The Supply Chain Dialogues - Podcast
S03E05 - Planet - Feeding the Future: From Seeds to Sustainability
The Supply Chain Dialogues this time are about the critical importance of sustainable agriculture, addressing challenges faced by smallholder farmers, who take care of 30% of our world’s food supply.
Daniel Helmig and Dr Yuan Zhou, Head of Agricultural Policy and China Program of the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, discuss the significance of climate-smart practices, key innovations in agricultural technology, projects promoting sustainability, and the role of education and policy interventions. Dr Zhou explains the need for comprehensive climate policies, financial incentives, and emerging trends and technologies to transform global agricultural practices for a more sustainable future.
S03E04 - Planet - Net Zero in 1'000 Days? Absolutely!
In this "Supply Chain Dialogue" episode, we recycle the first-ever recording we did - one of our favourites. We discuss the ambitious goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions within 1,000 days. The podcast explores the current challenges and opportunities in reducing emissions across the supply chain, emphasizing that actionable plans and systematic approaches can make the goal achievable. We outline a 10-question framework for companies to assess their readiness and provide historical context, drawing parallels with how ISO standards revolutionized quality management. Daniel advocates leveraging market forces, digitalization, and strong leadership to drive the change, ensuring that net zero targets are promptly met. The episode highlights the practicality and urgency of transforming supply chains to be more environmentally sustainable.
S03E03 - Planet - The UN Sustainable Global Goals: A Do-It-Yourself Guide for implementation
In this episode, we discuss the knowledge gaps in corporate leadership regarding essential sustainability concepts such as the UN Global Goals, the Brundtland Report, and Elkington's Triple Bottom Line.
The episode shows how businesses can practically engage with and apply these SDGs, using them for compliance and as a cornerstone for genuine sustainability strategies. We provide detailed DIY connections between each SDG and business function, offering examples and actionable insights for companies to integrate these goals into their operations.
Listeners are encouraged to move beyond superficial sustainability efforts by understanding the foundations of these practices and strategically applying them to create meaningful, impactful change.
S03E02 - Profit & Planet - Duckling Becomes Swan: Transforming Transportation to Reduce Cost & GHG Emissions: Interview with e2log CEO A. Colaco
Transportation accounts for 14-16% of GHG emissions and 8-12% of manufacturing companies' total spending. Both can be reduced substantially if the right insights are available...
In this dialogue, Daniel talks with Adolph Colaco, CEO of e2log.com, about how costs and emissions can be tackled while improving customer satisfaction and companies' bottom lines.
It takes a leader bold enough to say "Yes" to real transformation, turning the perceived ugly duckling of transportation and logistics into a swan. You just have to love it…
Enjoy!
S02E12 - Planet - Talking supply chain, technology, procurement relevance, sustainability incl. potable water with former Group CEO of CIPS - Meeting Malcolm Harrison
CPO, Nestle, Group CEO of CIPS and CEO of British Crown Commercial Services are just some of the positions my guest held over his career.
Malcolm Harrison is one of the most distinctive procurement and supply chain leaders in Europe.
He's probably one of the most well-known and well-connected people I know in our field. Having been in charge of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Chain, CIPS, gives him a much wider view of many different industries than the average CXO in the supply chain.
He has a passion for driving competence and knowledge into the supply chain profession. As well as helping companies to manage sustainability challenges besides cost quality and supply chain resilience, bringing his FMCG background to the table to solve the issues.
Enjoy!
S02E11 - Planet - Net-zero - here we come: The ’all-inclusive’ solution for GHG emission management: measuring, reporting, reducing
Do you have a good handle on your GHG emissions in your supply chain? Do you get all the data from your suppliers you need? Can you do Product Carbon footprint reporting? Do you know, where your low-hanging fruits are to reduce your carbon footprint in your supply chain?
If you are like many practitioners and leaders in the supply chain or operations areas, you struggle to get your suppliers to provide you meaningful GHG emission reporting and reduction plans for net zero. You will have an even tougher time using the data to draw actionable conclusions.
Thankfully in this episode, we have a dialogue with Prof Dr Christian Heinrich, co-founder of carbmee® and Professor of Digital Transformation to talk about ways to alleviate your struggle to become a GHG emission net zero, even in record time.
Enjoy!
S02E10 - People - The Perfect Storm: Skills, Competency, and Learning Management in the Age of AI & De-carbonization
Did you or your company change the skill and competency framework based on what we all have seen on the AI front?
If not, just wait until your customers bring products out in half of the normal cycle time of the industry or at 30% less cost.
ChatGPT is just the tip of a gigantic mushroom cloud of new applications, innovation, and job profiles that emerged in just the last 12 months.
And how about the engineering skill set you have defined in your R&D and manufacturing departments?
Have they been adapted based on the need for new solutions in material science, manufacturing techniques or transportation models due to the de-carbonization of your operations and that of your supply base?
How do you figure out which skill levels might already exist in your organization, that you so far have not clocked, in since the changes were coming from left field? And which skills you have to hire in - now?
Kais Louizi, co-founder and Managing Partner from edligo has some interesting insights for us in “The Supply Chain Dialogues”.
Enjoy.
S02E09 - Planet - Net zero by 2030? Moon shot or piece of moon cake?
Is net zero by 2030 a moon shot or a piece of moon cake?
Last week, I had the privilege of being invited to be part of the Procurement Asia Summit in Shanghai. About 300 top international firms, many with a strong Asian footprint spend three days comparing notes around sourcing.
I gave a keynote speech and was a juror on their prestigious China Procurement Success Award.
This is the updated version of that speech in our usual dialogue format.
Enjoy.
S02E05 - GHG - Game Theory or...what robbing a bank and getting to net zero have in common
There is a field in economics, that is a good bet to excel in if you like to earn a Nobel prize. Up to now, 15 scientists receive it in this field. We're talking about game theory. Game theory solutions can be applied to all walks of life including negotiations between states, companies, or how to solve nearly unsolvable dilemmas for mankind. Now, besides scientists, there are companies that play in this field. TWS Partners is the leading economics consulting firm with a strong focus in game theory since 2001.
Dr. Sebastian Moritz and Daniel talk about how to apply game theory when robbing a bank, or achieving net zero emissions for a company.
Enjoy
Ep. 02: GHG emission net-zero in 1’000 days
Do we have to wait until 2030 or 2050 before we have net-zero GHG emissions in our supply chains? Daniel believes that this is possible in 1’000 days - if we put our hearts and minds to it.