Speaking

COVID-19 didn’t break the supply chain, it simply accelerated changes already underway, says MIT’s Yossi Sheffi. His new book details what’s coming next.

In the interview, Sheffi explains how companies and governments around the world have dealt with the supply chain disruption over the past year’s pandemic. He also gives insight on how people can prepare for the next time the world’s supply chain is turned on its head. 

Available as a blog here. 

According to Professor Yossi Sheffi, supply chain is typically the “asphalt of the road” —that is, when it works, there’s no need to talk about it. When it doesn't, everyone notices it. 

In this conversation, you will learn how two companies use these lessons to set themselves up for the post-pandemic future in the B2B and B2C markets.

Yossi discusses his principal goals and motivations for writing this latest book that resulted in record turnaround time. We discuss the before and after COVID-19 aspects of industry supply chains, why certain approaches were successful in terms of business process practices, innovation and resourcefulness of supply chain management teams, as well as leveraged use of technology.

It's been nearly 10 months since Covid-19 slammed into the global economy like a wrecking ball. And while businesses have learned to manage, many will endure lasting effects that may take years to resolve. In the meantime, all of us—businesses and consumers alike—are yearning for things to get back to normal. But what does that even mean? Is it possible that we may someday return to some semblance of our old lives? Or will we enter a "new normal"? And if so, what will that look like?

Our discussion touches on lessons for corporate executives, technology startup founders and even early-stage supply chain technology venture capitalists. We also touch on themes that regular readers of this column will find familiar.

Inside Supply Management® is a leading publication for those within the procurement/sourcing and supply chain profession. In light of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic impacts on their supply chains, organizations around the world are wrestling with what the new normal looks like for them. Professor Yossi Sheffi, has an even better description of that environment, in his latest book, The New (Ab)Normal. 

Yossi Sheffi, Elisha Gray II Professor of Engineering Systems & Director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics, discusses his new book, "The New (Ab)Normal: Reshaping Business and Supply Chain Strategy Beyond Covid-19."

Dr. Yossi Sheffi, the Director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics chats with FreightWaves CEO and Founder Craig Fuller. For more content like this head to TV.freightwaves.com