Shows
Chain ReactionReimagining Supply Chains for a Competitive EdgeUnlock the future of supply chain management with insights that could transform your career! Join us as we explore "Supply Chain Strategies: Demand Driven and Customer Focused" by Tony Hines, a must-read that dares to challenge conventional supply chain thinking. We promise you'll walk away with a deeper understanding of how to build resilient and customer-focused supply chains. Discover how cutting-edge technologies like AI and blockchain are revolutionizing the industry, making them indispensable tools for achieving a competitive edge. Hear from MBA students and industry professionals who share how the book has been a game-changer in their educational and...
2025-06-2418 min
Chain ReactionUnveiling Hidden Costs: Rethinking Procurement and Sourcing Decisions with Tony HinesUnlock the secrets to smarter sourcing with Tony Hines on the Chain Reaction Podcast, as we unravel the iceberg theory of costs in procurement. Ever wondered how hidden costs like travel, relationship management, and quality control can sink your bottom line? Tony, with his extensive research background in the UK fashion industry, reveals how these unseen expenses often outweigh the initial savings of low unit prices. Prepare to shift your focus from merely hitting sales targets to embracing a more comprehensive understanding of procurement costs, ensuring your decisions are truly value-driven.As we contrast the benefits of...
2025-01-1517 minChain ReactionRevolutionizing Supply Chains: Exploring the Core Characteristics of Industry 4.0Ever wondered how the supply chain is adapting to a digital world? Discover the five core characteristics that are revolutionizing supply chain management in Industry 4.0: digitalization, automation, transparency, collaboration, and real-time information. Join Tony Hines on the Chain Reaction Podcast as he explores these groundbreaking elements reshaping traditional supply chains into intelligent, responsive systems. Learn how these components interconnect to form a robust framework that is not only transforming industries but also setting a new standard for efficiency and agility.Embark on a journey through technological and managerial advancements that are propelling this transformation. From the end-to-end...
2024-10-2915 min
Chain ReactionSupply Chain Strategies with Tony Hines: Demand-Driven and Customer-Focused InsightsUnlock the secrets to a demand-driven and customer-focused supply chain strategy with Tony Hines, the maestro behind "Supply Chain Strategies: Demand Driven and Customer Focused." Discover how Tony seamlessly connects strategic thinking with real-world applications, offering a treasure trove of updated international case studies. This book is packed with comprehensive learning tools, including discussion questions, glossaries, and learning outcomes designed for students and professionals alike. Tony breaks down complex topics like supply chain risk, procurement, digital strategies, and future trends, ensuring you're equipped with the knowledge to stay ahead of industry changes.Join us as we explore...
2024-08-0802 minChain ReactionWelcome to the Chain Reaction Podcast with Tony HinesDiscover the strategies that elevate supply chains from mere operational backbones to competitive powerhouses with me, Tony Hines, on the Chain Reaction Podcast. Unpack over two decades of expertise in the ever-evolving supply chain industry, where I delve into topics that will not only inform but also transform your approach to supply chain management. Weekly episodes coupled with our Saturday News Roundup ensure you're well-equipped to interpret and act on global events that affect supply chains around the world.This week, we're unpacking the signals and strategies that could make a tangible difference to your organization. With...
2024-04-1302 minChain ReactionThe New Tech Gold Rush: Nvidia's Milestone, WTO Shocks, and Supply Chain DramasCould the next gold rush be in the tech industry? Join me, Tony Hines, as I discuss Nvidia's astounding leap to a $2 trillion market value, propelled by the generative AI sector's insatiable hunger for advanced chips. Dive into the intricacies of global trade as India's bold proposal at the World Trade Organization meeting threatens to shake the foundations of digital e-commerce, with potential ripple effects for semiconductor behemoths like Qualcomm, Intel, AMD, and Nvidia. It's a rollercoaster week in the world of supply chains, and you're getting the full, unvarnished picture.The episode also casts a critical...
2024-02-2417 min
Chain ReactionHarnessing Digital Technologies for Supply Chain OptimizationAre you ready to navigate the digital landscape of the supply chain world with us? It's time to decode the complexities of digital transformation and how it reshapes the supply chain landscape. Our host, Tony Hines, sets the stage by analyzing the backbone of this shift - technologies such as cloud computing and their impact when compared to other sectors like advertising. As we journey through this transformation, we uncover the potential roadblocks businesses might face, like fragmented data and budget hurdles. However, with a dedicated team and sturdy management skills, the digital transformation journey is not only feasible...
2023-12-1224 min
Chain ReactionExploring the Intricate Link Between Advertising and Supply Chain ProcessesPrepare to be captivated as we navigate the complex webs connecting advertising to supply chains. Your host, Tony Hines, kicks off this journey by dissecting the recent seismic shifts in the advertising market and how they greatly influence the demand side of businesses. Picture this: your business's demand process often starts with an advertising project - interesting, right? That's just the tip of the iceberg.Brace yourselves as the narrative takes a thrilling twist with the exploration of the demise of the third-party cookie. What implications does this have for advertising and, more importantly, for privacy? The...
