SCMDOJO

In Supply Chain we are obsessed with analytical and rightly so. But do we know what Type of Analytics we want? And why? Descriptive? Diagnostic? Predictive? Prescriptive? Here is the brief definition of each 😀! #scmdojo #muddassirism #supplychain #analytics

No matter how advanced your supply chain model is, its success depends on one thing: data quality. Designing an effective supply chain network starts with building a reliable data foundation. 🔹 What Data Do You Really Need? To create Read more below linkedin.com/feed/update/ur…

1.5 Billion Shipments of Data

𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗜 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀. It isn't. And the graphic I've shared proves it. I've been studying the research behind what it actually takes to be a practical supply chain data scientist — and the findings from Waller & Fawcett's landmark paper in the Journal of Business Logistics are eye-opening. Here's the simple truth: supply chain data science is about breadth, not depth. The skills that matter most aren't the complex theoretical ones you'd study for a maths PhD. They're the practical, applied ones that help you solve real supply chain problems. Let me break down what the graphic shows — and why it matters for your career right now. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝘆): 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀? Yes — but not deriving complex proofs. You need broad awareness of sampling and estimation methods so you can understand your data without being fooled by it. 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴? Absolutely — but not stochastic theory. Understanding how to apply quantitative and qualitative methods to predict demand is your bread and butter. 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? Critical — but forget chasing the mathematically "perfect" global solution. Numerical methods that get you to a good-enough answer fast are what move the needle in operations. Simulation, probability, financial basics, economics, marketing science, managerial accounting — all needed at the applied level. Not at the theoretical research level. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱: Mathematical proofs. Queuing theory. Efficient market hypothesis. Macroeconomic models. These are brilliant in academia. They are largely useless when you're trying to reduce stockouts or optimise a freight lane. The research is clear: the best supply chain data scientists combine domain knowledge with a broad set of analytical tools — not deep expertise in any single one. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄? Because supply chains are drowning in data and starving for insight. Companies have more information than ever — ERP data, IoT feeds, supplier portals, demand signals — and most of it goes unused because the people closest to the operations don't feel equipped to work with it. You don't need to become a data scientist. But you do need to become data-literate enough to ask the right questions, challenge the models, and know when the output doesn't match operational reality. Save this graphic. Share it with your team. It might reframe what skills you invest in next.

𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗜 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀. It isn't. And the graphic I've shared proves it.

AI-Powered Supply Chain Competency Assessment (Free) - Save $5000!! Get a personalized, in-depth report across 𝟯𝟲 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 to identify your strengths and close critical skill gaps Start here 👉 scmdojo.com/apps/ai-supply…

Not all supply chain models are created equal. From simple approximations to advanced optimization algorithms, the success of network design depends on selecting the right modeling technique for your specific business challenge. Read more below linkedin.com/feed/update/ur…

Is SAAS Dead due to the advancement of AI Agents? Yes & No! Yes- In a traditional sense, i.e. human using SaaS. No- Agents will be using the SaaS endpoint to think, to decide, to perform tasks. So the SaaS companies will evolve their software for AI Agents, as they did for humans. So SaaS platform won't be dead per se, marketplaces will be :) @scmdojo #saasisdead #muddassirism #ai #aiagents #logistics #podcast

Successful supply chain network design begins with one critical principle: alignment with business goals. Before diving into data and models, organizations must clearly define what they are trying to achieve—whether it’s cost reduction, Read more below linkedin.com/feed/update/ur…

How do you turn supply chain theory into real-world decisions? A case study featuring Berries Detox, a fictional beverage company, provides a practical answer. Facing capacity constraints and growing demand, the company must optimize Read more below linkedin.com/feed/update/ur…

Meanwhile, the supply chain planning software market is undergoing is most significant architectural shift since the move to the cloud Therefore, I have prepared the 2026 Competitive Landscape: Top 20 Supply Chain Planning Software Providers. scmdojo.com/best-supply-ch…

Behind every efficient supply chain network lies a strong mathematical foundation that transforms complex logistics challenges into solvable models. To design and optimize networks effectively, supply chain professionals rely on Read more below linkedin.com/feed/update/ur…

