Tennessee on Supply Chain Management

University of Tennessee, Knoxville's Global Supply Chain Institute

Listen in as co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby set sail into the world of end-to-end supply chain management. They dive deep into today’s most relevant business topics while sharing insights into pressing industry issues and tackling the challenges that keep supply chain professionals up at night.

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Episodes

S2E7: High-Level Insights with Logistics Managers’ Index Creators Dale and Zac Rogers
Mar 21 2024
S2E7: High-Level Insights with Logistics Managers’ Index Creators Dale and Zac Rogers
For our March episode, co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby spoke with father-and-son supply chain researchers Dale Rogers and Zac Rogers, the proprietors of the Logistics Managers’ Index, about diversifying supply chains, global redesign, friendshoring, and much more. Dale is the ON Semiconductor Professor of Business at Arizona State University, where he directs the Frontier Economies Logistics Lab and the Internet Edge Supply Chain Lab. Like Ted, he is a member of the Supply Chain Hall of Fame and the recipient of numerous awards and grants. He is a leading researcher in reverse logistics, sustainable supply chain management, supply chain finance, and secondary markets. Zac is an associate professor of operations and supply chain management at Colorado State University. His primary research areas include the financial impact of supply chain sustainability, emerging logistics technologies, and supply chain cybersecurity. To start the episode, Ted and Tom discussed the positive February jobs report, consumer sentiment, the impact of the election cycle, manufacturing activity, international trade, and more. The episode was recorded remotely on March 8, 2024.Related links: U.S. added 275,000 jobs in February but unemployment rate climbs Inflation rate ticks up to 3.2%, hotter than expected Consumer sentiment retreats slightly in FebruarySEC approves rule requiring companies to report greenhouse gas emissions No end in sight to Red Sea shipping diversions Manufacturing activity contracts in February following 2.5 years of growth Attend the 2024 Spring Supply Chain Forum in Knoxville (partners only)Subscribe to GSCI’s monthly newsletter Read the latest news and insights from GSCI
S2E6: Planning for Global Business Success with Schneider Electric VP Jen Kelly
Feb 15 2024
S2E6: Planning for Global Business Success with Schneider Electric VP Jen Kelly
For our February episode, co-host Ted Stank was joined by guest host Lance Saunders, associate professor of supply chain management. They spoke with Jen Kelly, vice president of planning for North America at Schneider Electric, about shortening supply chains, nearshoring and supplier capacity challenges, adding visibility into planning, generative AI for forecasting, and standardizing practice across a global organization. Kelly was in town for a meeting of the GSCI Advisory Board. Schneider Electric, ranked by Gartner as No. 1 for best supply chain in 2023, is a longtime partner of the Supply Chain Forum and a member of the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative, which brings together industry professionals and UT faculty to tackle issues of critical importance to the discipline. To start the episode, Ted and Lance discussed U.S. job growth, freight surges, disruption of global trade, regulatory constraints, tensions with China, and much more. The episode was recorded on February 8, 2024.CORRECTION: At 11:05 in the episode, our host says that Target acquired Whole Foods. It was Amazon that purchased Whole Foods in a $13.7 billion deal in June 2017. Related links:Job growth surges in the U.S., 353,00 jobs added in January US container import volumes surge amid global supply chain challenges Mortgage rates jump back over 7 percent Consumer sentiment races to two-and-a-half year high Why are the Houthis attacking Red Sea ships Walmart growing, adding 150 stores across US China’s 17-year run as top source of US imports ends Mexico rises Download our latest white paper on Advanced Supply Chain PlanningRegister for the SCM Finance Academy Subscribe to GSCI’s monthly newsletter Read the latest news and insights from GSCI
S2E5: Steering through Stormy Seas with Maritime Expert Don Maier
Jan 18 2024
S2E5: Steering through Stormy Seas with Maritime Expert Don Maier
In our January episode, Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby speak with maritime expert Don Maier about the state of international shipping, including shifts in trade lanes, the challenges of forecasting and capital planning, and the industry impact of issues from the Panama Canal to bubbling international conflicts.Before joining UT’s faculty as an associate professor of practice, Maier served as dean for the Maine Maritime and Cal Maritime Academies. As the founding dean of the School of Maritime Transportation, Logistics, & Management at California State University-Maritime Academy, he oversaw programs in marine transportation, international logistics, and naval science. He serves on advisory boards for the International Association of Maritime and Port Executives and the Containerization & Intermodal Institute.In their opening recap, Ted and Tom also discuss holiday season spending, reports on U.S. jobs and manufacturing, and more.This episode was recorded on January 5, 2024.Related links:Americans spent a record $222 billion shopping online this holiday seasonMajor retailers offering returnless refunds this holiday seasonU.S. employers add 216,000 jobs in a sign of continued economic growthManufacturing increased in December while warehouse availability surges to highest levels since pandemic Congressional leaders reach a deal to avert shutdownRed Sea attacks pose another threat to global economyPanama Canal enmeshed in a crisis disrupting global tradeDon Maier writes in The Conversation about global shipping climate strategyProgress on U.S.-Mexico rail-ferry serviceChina names a new naval chief as maritime tensions climbSubscribe to GSCI’s monthly newsletterRead the latest news and insights from GSCIRegister for the 2024 SCM Leadership Academy or SCM Finance Academy