2023-09-1902 min
Chain ReactionBenchmarking Performance in Your Supply ChainTony Hines talks about benchmarking your supply chain in this episode. Why is it useful to benchmark? What exactly do you benchmark or what are some of the problems and benefits in doing benchmarks?Benchmarking your supply chain is a useful tool for determining strategy. It allows managers to understand the supply chains through the numbers and the details gathered as part of the exercise, and you can compare yourself to competitors and evaluate those benchmarks before determining what it is exactly that you want to fix or change in your own supply chain.You...
2023-05-2523 min
Chain ReactionG7 RISE - The Global Supply Chain Partnership InitiativeTony Hines discussed the proposed RISE Supply Chain Partnership discussed by the G7. The partnership – “Partnership for Resilient and Inclusive Supply-chain Enhancement” (RISE) – was announced in a meeting between G7 finance ministers and heads of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, and Financial Stability Board.This is a special update on the G7 conference taking place in Japan, and for those of you that might not know, the G7 is a group of seven nations. The world's leading economies, and they have regular meetings about policy. The G7 comprises Canada, France, G...
2023-05-2214 minChain ReactionHow to make your supply chain efficientTony Hines talks about making your supply chain efficient.Ask yourself a question. How do I improve efficiency in the supply chain and the sub question? Why is that important to do? Well, that's what I want to talk about today..Improving cycle times and throughput in any supply chain is important. It's not only important to the supply chain itself, it's important to the business. It can lead to smoother deliveries. Better efficiency, faster learning, customer satisfaction. And in the long run, a better product. If you improve throughput and reduce time, you'll lower inventory...
2023-05-1722 minChain ReactionHow to become a better supply chain managerTony Hines discusses what you can do to become a better supply chain manager. If you want to become that better supply chain manager here are some simple steps that you can follow to get there.Set Goals for yourself and your teamLearn new skills to add to your skill baseGain experience to become more valuableGet certificates that validate your skills and knowledgePlan, prepare and be proactive. Develop yourself and your team to produce effective performances. In this episode each step is discussed in detail. You can easily identify the benefits of following the recipe to...
2023-05-0323 min
Chain ReactionNews Round Up 29th AprilAll things impacting global supply chains this week with Tony Hines.Iran seized an Oil Tanker bound for Huston with Chevron Oil on board. This is retaliation for the US seizing Iranian Oil from a tanker around the coast of South Africa as part of US sanctions.Tighter US rules UFLPA have hit Vietnam's apparel industry hard.Rail Freight data reveals a fall of activity on the west coast of the US while east coast data shows increased freight volumes.Sudan humanitarian logistics to evacuate US, EU and UK nationals.Coronation of King Charles 3rd happens within a...
2023-04-2922 min
Chain ReactionNews Round Up 22nd April This is the news Roundup, all things impacting global supply chains this week with Tony Hines.Well, the news this week is that the United Kingdom's inflation rate has fallen from 10.4% to 10.1 and its food prices that are keeping it high. Apparently, food prices have increased during the past year by 19.2% and anybody going to the supermarket will tell you. Elsewhere in Europe, interest rates have also fallen, but again, not significantly. Inflation in the United Kingdom is the highest in Europe. Strikes in the United Kingdom are an added problem. All kinds of public ser...
2023-04-2216 minChain ReactionEthical Supply ChainsTony Hines revisits the the Rana Plaza disaster 10 years on to ask has anything changed. Have supply chains developed a moral compass or could this happen again.Have you ever wondered what it means to have an ethical supply chain? Ethics is about doing the right things, and when we think about doing the right things, it's incumbent on each of us to make judgement calls on the basis of moral judgments. Now, you might recall. That the founding father of economics, Adam Smith, was professor of moral philosophy at Glasgow University, and in 1759 he wrote his...
2023-04-1819 min
Chain ReactionNews Round Up 15th AprilAll things impacting global supply chains this week with Tony HinesPresident Joe Biden pays a visit to IrelandSerious security breaches in the USBrazil's President Lula visits ChinaFarm fire in Texas kills 18,000 cowsChina imports copper from RussiaChina Central Bank Governor Yi Gang criticises friend shoringFeature on the global market for Electric VehiclesAmazon joins AI competition with proprietary technologies - BedrockBoeing pauses delivery on Max 737 because of supply issuesTupperware is a 77 year old US company and iconic brand under pressureBrazil is negotiating trade deals in China both want to trade in their own currency and not the US Dollar
2023-04-1524 minChain ReactionEaster Special Supply Chain Round UpIn this Easter Special Edition Tony Hines takes a retrospective look at all things impacting global supply chains and identifies some key challenges for supply chain managers and the C suite.Many factors have disrupted global supply chains including:GeopoliticsInflationEnergy Price IncreasesClimate change and droughtsShipping costs and container box pricesCovid 19 pandemicDisruptions continue to impact global supply chainsPorts under pressure with delays and strikesTrade wars between US and ChinaThreats to supply chains from cyber attacksUS policies aim for resilient supply chains and the notion of friend shoringCosts and risks moving to EV's and China's leading position in...
