Strong Supply Chains Through Resilient Operations

Preface: Building Strong Supply Chains to Profit Despite Disruptions ix Part I Five Principles to Transform Your Operations Strategy 1 Chapter 1 Strong Operations Drive Growth and Profits by Adjusting to an Ever-Changing World 3 Chapter 2 Principle 1: Build Resilience Against Supply Shocks by Empowering Your Supply Base 17 Chapter 3 Principle 2: Build Resilience Against Demand Shocks by Using Your Operations to Create Customer Value 29 Chapter 4 Principle 3: Create Resilient Teams by Leaning into New Ways of Working and the Benefits of Diversity 43 Chapter 5 Principle 4: Enable Resilience Through Technology by Combining Human Judgment with Artificial Intelligence Chapter 6 Principle 5: Ensure Long-Term Resilience by Embracing Sustainability 69 Chapter 7 Fit the Principles to Your Situation and Strategy 85 Part II From Strategy To Action: Implementing the Five Principles 91 Chapter 8 Build Resilience Against Supply Shocks by Working with Supplier Ecosystems 93 Chapter 9 Build Resilience Against Demand Shocks by Operating for the Customer 107 Chapter 10 Create Resilient Teams by Combining Expertise into Economies of Skill 125 Chapter 11 Combine Human and Artificial Intelligence to Build Resilience Through Constant Learning 137 Chapter 12 Ensure Long-Term Resilience by Embracing Sustainability 153 Part III Outlook: Using Resilience Principles to Adapt to Future Scenarios 169 Chapter 13 Potential Scenarios of the Future Economy 171 Chapter 14 Industry Case Studies on How the Principles Can Help in Future Scenarios 181 Chapter 15 Common Themes We See in All Transformations 195 Chapter 16 Some Questions to Ask Yourself About the Future of Your Operations 197 Notes 201 Acknowledgments 219 About Us 223 About the Authors 227 Index 231

SUKETU GANDHI is a Global Co-Lead of Kearney Strategic Operations. He's a recognized industry leader and subject matter expert on a wide range of operations and digital topics, including end-to-end supply chains.

MICHAEL F. STROHMER is a Global Co-Lead of Kearney Strategic Operations. He's an internationally recognized expert in strategic end-to-end operations, procurement transformations, and sustainability.

MARC LAKNER is Kearney's Managing Director for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Marc is an expert in digital manufacturing, Industry 4.0, supply chain management, and innovative cost-reduction initiatives.

TIFFANY HICKERSON is a Partner in Kearney's Strategic Operations practice. As one of Kearney's leading operations experts, she helps clients execute large-scale operations transformations focusing on a range of topics, including rapid cost savings, organizational redesign, and capability building.

SHERRI HE is the Managing Director of Kearney's Greater China Unit and leads the Consumer and Retail practice in Kearney Greater China. She is an expert in strategy, digital transformation, e-commerce, new retail, sales and marketing, operations improvement, and more.