S2E4: Beyond the Classroom: Leaders Discuss the Real-World Impact of UT's EMBA for Global Supply Chain
Dec 21 2023
S2E4: Beyond the Classroom: Leaders Discuss the Real-World Impact of UT's EMBA for Global Supply Chain
In this month’s episode, Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby speak with three business leaders who recently graduated from the Executive MBA for Global Supply Chain (EMBA-GSC) in UT’s Haslam College of Business. They discuss their paths into the industry and the fine details of the program, including how it has brought value to their current roles at their companies and developed both their supply chain knowledge and leadership skills in just 11 months.Guests featured in this episode:Hans von Steiger, Director and Team Leader of Clinical Supply Strategy and ManagementPatricia Covington, Executive Director of Global Integrated AftermarketRebecca Ann Perreault, Director of Global Capabilities and ComplianceTed and Tom also discuss holiday inventory and spending, consumer confidence, the state of the labor market, inflation and housing, backlogs at the Panama Canal, and more.The episode was recorded at the Haslam College of Business on December 11, 2023.Related links:By the numbers: Black Friday and Cyber Monday achieved record salesHoliday inventory is balanced, no concern over stockouts or overstocks, per NRFConsumer confidence ticks up in November after months of declineQ3 growth rate for GDP was fastest since fourth quarter of 2021Solid US job growth, drop in unemployment underscore labor market resilienceConsumer return fraud a growing concern for retailersLogistics Manager’s Index Report for November 2023Panama Canal drought to delay shipments into 2024Watch: Why the EMBA-GSC makes sense for senior supply chain leadersLearn about the Executive MBA for Global Supply Chain (EMBA-GSC)Register for the 2024 SCM Leadership Academy or SCM Finance Academy Subscribe to GSCI’s monthly newsletterRead the latest news and insights from GSCI
S2E3: Navigating Supply Chain's Evolution with Former SC Ports Authority CEO Jim Newsome
Nov 16 2023
S2E3: Navigating Supply Chain's Evolution with Former SC Ports Authority CEO Jim Newsome
In this month’s episode, Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby speak with Jim Newsome, former president and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority, at the 27th Supply Chain Forum.The episode was recorded in front of a live audience on November 7, 2023, in Knoxville, Tennessee.Newsome (‘76, ‘77) earned both a bachelor’s and MBA in transportation and logistics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, before embarking on a more than 40-year career in container ships, ports, and international transportation. He was recently named the 2023 Distinguished Alum by the Haslam College of Business. At the forum, the Global Supply Chain Institute also recognized him as a Distinguished Fellow.Listen as our co-hosts speak with Newsome about his work as an executive at South Carolina Ports, cast a vision for the future of supply chain management, and discuss visibility, sourcing, the labor market, and the evolution of UT’s business education from transportation to today’s highly regarded end-to-end supply chain management model.Watch a video version of this podcast on YouTube.Related links:U.S. economic growth accelerated to 4.9% last quarterDomestic manufacturing output rose in September.Container imports continue rising, outpacing pre-pandemic levelsLabor market added 150,000 jobs in October, shows signs of coolingHoliday spending outlook is sluggish across retailersUnited Auto Workers secure historic contractsAlan Amling in FreightWaves on the unintended consequences of the UPS-Teamsters agreementWhat is hydrogen energy, and can it help fight climate change?Jim Newsome honored with the 2023 Distinguished Alum Award from the Haslam College of BusinessSC Ports’ record numbers in 2020 and 2021Drought saps the Panama Canal, disrupting global tradeChina exports decline, takeaways from September dataSC Ports handle
S2E2: Learning From the Past to Predict the Future with CSCMP Leaders Tom Nightingale and Terry Esper
Oct 19 2023
S2E2: Learning From the Past to Predict the Future with CSCMP Leaders Tom Nightingale and Terry Esper