2023-04-0821 min
Chain ReactionSuperforecasting and AIIn this episode Tony Hines takes a look at superforecasting and AI and how it will change and impact the supply chains of the future.Super in this sense means better. According to Phillip Tetlock superforecasters consistently make better predictions. They do this avoiding bias, updating as new facts emerge and through their cognitive processes. We examine how forecasts can be better by examining practices and processes used by superforecasters.There is much potential to employ skills to make better supply chain decisions adopting approaches discussed. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning also off...
2023-04-0420 min
Chain ReactionGlobal Supply Chain ChallengesTony Hines takes a look at key challenges facing global supply chains.Five strategic challenges are the focus for the discussions in this episode:-The move from analogue to digital supply chains - combining the digital and physical to serve customers efficiently and effectively. Culture of supply chain organizations.Hines' 7V's - Value Creation ModelValue in the supply chain is determined by Volume+Volatility+Velocity+Variability+Virtuality+Visibility+VarietyGeopolitical risk and uncertainty impacting global supply chainsSustainability and Climate ChangeSend us a textSupport the show T...
2023-03-1524 min
Chain ReactionNews 11th MarchAll things impacting global supply chains this week with Tony Hines.Shell CEO plans to keep oil for at least the next decade.Tomato imports into the UK suffer from supply chain friction. This has caused shortages on supermarket shelves.Delays to HS2 as costs rise. Many think this is a pull back from the levelling up agenda which is likely to impact of future economic advantages HS2 promised to deliver.Once upon a time...While people struggle with the cost of living the CEO's of two leading global oil companies Shell and BP earn salaries around $12 million...
2023-03-1122 minChain ReactionPartnerships and PowerTony Hines talks about partnerships and power within supply chains and how it impacts arrangements.Partnerships in supply chains are essential to create effective and efficient systems. Nevertheless. How many supply chain partnerships work like we would expect? Many supply chain arrangements are partnerships in name only. The reality is that power of a dominant actor in any supply chain will redistribute resources earning a greater share of profit and will control cash flows. The impact of a dominant player is critical to other in parties.Some dominant players act ethically and are a force...
2023-03-0820 min
Chain ReactionNews 4th MarchTony Hines with all things impacting global supply chains this week. UK Government agrees a revised Northern Ireland Protocol avoiding borders on the island of Ireland and in the Irish Sea. This should reduce supply chain frictions that hampered the post Brexit trading arrangement. Brent crude closed the week at $85.47 per barrel which is about 1 per cent up on the week. UAE denied rumours that it is about to leave OPEC to pump more oil. China’s returning demand for oil is also pushing up prices.The U.S. Federal Reserve said it is "acutely aware" of t...
2023-03-0419 minChain ReactionAll ChangeAll change, no change, continuous change. Is change a force for good or should we be more sceptical about change? When we learn we change and that is good but what about other types of change. In this episode Tony Hines takes a look at reasons for change and weighs up when change is good and not so good.Winston Churchill said to improve is to change and George Bernard Shaw said progress is impossible without change. So when is change needed?Send us a textSupport the show THANKS...
2023-03-0116 min
Chain ReactionNewsAll things impacting global supply chains this week with Tony HinesUK Government returns to renegotiate the Northern Ireland Protocol Post Brexit Trading AgreementFood Security remains an unresolved issue againin the UK Supply Chain China wants state firms to stop using the Global Big Four Auditing FirmsJob cuts in Tech againMcKinsey cutting jobsSanctions have not stopped brands reaching consumers in Russia - find out whyPMI higher than epected in EurozoneRationing placed by UK Supermarkets on Fresh fruit and vegetablesAre you be hoodwinked by your service supplier contract? What is in an index?Send us a text
2023-02-2518 min
Chain ReactionIn conversation with Frederico Crespo CEO of ValiotTony Hines talks supply chains with Frederico Crespo CEO of Valiot an AI business that supports supply chain operations to create visibility and value in the system. FactoryOS captures data from a variety of internal inputs, such as IoT cameras and sensors. Once captured the data are applied to run simulations to optimize throughput.Frederico Crespo is CEO at Valiot. He is a graduate of MIT and he grew up working in his Grandfather's paint manufacturing plant in Mexico. He says this background set him up for his future work. He talks about his work with Heineken...
2023-02-2225 minChain ReactionBanana SpecialTony Hines takes a look at Banana Supply Chains and how this special fruit arrives on your table. More than 100 billion bananas are sold each year. The market for banana's worldwide is worth USD 13 million. Ecuador supplies 26% of all bananas. Wilmington Delaware is the busiest banana port in the world. Send us a textSupport the show THANKS FOR LISTENING PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW You can support the podcast by following the link here. It makes a big difference and helps us make great content for you to listen to. Fo...
2023-02-1519 min
Chain ReactionNews 11th FebAll things impacting global supply chains this week with Tony HinesThis week's earthquakes in Turkey and Syria has shown the devastation natural disaster has when it strikes. if you would like to make a donation please go to Https://dec.org.uk to do so.Maersk publishes 4th Q 2022 profits - Profits remain high overall for 2022 but prices for sea freight is falling British Volt was the only UK based EV battery plant until it ran oiut of cash. This week and Australian Business has bid for for BVMore optimistic forecasts out this we...