Last Thursday, I had the privilege of taking the stage at the Lobster Data Hero Summit X in Rotterdam — one of the most energised rooms I've stood in front of in recent memory. 340 supply chain, logistics, and data professionals. Van Nelle Fabriek. A day of no-nonsense conversations about where this industry is actually heading. I delivered a keynote on Supply Chain Talent Needs in the Age of AI and opened with a provocation that got a few nervous laughs: "Would you agree most white-collar work will be fully automated by AI within the next 18 months?" The hands that went up — and those that didn't — told the whole story. Here's the honest truth I shared on stage: - Sooner or later, automation manages the routine. Humans manage the exceptions. The cockpit is now your laptop — but a pilot still needs to sit in it. - The workforce built on manual planning, reactive firefighting, and fragmented ERPs cannot process machine-scale complexity. - But AI doesn't replace human judgment — it raises the stakes for it. Critical thinking, supplier relationships, ethical oversight — these are not soft extras. - They are what makes a supply chain leader irreplaceable. After the keynote, I hosted a panel with Lisa Aarsman, Manuel Flubacher, and Karsten Schmidt — three sharp practitioners who brought real-world grit to everything I'd laid out. Honest, direct, no vendor theatre. The day reinforced what I see constantly: 85% of AI initiatives fail not because the technology doesn't work, but because the data foundation underneath was never fit for purpose. The organisations that pull ahead won't be the ones who deployed AI first — they'll be the ones who finally built something worth accelerating. Viktor Vielhaber — what you and the team built was extraordinary. 340 people, a stunning venue, inspired throughout, and sent home with something to act on. That doesn't happen by accident. Well done. Genuinely. And to Tim Srock and Jethro Borsje — thank you for creating a space where supply chain can have honest, future-focused conversations. More of this, please Patryk Statkiewicz!. Lastly, it was a pleasure meeting you in person, Marian Temmen, after 6 years of trying! The supply chain professional of tomorrow is being built today. The question is whether you're building them. #SummitXRotterdam #SupplyChain #AI #WorkforceOfTheFuture @scmdojo #DataHeroSummit

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘂𝘇 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗲𝘁. Iran doesn't need to physically block the world's most critical oil chokepoint. They just need to make the underwriters in London nervous.

Designing an efficient supply chain network isn’t just about reducing costs—it’s about balancing multiple cost drivers and operational constraints to achieve the best overall outcome. At the heart of network optimization lies a critical Read more below linkedin.com/feed/update/ur…

Supply chain network design is more than a one-time project—it’s a strategic planning tool that shapes long-term organizational success. Effective supply chain management requires aligning decisions across three planning horizons: Read more below linkedin.com/feed/update/ur…

In today’s complex global environment, supply chains cannot rely on intuition alone. Network design has become a strategic modeling process that helps organizations visualize and optimize the movement of goods—from global suppliers Read more below linkedin.com/feed/update/ur…

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗜 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻? In this episode 87 of The Supply Chain Show™, we dive deep into how AI agents are actually transforming logistics and supply chain operations. Our guest Nick Douglas (VP, Product & Network Design, project44) We discuss how the industry is moving from AI experimentation to real execution. Why traditional analytics and machine learning often failed to deliver real operational value, and how agentic systems can move beyond dashboards to autonomous action. Nick also explains the difference between AI, AI agents, and multi-agent orchestration in simple terms, and shares practical logistics use cases like disruption prediction, automated decision-making, and proactive freight management. If you work in supply chain, logistics, planning, or procurement, this conversation will give you a clear view of where AI is actually creating value today—and where the industry is heading next. youtube.com/watch?v=iJEmks…

Designing and managing a professional warehouse is a constant balancing act. Facilities must maximize space utilization while avoiding the operational risks and safety hazards that come with overcrowding. A well-designed warehouse Read more below linkedin.com/feed/update/ur…

Warehouse design becomes especially challenging when inventory ranges from tiny fasteners to 20-foot pipes. For electrical distributors and similar industries, managing such physical diversity requires more than guesswork—it demands clean Read more below linkedin.com/feed/update/ur…

A well-optimized warehouse is more than just storage space—it's a strategic asset that drives efficiency, speed, and cost control across the supply chain. Successful warehouse optimization begins with detailed visual layouts that clearly Read more below linkedin.com/feed/update/ur…