For the second episode of Season 2, Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby speak with Terry Esper, professor of logistics at Ohio State University and Chair Elect for CSCMP, and Tom Nightingale, CEO of AFS Logistics and chairman of the board for CSCMP. They discuss professional development in the supply chain industry and highlight the paradigm shifts in organizational structures and talent acquisition strategies. Listen as Nightingale shares the latest initiatives by CSCMP, the growing trend of corporate memberships, the importance of local round tables, and the future of supply chain education. From the changing dynamics of professional organizations to the strategic engagement of CSCMP members, this episode is loaded with actionable insights that will redefine your understanding of the industry.Listen in as our co-hosts also discuss the near government shutdown, UAW strike, low water levels in the Panama Canal and Mississippi River, the Iran oil agreements, and more.Related LinksUAW strike newsLMI high-water markLow water levels in the Panama CanalTom Goldsby on the United Auto Workers strike’s roots in AI and ramifications for auto logisticsUT Haslam’s Ted Stank Honored with Supply Chain Hall of Fame InductionLearn more about ASF LogisticsYellow Logistics files for bankruptcy Learn more about CSCMP's roundtablesUT's Executive MBA for Global Supply Chain degree programUT's Masters in Supply Chain Management Online degree programSubscribe to GSCI’s monthly newsletterLatest news and insights from the GSCI team
S1E24: Supply Chain Hall of Fame Inductee Ted Stank Reflects on His 30-Year Career
Aug 17 2023
S1E24: Supply Chain Hall of Fame Inductee Ted Stank Reflects on His 30-Year Career
For the final episode of the podcast’s first season, our co-hosts split responsibilities in light of Ted Stank being named the winner of this year’s Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) Distinguished Service Award, earning him a place in the Supply Chain Hall of Fame.Tom Goldsby interviews Ted about the two decades he has spent pioneering supply chain management education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, setting the standard for how universities can collaborate with industry to reap maximum benefits. Ted shares his journey into logistics and supply chain management from his time as an operations officer in the United States Navy, how he’s seen the field evolve, and the most significant achievements of his long and storied career. Ted currently serves as the co-executive director of the Global Supply Chain Institute and leads the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative, a joint initiative between UT and leading Fortune 500 partner firms to explore advanced concepts in the discipline.Beyond the interview, Ted and Tom discuss the implications of the UPS-Teamsters agreement, Yellow Freight’s closure, record-sitting e-commerce numbers, global challenges to supply chains in China, Ukraine, India, and more.Related links:Alan Amling on the early takeaways from UPS-Teamsters Union’s tentative agreement. UPS cuts 2023 forecasts, fights to regain business lost during US labor talksYellow Freight, third-largest small-freight trucking company in the U.S., ceases operations187,000 jobs added in July as unemployment falls to 3.5%Chinese imports down 24 percent; Mexico becomes U.S. top trading partnerAmazon touts ‘biggest ever’ Prime Day, online sales surge to $12.7 billionWhat does Amazon’s solid Q2 mean for Target and Walmart?Ukraine-Russia war disrupts shipments of grain and oil, threatens food and energy marketsIndia suspends rice exports, risking global food crisisTed discusses his career and the evolution of SCM education with European Business Review.Latest news and insights from the GSCI team.
S1E23: The State of Supply Chains with John Bell
Jul 20 2023
S1E23: The State of Supply Chains with John Bell
In our July episode, co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby are joined by professor John Bell, department head for supply chain management in the Haslam College of Business, to discuss economic competition between the United States and China, the sourcing of rare earth elements essential for producing electronics and other technologies, and the growth of the University of Tennessee’s top-ranked supply chain programs. Bell, who was recently named the John “Red” Dove Professor of Supply Chain Management, was a career maintenance and logistics officer in the United States Air Force. As a supply chain researcher, he is considered an authority in the areas of supply chain strategy, resource scarcity, hazardous material transportation, and logistics with publications in prominent journals, including the Journal of Business Logistics, Transportation Journal, Advanced Engineering Informatics, and the International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management. This year, Bell has written a series of articles for GSCI exploring the understudied and misunderstood processes for sourcing natural resources used as raw materials by the industries that make the products we buy every day. Listen as Ted and Tom discuss slowing inflation, the delivery challenges posed by strikes and potential strikes in Canada and the U.S., nearshoring of manufacturing to Mexico, and more.Note: Ted was recently honored with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) Distinguished Service Award, earning him a place in the Supply Chain Hall of Fame alongside such innovators as Jeff Bezos, Henry Ford, and former UT professor Tom Mentzer. Stay tuned for our next episode in which Tom interviews Ted to get his take on receiving the award.Related links:Inflation rose just 0.2% in June as consumers get a break from price increasesU.S. service sector picks up as inflation slows, ISM survey showsFederal Reserve closing in on end of rate hike cycleCarriers divert ships from Canada’s strike-hit west coast portsGSCI Fellow Alan Amling’s five key questions and answers from UPS-Teamsters negotiations New restrictions at the Panama Canal due threaten the future of the shipping routeUS nearshoring wave grows as Mexico exports jump close to recordTension between China, U.S., Russia and Ukraine threatens global economic growthWhat are germanium and gallium and why is C
S1E22: The Value of Relationships Between Industry and Academia