2023-02-1316 min
Chain ReactionPlastic WasteIn this episode Tony Hines talks to Dr Regina Frei and Professor Diego Vasquez Brust about their research into plastic waste in four European Cities. The research project is PlastiCity. Researchers involved are investigating commercial waste in the four cities:Ghent (Belgium) The Hague (The Netherlands), Southend-On-Sea (UK), and Douai (France).Waste owners, designers, recyclers, policy makers, NGOs, waste management companies, logistic companies, plastic manufacturers and universities work together in PlastiCity to create innovative and local circular business models within the plastic value chain. You can follow the project outcomes at:-https://www.plasticityproject.eu/
2023-02-0833 min
Chain ReactionNews Round UpAll things impacting global supply chains this week with Tony HinesIt is 3 years since the UK left the EU and we take look at the impact of leaving the EU and how it has impacted supply chains.Energy cost is driving up inflation. We take a look at how businesses and supply chains are impacted by energy costs and what governments need to do to secure energy and bring more certainty for business decisions and to protect consumers.Shell reported $40 billion in profits. This is the highest annual profit in 115 years. Energy firms have made outrageous profits a...
2023-02-0424 minChain ReactionSupply Chain PESTTony Hines discusses how political, economic, social and technological change influences supply chain strategies (PEST).The external environment influences the strategies we implement. Political change such as wars, policies towards pandemics and trade such as Brexit in the UK or Trade Wars with China in the US all come under the political influences. What happens in the political sphere impacts strategies we are able to design for our supply chains. Economic policies also impact or impair our ability to act as we would like. For example, changes to taxes, exchange rates or trade regulations. Social change will af...
2023-02-0121 min
Chain ReactionNews Round UpAll things impacting global supply chains this week with Tony Hines.Amazon lays off 18,000 employees in the US, Canada and Costa RicaDo you get the support you need from your C Suite?Building sustainable supply chains - what to do.Fairtrade tool for mapping sustainability and human rights issues - what does your risk map look like?Identifying risks is the first step to tackling them – Fairtrade launches new map -How is inflation impacting your supply chain?Intel woes as rivals chip away at profits.US secures deals with the Netherlands and Japan regarding chipsChina and the US...
2023-01-2826 minChain ReactionSystems ThinkingTony Hines talks about the application of systems thinking to improve supply chain practices.Systems Thinking is an approach developed by Peter Checkland to understand the system. The system that Checkland concerned himself with was an organization and its human interactions with physical space, technical systems and places / locations in a temporal dimension. Supply chain systems are such a system. Checkland's approach became synonymous with 'Soft Systems' because of the people within the system that is, the agents of change.CATWOE is the mnemonic that describes the approach:C = Customer/Client - Beneficiary of...
2023-01-2521 minChain ReactionProblem Solving in Supply ChainsIn this episode Tony Hines takes a look at the questions we need to ask when we want to solve a problem in the supply chain.WhatWhereWhenWhoHowWhySend us a textSupport the show THANKS FOR LISTENING PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW You can support the podcast by following the link here. It makes a big difference and helps us make great content for you to listen to. Follow like and share the Chain Reaction Podcast with colleagues and friends on social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn.News...
2023-01-1808 min
Chain ReactionEconomic Outlook 2023Tony Hines assesses the economic outlook for 2023 and what it might mean for supply chains, businesses and consumers.Send us a textSupport the show THANKS FOR LISTENING PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW You can support the podcast by following the link here. It makes a big difference and helps us make great content for you to listen to. Follow like and share the Chain Reaction Podcast with colleagues and friends on social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn.News about forthcoming programmes click hereSHAREPlease share...
2023-01-1116 minChain ReactionSupply Chains Improve Cash FlowsSupply Chain Management is critical to improving cash flows. When we think of supply chains we think of material flows and not about cash flows but it is the latter that is equally important and impacted by the actions we take in our supply chains. The big consulting firms bang on about profitability and return on investment both are important but there is one variable even more so. It is cash flow because without cash the business may not continue into the future to earn profit and return on investment. In this episode Tony Hines makes the point that...
2023-01-0519 minChain ReactionNews Round Up 31st DecTony Hines discusses all things impacting global supply chains this week.Price inflation is still cause for concern - Many prices have risen across the board in the USRussia is China's biggest supplier of Oil and GasSome analysts are concerened that Elon Musk has paid too much attention to Twitter and not enough on Tessla as the share price is hit.Class Action Lawsuit against Facebook over Data Analytica's breaches of data privacy is worth $725 Million.South Western Airline disruptionsBrent Crude $82 per barrelChina opens its borders but not everyone is happyChina's currency falls by 10 per cent in one...
