Supply Chain Monthly

I love history. I was one class short of a history minor in college while I was pursuing my business degree in transportation and logistics. So, when I reflect on Women’s History Month, my first inclination is how few women are reflected in our history. I suppose that is the point of WHM – to shine a light on those women who have led the way. It makes me think of how fortunate I was to see women in significant leadership roles early in my life. They were few and far between, but I was lucky to see them.

One of my first encounters was being fortunate to have an internship during college, at the Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C., while Elizabeth Dole was Secretary of Transportation. Later, she also served as the Secretary of Labor. She was the first woman to serve at a Cabinet level in two different positions, in two different administrations. There have been 36 women total to serve in Cabinet positions (including the current Biden administration) since the first, Frances Perkins in 1933.

I was lucky to see a woman leading the Department of Transportation at the beginning of my supply chain career. I have also been lucky to see the number of women leading supply chains around the world increase throughout my career. We have a long way to go to reach parity and equity for all “minorities” – for all aspects of diversity represented through diversity of gender, race, sexual orientation, age, thought, geography, etc. I invite other women to join me in intentionally addressing this issue.

CSCMP's membership options are evolving! We're excited to announce the launch of our new Basic Membership for only $179, an affordable membership option available at a significantly reduced price. CSCMP's Basic Membership provides access to a wide variety of member benefits, including preferred pricing at local roundtable events and access to CSCMP research and publications, such as the annual State of Logistics Report ™, and more.

At only $179 (a savings of $120 compared to Premier Membership), you’ll also get access to member-only resources, like webinars and the member directory, career resources, networking opportunities, mentorship, volunteer and leadership opportunities, and preferred pricing on SCPro™ Certification materials.

If you plan to attend CSCMP’s annual EDGE Conference, then Premier Membership will be the best option, as it will provide preferred pricing on the conference – Basic Membership does not include preferred pricing for EDGE.

Your professional network is more important than ever and the new Basic Membership offering provides you an affordable way to gain the support, inspiration, and advice that comes with being a part of CSCMP’s 9,000+ member community!

Attracting and retaining quality labor is one of the biggest supply chain challenges companies face today. The question is "What can or should we consider doing differently?" This position paper reflects on a number of ideas that companies can employ to help with this challenge.
 
Thank you Rich Thompson, International Director of JLL for supplying this CSCMP Hot Topic.

A contract management tool provides the ability to store and manage a shippers pricing rates/tariffs. Having a tool that is integrated to a TMS gives ability to auto rate to ensure routing guide is followed that drives efficiency and reduced freight spend.
 
Thank you Dave Maddox, SVP Global Supply Chain Sales at nVision Global for sharing this CSCMP Hot Topic.

With the pandemic disrupting supply chains, industry professionals have an opportunity to create innovative solutions and rewrite the future supply chain landscape. You can be part of that future!  Want to learn how? 
 
In May 2021, National University is launching a new undergraduate degree with a Concentration in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. NU is a CSCMP SCPro™ partner, as NU created their degree to be 100% aligned with the SCPro™ Level One content, and CSCMP offers all NU graduates discounts on the certification prep material and the exam. Courses start every month of the year. 
 
To help you earn your CSCMP certification, National University is also hosting its second 13-session SCPro™ Study Group for MBA alumni who earned their Specialization in Supply Chain Management.  These alumni are committed to proving their worth on-the-job with a CSCMP certification. You too can join this 12-month MBA in any month of the year. All classes are on-line in a fast-paced, 4-week format designed for working professionals. www.nu.edu 

"I joined in April of 2019, as a way, to further prepare for my evolving role in Operations and get connected to a network of people who could teach me and walk me through that journey. I personally like the information that is compiled right at your fingertips on the "research" section of the website or delivered via email in articles or informative newsletters. I have not had a chance to attend a round table event yet but am very much looking forward to that as well. I think that, in itself, is a HUGE portion of the value this community brings."

"I became a new member in 2021 and look forward to engaging with thought leaders from a variety of organizations. Diversity of thought sparks ideation, and ideation drives growth. Utilize the broad network and resources available to you. The CSCMP podcasts are a great example. I just listened to Rick’s podcast with Dr. Zac Rogers and Dr. Dale Rogers (“Logistics Manager Index: Insights from 2020 and predictions for 2021”). It was worth the 32-minute investment—timely, relevant, and data-led."

A recent article by CSCMP member and volunteer, John Haggerty, in the Logistics section of Food & Refrigerated Buyer Magazine reflects on some of the industry-specific silver linings found in 2020. In this Decade of Supply Chain, “more CEO’s are viewing the supply chain not as an expense to control but as a mission-critical strategic weapon worthy investment.”

CSCMP is excited to share that we're working with Junior Achievement (JA), one of the world’s largest youth-serving NGOs. JA delivers cutting-edge, experiential learning in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. The JA network of 470,000 volunteers serves more than 10 million students in more than 100 countries. Junior Achievement’s purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy, and CSCMP is pleased to provide CSCMP members with opportunities to get involved in this effort.
 
CSCMP members have the opportunity to become virtual volunteers to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in their local communities by helping them learn about the supply chain profession.
 
There are a variety of ways to engage:

Are you interested in participating in this new CSCMP member-only opportunity? Join the most powerful supply chain community today to participate in our volunteer opportunities and awards. Become a CSCMP member today!

According to the February 2021 reading of the Logistics Manager's Index Report^® the logistics industry has continued to expand through the beginning of the year. The February LMI reads in at 71.4, up from January’s reading of 67.2. This is well above the all-time average of 62.7, and significantly above last February’s reading of 52.6.

 

 

Join 120+ exhibitors showcasing the latest and most cutting-edge products, tech and systems equipment at the 2021 Supply Chain Exchange Exhibition during EDGE.
 
Become an official exhibitor today to position YOUR brand as a global innovator and leader in the end-to-end supply chain.  As a Supply Chain Exchange participant, you will:

Don’t miss out on showing off your products and services to the right folks.