The late screenwriter William Goldman famously once declared that “Nobody knows anything.” He was referring, of course, to the world of moviemaking, and Hollywood in particular. But it’s becoming increasingly clear that Goldman’s dictum can be applied to just about any aspect of modern life — and global supply chain management is no exception.
Think of all the uncertainties that supply chain executives face today. Tariffs. Regulation. Sourcing decisions. Inflation. Geopolitical strife. The environment. The general state of the U.S. and global economies. In each case, companies are being forced to make decisions that amount to calculated bets on how things will play out in the year to come. They could pay a steep price for getting it wrong — yet it’s anybody’s guess as to what the trade and economic landscape will look like 12 months from now.
SupplyChainBrain’s crystal ball is no less cloudy than yours, but what we do have, in our annual Supply Chain Management Resource Guide, is a wealth of insights from industry experts who put it all in perspective — and increase your odds of making the right decisions. For this year’s edition, we sought contributions on a wide range of topics critical to supply chain management today, including:
Trade policy. In his second term, will President Trump make good on his threats to impose tariffs across the board, thereby causing traders to scramble for ways to mitigate their impact?
Nearshoring and re-shoring. Will more American manufacturers find it feasible to relocate production to North America, and possibly the U.S., or will they remain stuck in China and other countries in Asia?
Sustainability. What new pressures will global businesses face, as they’re forced to comply with a growing number of regulations on the environment, social issues and corporate governance?
Artificial intelligence. Hype or reality? Is generative AI the magical key to supply chain success, or is the technology still not fully mature?
Labor and automation. Are human workers throughout the supply chain doomed to be replaced by robots and other automated systems, or do they possess certain qualities that can never be mechanized?
Supply chain risk and resilience. How can businesses shore up their supply chains so as to lessen the impact of a relentless series of unanticipated disruptions?
In addition, we offer insights on some key verticals, including food and beverage, retail, fashion apparel, pharmaceuticals, high-tech, chemicals, energy, aerospace and automotive.
No question about it: Uncertainty has always been with us. But it feels like the world is in an especially precarious place right now, with the transition to a U.S. presidential administration whose promised policies differ radically from those of the previous one; wars that seem endless, and growing tensions between the U.S. and China. Any one of these concerns is enough to give global business executives restless nights. Taken together, it’s a wonder they can sleep at all.
We don’t mean to sound overly gloomy about all this. The future also contains a wealth of opportunities for innovative and far-thinking enterprises. Our contributors recognize that, too — in fact, they’re more likely to adopt a positive attitude toward the unknown, and that optimism is well-reflected in what you’re about to read. So if there’s any message to be conveyed here about the prospects for success, maybe it’s that uncertainty isn’t to be feared, provided that you’re equipped with the right resources for making intelligent decisions — and able to cope with whatever actually occurs.
