NOVEMBER 2023 9logisticstechoutlook.comwould be temporal as a ramp-down was eminent due to brick-and-mortar businesses reopening. This would impact the e-commerce boom that was rooted in an abnormal supply chain year. The lesson learned by leaders as it relates to demand is the power of pivoting. Demand can only be met when assumptions are made with supporting data that at some point a pivot will be necessary. This brings us to the "E" in the supply chain DEI.If supply and demand are the foundation of the supply chain, efficiency is the cornerstone. Supply chain costs are at an all-time high. Now more than ever to meet consumer demand, organizations are challenged to do so efficiently. Out-of-the-box solutions are being introduced to the market daily. And it's not enough for those solutions to be cost-effective. There's a fine line between passing these costs onto the consumer and absorbing those costs so as not to negatively impact the overall customer experience. Therefore, supply chain leaders must seek out ways to be efficient without compromising the core values of their existence. Achieving supply chain efficiency is relatively simple. Taichi Ohno, who is considered the father of Lean, stated that "costs do not exist to be calculated, rather, costs exist to be reduced." Therefore, being efficient requires being relentless in seeking out answers to a supply chain that has endless questions. I often quote to my team the words of rapper and entrepreneur Fat Joe which is, "yesterday's price is not today's price." The stakes are higher. Demand continues to grow. The economic climate is trending unfavorably. In order to not only survive but thrive, leaders must scrutinize their behaviors to ensure demand is met through the most efficient means possible. Increasing your company's kaizen events and Gemba walks is time well spent. The answer to achieving increased efficiency is not only in the numbers mentioned earlier but primarily in the minds of those who touch the process daily. That is where the treasures of effective efficiency can be found. Those who are closest to the process have the answers to our "I."Innovation can no longer be ignored. It must be moved to the forefront. Exploring new ways of meeting demand and being efficient is found in innovation. Fundamentally, the assumption is made that no one is hired to simply do the job. The job within the job is to make the job better. This thought process is not to be sequestered to the C-suite but should apply at all levels. Being innovative is inclusive. Every voice is heard and every idea is considered. Thus, creating a culture where idea empowerment doesn't lead to idea embarrassment is critical. The supply chain is better supported when those who operate in it are supported. We were only able to take the "pandemic punch" because we rallied together to recover. Companies regrouped and are better now than before because they were forced out of their comfort zones. Creative supply chain solutions were birthed out of need and necessity. Returns processing has changed from the usual drop off at UPS and Fed-Ex to now participating grocery stores. That's innovation. While companies are rethinking their returns policies and manufacturers are looking for ways to produce more, innovation is the tool to help them get the job done. Whether it is systematic innovation or organizational cultural innovation, be prepared to change and accept the need to grow with a fusion of what has worked with what will work to meet supply chain needs. DEI in the supply chain world stands for demand, efficiency, and innovation. The supply chain bottleneck that nearly brought us to our knees reminded us of ever-growing consumer demands
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