WestRock

Peter Anderson

Being the Chief Supply Chain Officer of WestRock, I am responsible for different areas, including fiber sourcing, forestry, operational excellence, sales and operations planning, and procurement teams. In addition, I also oversee the logistics, freight transportation (ocean, rail, and road), and the inventory and purchasing of indirect and direct materials across the whole organization.

With over thirty-five years of industry experience, I would say supply chain and logistics is an ever-evolving space. However, the supply shortages during the pandemic made us rethink how we source and distribute our raw materials. In a way, it accelerated industry-wide disruption, and the supply chain is being actively reshaped. Currently, more than 80 percent of the market is leaning toward localization instead of an over dependency on global logistics. No one in this space wants to go through the same disastrous experience again with a shortage in labor, raw materials, and shipping delays. These incidents have collectively created a false economy where people are building safety stocks to preempt experiencing another inventory shortage.  

Apart from the active reshaping in logistics, achieving sustainability in the supply chain is also gaining prominence. People are exploring the possibilities of reusing and recycling materials for a more reliable supply chain. I believe the positive side is the increased awareness of the difficulties of the supply chain, even among the consumers. The supply chain has become a border term, and logistics is integral to it. The industry has reached a tipping point, and it’s safe to say that the shipping market will be completely different in the next four to five years. Although ecommerce is here to stay, how goods are delivered is up for a spin. From a WestRock perspective, agility and responsiveness are key to keeping customers satisfied. To this end, we are designing and structuring our supply chain to increase the level of responsiveness in the future.

“I believe companies that are driving granularity and data visibility in their processes will likely come across more innovations in logistics and supply chains”

In the last 15 years of tech innovation in this space, we have struggled with technology and the capabilities to run them. The one joint takeaway is we have learned the importance of data visibility and transparency within the processes. Today, it’s the defining parameter for successful supply chain management. In addition, current technology tools have to be predictive rather than reactive. Implementing a single ERP and expecting it to outpace the upcoming technologies is no longer enough. Rather we need to think about how to make these tools more adaptive and bolt on additional ones if necessary. It will enable us to make decisions more predictable enhancing performance and reducing cost. Companies driving granularity and data visibility in their processes will come across more innovations in logistics and supply chains.

At the end of the day, I would like to share two pieces of advice with my peers. Be intellectually curious, challenge yourself to go out and seek new technologies and see how you can apply that to your company. The second is to network relentlessly and make sure to maintain that network. It can greatly benefit your learning journey. Nothing is more important than having a conversation with your peers and learning from everybody. Then effectuate it in your organization to ensure the long-term success of your endeavors.