Jun 8 2023
S1E22: The Value of Relationships Between Industry and Academia
In our June episode, co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby are joined by professor Stephanie Eckerd and recent Ph.D. graduate Anne Dohmen to discuss the relationship between industry and academia at the University of Tennessee, the value of partnerships for research, and their own transitions from practitioners to professors.Eckerd, who was recently named the FedEx Chair of Supply Chain Management in the Haslam College of Business, is the director of UT’s SCM Ph.D. program. Dohmen, who was an engineer by training and worked for both General Mills and Procter and Gamble before transitioning into academia, researches supply chain planning, agility, and disruptions. This fall, she will begin a job as an assistant professor at Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business.Listen as Ted and Tom discuss highlights of the Spring Supply Chain Forum, the current state of inventory and imports nationwide, the role academic research plays in company performance, and more. Related links:Everything you need to know from Spring SCF 2023Several GSCI SCF partners named in Gartner’s Global Supply Chain Top 25, including Schneider Electric (1), Colgate-Palmolive (3), Johnson & Johnson (4), PepsiCo (5), and Pfizer (6)Listen to our May podcast episode with three leaders from Schneider Electric about how to cultivate supply chain talentRead a Q&A about the societal importance of UT’s supply chain research with Eckerd and professor Chris CraigheadThe latest updates on the U.S. debt ceiling legislationUPS strike looms with big repercussions for consumersLaredo remains nation’s No. 1 gateway for international trade.Rates decrease, volume falls, and new capacity comes online for ocean shippingTom, Ted, and Lance Saunders’ 2021 article on the bullwhip effect in the Wall Street Journal
S1E20: Digital Innovation in Supply Chain with Zero100 Co-Founder Kevin O’Marah
Apr 13 2023
S1E20: Digital Innovation in Supply Chain with Zero100 Co-Founder Kevin O’Marah
In our April 2023 episode, co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby speak with Kevin O’Marah, co-founder of Zero100, a membership-based think tank and research company that works with some of the world’s most notable businesses toward a zero carbon, 100% digital supply chain. Kevin has a long and storied career in the industry and is a member of the GSCI Advisory Board and a GSCI Fellow. Before Zero100, he was chief storyteller for Amazon’s Last Mile Logistics organization, chief content officer for SCM World, and a VP at Gartner, where he created its Supply Chain Top 25 rankings.Listen as Ted, Tom, and Kevin discuss the latest news and trends in supply chain management, including digitalization, the evolution of supply chains, consumer influence, reducing carbon emissions, and more. Related links:Federal Reserve raises key interest rate 0.25% amid banking turmoilCollapse of Silicon Valley Bank sows fear over banking systemProposed merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern railroads to connect United States, Mexico, and CanadaCould Mexico replace China as leader in global manufacturing exports?Gartner Supply Chain University Top 25 rankings for 2022The Seeing, Thinking, Acting decision-making process of supply chain managers, as described by Ted, Tom, and others in their paper, “Toward a Digitally Dominant Paradigm for Twenty-First Century Supply Chain Scholarship”  for the International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics ManagementKevin’s Zero100 article, “Digital Transformation is 80% Strategy and 20% Technology”Kevin’s Zero100 article, “Scope 3 Carbon Victory Needs Sector-Level Collaboration”Kevin’s Forbes article, “Supply Chain Saves the World”Read Zero100’s The Signal newsletter
S1E18: An Inside Look at Studying Supply Chain at UT with Three Top Students
Feb 9 2023
S1E18: An Inside Look at Studying Supply Chain at UT with Three Top Students
In this episode, co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby are joined by a live audience and three UT Knoxville graduating seniors in supply chain management. They discuss their journeys to the university and the major, the value of getting involved in student orgs, attending industry events, and networking, and what they looked for in future employers.The three guests featured in this episode:Lillian Qin, president of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) student roundtable. She will start her career with KPMG in procurement and outsourcing consulting in ChicagoHalie Fairchild, president of NeXus Women in Supply Chain student group. She has accepted a rotational role, starting in internal audit, from HF Sinclair Corporation in DallasJack Parr, who is heading to Cincinnati to work for P&G’s inventory team in a data analytics positionRelated links:Do massive layoffs in Big Tech suggestion an incoming recession?The Institute of Supply Management’s manufacturing index report for January 2023GDP report shows fourth quarter growth of 2.8%GSCI Fellow Alan Amling discusses potential UPS workers strike with Supply Chain DriveResources, including internship information, certificate programs, and student groups, for undergraduates at UTHow companies can recruit UT’s supply chain talentInformation and registration for students planning to attend the SCM Career Expo, Feb. 20Scholars of Distinction, an undergraduate honors program for top-performing SCM majorsListen to our previous episode with recent graduates at BP, Denso, and Eastman Chemical Company about transitioning from college to professional career