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In this pilot episode of Freight Expectations, a Freight Buyers’ Club podcast which will be launched in 2024, host Mike King speaks to one of the world’s foremost authors and thought leaders on logistics technology and the future of supply chains. Professor Yossi Sheffi is the current Director of the Center for Transportation & Logistics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the author of a new book, “The Magic Conveyor Belt: Supply Chains, AI, and the Future of Work”.

Read about recent publications by MIT Faculty/Professors. 

Sheffi, who recently published a book on the topic, “The Magic Conveyor Belt: Supply Chains, AI, and the Future of Work,” offered his insights during his keynote address at the recent Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) conference in Louisville earlier this month. The MIT professor and director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics, enthralled the audience at the ASCM conference with his views of technology, AI, and the future of work.

Supply chains play a key role in determining the impact of a product, as they encompass every stage of its life, from the sourcing of raw material to its end-of-life disposal.

Businesses are being impacted by a global skills shortage that is hampering manufacturing output and service delivery. In addition, the costs of producing materials, manufacturing goods, and providing services is rising due to labor costs. For small to medium enterprises, this means margins may be squeezed to the point to where they can no longer compete in today’s hyper-competitive global marketplace. AI, robotics, digital transactions, and related automation provide the means for SMEs to enhance and build capabilities cost-effectively.

Emerj Senior Editor Matthew DeMello recently sat down with Dr. Yossi Sheffi of MIT on Emerj’s ‘AI in Business’ podcast to discuss how AI can solve logistical challenges. In their 30-minute interview, the pair discuss challenges in logistics and manufacturing, such as lack of data due to visibility in supply chains and trust issues as a hurdle to accepting automation. 

In Episode 77, Dr. Yossi Sheffi, iconic thought leader and professor at MIT, innovator, and author of a new book ‘ The Magic Conveyor Belt’ chats with host Sheri Hinish about the future of supply chain including the people, exponential technology, and disruptive themes that will shape the future of the profession. This book offers explanations to pressing supply chain topics and much more, with historical perspectives and modern examples.

Yossi, two parts of your book stood out as important for EE Times readers: Part 3, “vital link in the chain: humans,” and Part 4, “looking forward.” We were particularly struck by your discussion of two companies: JD.com, in China, and Moderna, in Massachusetts. What would you like to share with us about JD.com?

In this episode of Cargo Masterminds, presented by cargo.one, STAT Media Group editor Reji John interviews Prof Sheffi and asks him about the current changes and new trends in global supply chains in the wake of the pandemic and on account of rapid automation caused by artificial intelligence and robotics.

In a 2019 LinkedIn article, Dr. Yossi Sheffi from MIT wrote, “No self-respecting company is without a sustainability strategy, and at the center of these strategies lies the supply chain.” We’re now approaching 2024 and the focus on sustainability continues to grow, driven by many factors, including new regulations and legislation. What are the key trends and developments in this area? What actions should companies take to respond, as well as to prepare effectively for what comes next?