2022-12-3008 minChain ReactionReflecting on 2022Tony Hines takes a look back at some of the key moments from 2022. You can catch up with the detail by exploring some or all of the many episodes published in 2022. If you missed any now is the time to catch up.Send us a textSupport the show THANKS FOR LISTENING PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW You can support the podcast by following the link here. It makes a big difference and helps us make great content for you to listen to. Follow like and share the Chain Reaction Podcast...
2022-12-2717 minChain ReactionNews Round Up 17th DecemberAll things impacting global supply chains this week with Tony HinesDemand for energy increases in Europe as cold spell takes hold.War in Ukraine continues.China may get back to normal in 2023.Peak season -what peak season?Manufacturing in the UK falls in 2022Check out what has happened in US Tech sector jobsFreight costs soften but what happens when China reopens for businessChinese ports operating normally and zero COVID policy has ended Sea lanes getting back to normalAll change at the top at MaerskVancouver auto show cancelsVolitality still impacting global supply chains Will inflation fall in...
2022-12-1719 minChain ReactionNews Round Up 3rd DecTony Hines reviews all things impacting global supply chains this week.Black Friday Numbers are in for the US And UKChina protests are leading to change in the Covid restrictions appliedH&M second largest fashion business lays off 1500 workers in head office roles as inflation and increasing costs hit.Inditex and Primark are bucking this trend.SMMT in the UK reports on downturn in Sales of automobiles in the UK.Investment is needed in securing battery production for EV's.BYD Chinese car maker to launch SUV in Mexico.US lead in Microchips under threat.Recycling clothes to generate...
2022-12-0320 min
Chain ReactionPeak Season Demand And More with Mario Paganini from StordTony Hines speaks to Mario Paganini, VP Marketing at Stord to learn how supply chains are meeting the challenges of peak season. Stord is a fast-growing business building customer centric supply chains. "Stord untangles and centralizes your supply chain in a single dashboard, so you can focus on what matters."Well it was my pleasure to talk to Mario Paganini this week about the peak season and we had a much wider ranging discussion about all things happening in supply chains and if you want to find out something about supply chains and listen to what S...
2022-11-2339 min
Chain ReactionSC News 19th NovemberSC News Round Up - All things impacting global supply chains this week with Tony HinesEU heads for recession and Germany is the worst affected country in the 27 country block. Shrinkage in Germany is forecast at 0.6%. Ireland looks to be the best performer.Falling out of love with the tech sector as it unfriends employees.Is China still a pro-business country? Covid lockdowns have forced many businesses away from China.California ports ban diesel trucks by 2035.Ports in New York and New Jersey lead the way at the expense of the troubled West...
2022-11-1921 min
Chain ReactionSC News 12th NovAll things impacting global supply chains this week with Tony Hines.Now we could talk about lots of things happening in supply chains this week we've got inflation, we've got interest rates rising, we've got input costs going up, we've got freight rate prices lowering and that's because demand for shipping and container boxes has fallen. We've also got chip prices higher as a result of shortages of supply and we've got strikes building up with wages hit by inflation. So, what else could go wrong in the economy that could drive prices higher, increase inflation and...
2022-11-1224 minChain ReactionGet to the Future FastIn this episode Tony Hines explains why getting to the future fast is necessary for survival and future profitability. He draws on examples from automobile industry and the race to establish giga factories to serve the electric vehicle industry. Listen to how German industry turned to China to get to a new future.The Key to Unlock the FutureIn the second part of the episode the questions asked examines how to get to the future fast. Are there lessons to learn? Is being first important? If you are late arriving in the future ho...
2022-11-0124 minChain ReactionRetail DetailRetail Detail with Tony HinesWhat is it like to be a retailer?Many are small businesses - Pop and Mom stores but others are some of the biggest businesses in the world. Leading retailers manage many product categories and lines. They deal with brands and they have their own brands too. Keeping costs low and maintaining margins is critical. This is where sourcing, procurement and operations determine the efficiency of the business and also the ability to satisfy customer demand.In this epsiode we look at the evidence and at some of t...
2022-10-2528 minChain ReactionNews Round Up 15th OctoberAll things impacting global supply chains this week with Tony HinesInflation and strikes along with Russia's war in Ukraine continue to cause disruptionChallenges in the automobile industry and aerospace industriesChip shortages continue holding up manufacturingLiverpool dockers strike for 19 days Peel Ports claim they have offered 10 per cent but the Unite Unions disputes that - Dockers holding outFelixstowe too disruptedRoyal Mail strikes cause delivery disruptions in the UKOther public service strikes on the horizonThe iconic mini is produced in the UK but now owned by BMW who have announced they plan to stop electric car production in the...
2022-10-1525 minChain ReactionSupply Side EconomicsGovernment policies often follow a fiscal approach to manage demand and monetary policies through interest rates to attack inflation. These are not the only tools available but they are widely used. In this episode Tony Hines takes listeners through these choices before considering supply side economics and what that can achieve. Interest rates until very recently have been historically low. This has encouraged investment. They are now beginning to rise as inflation bites. As borrowing costs increase servicing debt becomes more expensive and investment may be reduced. This is of concern for governments that have to create conditions that...
