He explains what manufacturers must do in order to protect their connected devices from intrusion. They need to examine ''the entire ecosystem'' of their products, he says.

At some point, every organization must change in order to survive. How do we combat the natural human tendency to resist it? The ability to manage organizational change lies at the very heart of executive leadership skills. Change is disruptive, to be sure, but it's also essential to the health of a business, educational institution, or any group that has come together with a common purpose. So how can members of an organization be persuaded to go along with change? How can their fears be allayed? How do we tear down functional silos? On this episode, we speak with Dr. Dwayne Hart, vice president of administration and chief financial officer at Grande Prairie Regional College in Alberta, Canada. He offers valuable advice on getting past the barriers that people erect to change. Assisting in the conversation are co-hosts PJ Shelton, deputy sector navigator for global trade and logistics with the Peralta Community College District, and Stacey Heiligenthaler, special education administrator with the Norwalk Public Schools in Norwalk, Conn.

Without effective freight-cost management, you're leaving millions of dollars a year on the table. The age of big data, coupled with the global nature of most supply chains, has made the job of managing freight spend tougher than ever. It's no longer sufficient just to be able to pay one's bills (as if that task were easy). Companies today need to incorporate sophisticated analytics into their freight management. On this episode, we speak with Henry Trujillo, logistics manager with Hewlett Packard Enterprise, about the challenge of freight-cost management in the 21st century. He reveals how HPE is adopting cutting-edge techniques to identify anomalies and excess cost in its global freight spend. Proper cost management, he says, can optimize one's carrier base, while racking up significant savings in the process.

Supply-chain professionals, assuming they sought out the position in the first place, have typically learned the ropes by doing the job. Not anymore. Today, training has become an essential part of the profession. The reason? Supply chain, which used to function largely as a cost center for the organization, has become a key component of corporate profitability. It makes eminent sense that supply-chain managers be equipped with all of the tools needed to do their jobs. On this episode, we get an up-to-date perspective on supply-chain training from Jim Barnes, managing director for ISM Services at the Institute for Supply Management. He talks about the full range of training resources and techniques, including ''boot camps,'' continuing education, virtual learning, mentoring and professional certifications. We'll learn what it takes to be a supply-chain professional today, and what the job might look like in the future.

''It is difficult to make predictions, especially about the future.'' So said a Danish wit nearly 80 years ago. But when it comes to divining the direction of the economy, why try? Economists and money managers stake their reputations on the ability to foresee economic trends, even if they're frequently wrong. Perhaps a more honest approach would be to admit ignorance, then prepare for any eventuality. That's the strategy of portfolio manager Vitaliy Katsenelson, chief investment officer with Investment Management Associates, Inc., a value investment firm based in Denver, Col. On this episode, Katsenelson explains how he chooses stocks while avoiding the kind of commitments that can blow up when things don't pan out as expected. He also lays out two possible scenarios for the U.S. economy in the coming year: one if interest rates rise, the other if they remain low. The trick, Katsenelson says, is planning for an ''I Don't Know World.''

Whistleblowers play an essential role in uncovering corporate and government fraud. But they often pay a heavy price for their actions. Michael G. Winston was the executive at Countrywide Financial, the giant provider of single-family mortgages, who called out the company on its fraudulent practices in the early 2000s. The subsequent collapse of Countrywide was a major factor in the crash of the mortgage market and the Great Recession of 2007-08. Winston, who was punished by Countrywide management for speaking out, turned down a $10-million-plus settlement of his lawsuit against the company and its subsequent owner, Bank of America, because it would have allowed the perpetrators to evade culpability in the scandal. He then suffered a shocking loss in appellate court, and was blackballed by the financial industry. On this episode, Winston, dubbed by Salon ''Wall Street's greatest enemy,'' recalls his ordeal, and offers his view as to what should be done to reform the banking, mortgage and financial industries to prevent future fraudulent behavior. For now, however, the latest economic disaster remains what this veteran Fortune 50 executive calls ''the greatest unpunished crime in recorded history.''

The new era of retail isn't just about the internet. Welcome to the world of the pop-up store. Turns out that highlighting products on a website isn't always the most effective way to get your brand in front of the consumer. Buyers want to see, touch and smell the merchandise. And retailers want to promote the notion of constant innovation. Hence the growing popularity of the pop-up, a phenomenon that began with Halloween and Christmas merchandise but has since expanded to include any number of fashion-oriented items. A pop-up might not even be selling anything outright, it could be there to highlight a new product, test new geographies, build brand awareness or mine valuable intelligence about the consumer. On this episode, we examine the evolution of the pop-up with retail strategist Melissa Gonzalez, founder of the Lion'esque Group, a firm of pop-up architects. She traces the history, current state and future of pop-ups. And she addresses a key question about the state of retail today: Is nothing permanent anymore?

The U.K. is making a clean split from the European Union. How will its economy and trading relationships fare in a post-Brexit world? All signs point to a ''hard Brexit,'' a complete severing of ties with the European single market. Opponents of the move say it will lead to economic disaster for the U.K. It all depends, of course, on how one views the situation. Is the U.K. leaving the E.U., or joining the rest of the world? Has the E.U. been a help or hindrance to the country's economic state? On this episode, we hear a relatively positive view of Brexit from John Manners-Bell, founder and chief executive of Transport Intelligence. He suggests that the U.K.'s imminent economic independence could open up access to new markets and opportunities, while freeing the nation of the E.U.'s stultifying bureaucracy. But will Brexit trigger additional defections from the troubled E.U.? And might Scotland, which voted to remain in the single market, make another try at breaking free from the U.K.?

Forget about trade friction between the U.S. and China. Now it's a global trade war. As more and more aggrieved countries jump into the game, we find ourselves in a world of retributive duties and other government actions against the ''dumping'' of goods in export markets. It's not just the U.S. fighting with China. South Africa, India, Malaysia and Taiwan have also filed grievances. And China is responding in kind. On this episode, we welcome back attorney William Perry, now with the international law firm of Harris Moure, who explains how the policies of nominal trading ''partners'' have escalated tensions and undermined global commerce. Protectionism can have serious unintended consequences on the economy, Harris argues. Action against a single imported item can end up threatening thousands of jobs in another sector, and possibly entire domestic industries. Perry also offers his view on whether the World Trade Organization is still effective and relevant.