2022-09-2710 minChain ReactionEurope's Gas ProblemEurope has a short to medium term gas supply problem that it is trying to fix. This has been caused by Russia's reduced output to Europe which has not simply caused problems for European customers but it has pushed up the world market price for everyone. As always in such situations where supply and demand are mismatched there are winners and losers. In this episode Tony Hines explores how this might play out.Send us a textSupport the show THANKS FOR LISTENING PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW You can support...
2022-09-0720 minChain ReactionEnergyIn this episode Tony Hines talks about the global energy crisis and how it is impacting supply chains. Is it more than supply and demand determining prices and energy inflation. When it comes to energy supply most countries want to protect security of supply. Russia's war in Ukraine has disturbed the balance not only in Europe but across the world pushing up prices and contributing to inflationary pressure. At some point physics demands a return to equilibrium but where exactly will that be? China has oil reserves and coal yet it is only able to meet 20 per ce...
2022-08-1626 minChain ReactionService Supply ChainsWhat is different about service supply chains? Tony Hines discusses differences and similarities between service and goods supply chains in this episode. Service requires the organization to be customer focused not product focused. It is something that some product organizations have difficulty with. Find out how your organization can become customer focused and provide service.Send us a textSupport the show THANKS FOR LISTENING PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW You can support the podcast by following the link here. It makes a big difference and helps us make great content...
2022-08-1034 minChain ReactionJust in Time Explained in under 5 minutesThis is a new series of shorts explaining supply chain concepts in under five minutes. In this first episode just as Oscar Wilde said news of his demise was greatly exagerated we can say the same about Just-in-Time (JiT) systems. In this episode Tony Hines explains why he thinks Just in Time is here to stay.Send us a textSupport the show THANKS FOR LISTENING PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW You can support the podcast by following the link here. It makes a big difference and helps us...
2022-08-0804 minChain ReactionResilience and SustainabilityTony Hines says that two of the most important words uttered around supply chains in the past year have been resilience and sustainability and what they mean in differente contexts. In this episodes he revisits some of the episodes in which guests discussed the topic along with some of his thoughts about them and what they mean for leaders in government and in organizations.He spoke to Professor Wendy Phillips earlier about humanatarian logistics and discusses what resilience means in this context and in healthcare. He also spoke to Professor Eoin Plant-O'Toole about resilience and particular skills...
2022-08-0320 minChain ReactionChain Reaction TrailerI'm Tony Hines and I'm here to tell you about the Chain Reaction Podcast All About Supply Chain Advantage. I've been researching and writing about supply chains for over 25 years. I wrote my first book on Supply Chain Strategies in the early 2000's. Each week we have special episodes on particular topics relating to supply chains and we have a weekly news round up every Saturday at 12 noon all things impacting global supply chains in that week. So come and join us on the Chain Reaction Podcast. I look forward to seeing you there. I'm Tony Hines, I'm signing...
2022-07-2400 minChain ReactionCycle Time CompressionIn this episode Tony Hines discusses the benefits of Cycle Time Ciompression in the Supply Chain. Identifying the cycles in your supply chain and the time it takes to complete each cycle has potential to bring benefits to the business, the network and to customers. Having data about each of the cycles moving from upstream to downstream enables firms to lower costs, improve throughput times and lower risk. Managing volumes, volatility and velocity to achieve value. It improves cash flows, profitability and return on investment and enables better asset utilization.Send us a textSupport...
2022-07-0622 minChain ReactionSC News Round Up 2nd July 2022A summary of all things impacting global supply chains this week. In this weeks episode Tony Hines discusses:-Soaring energy prices impacting gloabl supply chainsInflation in EuropeBritain's trade outlookWhat can airports learn from supply chains?Steel tariffs, protectionism and international law what will the WTO make of it?Russian President signs a decree to find new investors after Shell, Mitsui and Mitsibushi leaveGazprom decides not to pay a dividend to investors - first time since 1998Chocolate Production in Belgium disrupted by SalmonellaCaviar shortages due to Brexit and prices up tooPenalty fees for overweight sea cargoNew German L...
2022-07-0218 minChain ReactionProcurement and Supply RelationsIn this epsiode Tony Hines discusses procurement and supply relations. These are two areas in which significant value can be created in supply chains. As Edward Deming noted for continuous improvement you must constantly improve supply relationships. It is through those relations that reputations can be developed, responsiveness improved and reliability is built in. You could also construct resilient supply chains through developing effective supplier relationships. You can read more about this topic in my Supply Chain Strategies book where I have a chapter on this topic. For those new to the field there is also a useful glossary o...
2022-06-2930 minChain ReactionStorm Clouds GatherWhen storm clouds gather we need a plan to confront the storm. In this episode Tony Hines investigates the root causes disrupting supply systems. Identifying underlying causes are the key to resolving obstacles. The major root causes are energy and fuel costs. Both of these costs drive the input costs upwards, increasing production and distribution costs. Instability is directly attributable to Russia's war in Ukraine. Uncertainties introduced into global markets add to the extant problems of Covid 19 and the disruptions caused to global supply chains prior to the invasion in February 2022. Countries in the EU have seen R...
2022-06-2323 minChain ReactionThe Future of Supply ChainsIn this episode Tony Hines reviews current trends in talk and thinking around supply chains as economies recover from the pandemic. Disruptions have caused nervousness in global trade. Talk is focused around change and if there is a new normal or more settled times ahead.Send us a textSupport the show THANKS FOR LISTENING PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW You can support the podcast by following the link here. It makes a big difference and helps us make great content for you to listen to. Follow like and share the...
2022-06-0129 minChain ReactionThe Circular EconomySupply chains play a central role in the circular economy. In this episode Tony Hines examines change and how it can be harnessed to improve the way we do things that reduce waste and pollution that damages the planet, the people, animals and ecosystems. The degenerative take, make use and lose approach of the industrial age is being replaced by the regenerative design of dynamic systems to renew, reuse, repurpose and recycle resources. Ensuring sufficient resources remain for future generations to live on the planet. There is much we can do to manage these assets better. You c...
2022-05-2523 minChain ReactionVolatile Global Supply ChainsGlobal Supply Chains have been the dominant paradigm for the past thirty years or more. In this episode learn why that is so. Listen to what Professor Hines has to say on this topic. " Volatility suggests instability and unpredictability. Chain reactions occur when chemicals added to existing chemicals cause further reactions that spread throughout the system. " Volatility in supply chains has a similar effect "A series of events happen each caused by the previous event. Supply chains are said to be volatile when there is uncertainty in a part of the network that causes reactions elsewhere in t...
2022-04-1923 minChain ReactionSupply Chain Risk and Brand ReputationAre you protecting your assets?Two of the most important assets all businesses need to protect are inventories and brand reputation. There are of course others but in this episode we focus on risk and reputation. Risk - When you deliver goods to a port to be loaded on a ship that is when risk begins. Transporting the goods that you have produced with all the cost that has gone into those goods is value that can be lost if you do not protect your assets. This is where insurance comes into...
2022-04-0625 minChain ReactionPlanning Service LevelsService levels require careful planning. If supply chains are to be resilient businesses have to be responsive to customer demand and agile to supply goods and services when required. To provide excellent service means meeting customer demand and that requires inventory management. Planning service levels to meet dynamic demand is key. Serving customers means businesses have to have inventory available. Holding inventory ties up working capital so the trick is to keep inventories low whilst still meeting demand. There is a trade-off between cost and availability and balance is necessary. It is a dilema betweem just-in-time or just-in-case. The la...
2022-03-2926 minChain ReactionSupply Chain Careers, Skills and CoursesIn this episode Tony Hines introduces the topic of supply chain skills necessary to enter careers in supply chain management. In conversation with two special guests Dr Regina Frei, Associate Professor at Southampton University Business School and Dr Eoin Plant-O'Toole, Associate Professor at Napier University, Edinburgh he asks them what they think are the skills needed to build a career in supply chains. Both guests have new courses that they have developed in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and they speak about the curricula they have developed to support new entrants and experienced managers too.Dr Eoin P...
2022-03-2234 minChain ReactionSupply Chain Resilience in Health Care: Redistributed ManufacturingIn this special edition we take a look at the adoption of redistributed manufacturing(RDM) as a means of making health care supply chains more resilient. Tony Hines speaks with Professor Wendy Phillips who is professor of innovation at Bristol Business School, University of West England and a leading researcher in this field.RDM has potential to engage local communities to become co-producers in providing products and services at the point of consumption and to customize them to meet the specific need of service users. Professor Phillips talks about her research giving many examples of the benefits...
2022-03-0931 minChain ReactionReverse Supply ChainsIn this episode Tony Hines takes a look at the philosophy behind supply chains in our material world. We also look at the whole area of reverse supply chains with special guest Dr Regina Frei, Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management at Southampton University. We look at how some customers cost us more than others as well as how some suppliers are more costly to deal with than others and we have the usual news round up from round the globe.The growth of internet retail has caused an increasing problem for the retail sector of processing...
2022-02-2328 minChain ReactionOutlook for Supply ChainsAIR CARGOWe hear a lot about trucks and ships but we don’t hear much about air freight. In this episode Tony Hines takes a look at the world’s largest airport and the part it plays in cargo movement. About 1.7 million metric tonnes of cargo pass through Heathrow annually. Heathrow Airport is the UK’s largest airport. It has two runways and wants to add a third as it deals with passenger volumes around 80 million people prior to the pandemic annually and it expects to develop capacity to increase that number. The two runway...
2022-02-1428 minChain ReactionReverse Supply Chains Forthcoming PreviewThis is a short preview of a forthcoming episode. Tony Hines talks to Dr Regina Frei who tells us about her research in this area. Listen to the brief extract from that interview which will be available shortly.Send us a textSupport the show THANKS FOR LISTENING PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW You can support the podcast by following the link here. It makes a big difference and helps us make great content for you to listen to. Follow like and share the Chain Reaction Podcast with colleagues...
2022-02-1001 minChain ReactionSupply Chain News UpdateSupply Chain News from around the globe. This week Tony Hines looks at the continuing CO2 production problems for the UK Food Industry returning to a story that hit the headlines back in August 2021. CF a US company has two fertilizer production plants in the UK one at Ince near Warrington and the other in Durham. CO2 which is a byproduct of fertilizer production is sold to the UK Food and Drinks industry. It provides most of the supply. The UK Government provided a financial package back in August that kept supplies moving. The cause of the problem is...
2022-01-3125 minChain ReactionBattery Technology And Volatile Energy MarketsIn this episode of Chain Reaction Tony Hines takes a look at emergent battery technology for the electrical vehicle revolution. The announcement by the UK Government this week of a new factory in Northumberland will increase capacity and yet the British Volt investment along with the existing plant in Sunderland previously owned by Nissan before it was sold to a Chinese based business will still fall significantly short of supply needed by 2040 to meet demand. So there is more to do. The race is on all over the world to ramp up investment in battery production to...
2022-01-2523 minChain ReactionTariffs, Trade Policies and Supply Chains - Special EditionIn this episode Tony Hines takes a look at tariffs, trade policies and how they impact supply chains. Is managing international trade through the blunt instrument of tariffs and quotas fit for purpose in the 21st Century? Should governments be looking for better ways to facilitate trade? We begin by examining a brief history of tariffs by taking a look at how they developed as an instrument to grow the British Empire in the 18th Century and how tariffs became the genesis for the United States to exist.When Adam Smith published his influential book the first about...
2022-01-0524 minChain ReactionWhat’s New In 22?What’s New In 22?In this episode Tony Hines sets out his supply chain predictions for 2022. What will the supply chain landscape look like in 2022? What will you do in 22 that will make things better for you and your organization? Digital Transformation is top of my list if you are not already there yet. Returns are a big problem for retailers online and in store. We take a look at the problem of returns. The growth in E-commerce in 2020 was about 44 per cent and online sales overall clim...
2022-01-0124 minChain Reaction2021 A Supply Chain Year In Review - The Ghost of Christmas PresentListen to the episode to find out more about all the major events that shaped supply chains in 2021. You might also want to review some previous episodes that deal in detail with some of the topics discussed. You can also read articles by Tony Hines here.To say 2021 was a difficult year for supply chains and everyone working in them would be an understatement. Keeping goods moving around the world has been an immense challenge fro everyone with Covid 19 intervening haphazardly to disrupt those flows. Fortunately, scientists and the medical profession have worked at double quick speed t...
2021-12-2924 minChain ReactionFashioning Business SuccessIn this episode Tony Hines talks about business success. Here is the link to the full text of the talk Fashioning Business Success | LinkedInI hesitate to write or talk about business success. It is like writing about the Holy Grail. There are so many opinions and little evidence to determine what business success looks like. Nevertheless, given this caveat write about business success, I will. In particular, I want to illustrate the central role that supply chains occupy in any successful strategy. Supply chains consist of flows of goods, services, data and cash. People and technology determine t...
2021-12-2327 minChain ReactionThe Ghost of Christmas PastIn this Christmas Special this is the first of three episodes looking at past, present and future of supply chains. In this episode Tony Hines looks at the road travelled by supply chain professionals over the past half century and more. Noting that the phrase supply chain itself was only coined back in 1982 and then it was simply looking at what went on in a single firm. It is remarkable to think of all the parts that had to come together to make up the total supply chain system we recognise today. Re-organizing production flows, seeking efficiency and focusing o...
2021-12-1925 minChain ReactionSupply Chain CriticalSupply Chain Critical could well describe many supply chains around the globe right now. In this episode Tony Hines takes a look at US food and other supply chain disruptions following President Biden's initiative to get parties around the table to discuss issues. On November 29th the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued an order to discuss what's going on in those supply chains. The FTC stated “Supply chain disruptions are upending the provision and delivery of a wide array of goods, ranging from computer chips and medicines to meat and lumber." Price hikes and anti-competitive practices are also under the...
2021-12-0625 minChain ReactionThe Only Way Is UpInflation in the US is at a thirty year high standing at 6.2% and in the UK the Consumer Price Index stands at 4.2% in November up 1.1% from a month ago. As demand goes up and supply remains short inflation is one consequence. In this episode Tony Hines discusses cause and effect and what it means for supply chains.Shipping is such an important part of global supply chains and 90 per cent of global trade is moved at some point by ships. As container vessels get bigger and bigger what is the shipping industry doing to lower carbon emissions...
2021-11-2621 minChain ReactionFuture Beyond COP 26In this episode Tony Hines provides a short summing up of the recent COP26 event in Glasgow UK and discusses what's next for supply chains beyond COP. He also takes a look at the importance of supply chain partnerships and the benefits they bring to organizations. It is a way of accessing complementary skills. He revisits some early lessons that he thinks are just as important as ever for supply chain professionals and businesses that want to improve performance. Cost, Time, Quality, Capabilities, Capacities, Experience and Expertise are all part of the rich mix that organizations manage to improve s...
2021-11-1624 min