Role Of Engineers In Supply Chain Management

How Can Sustainability Reshape Supply Chains? When you think about supply chains, do you see them as a system of endless transactions or a powerful avenue to drive sustainable impact? 🤔 I recently came across an insightful conversation with Steve Bernard, a CU Denver sustainability program alum with a decade of experience in supply chain management. His journey shows how sustainability isn’t a checkbox it’s a continuous path of collaboration, innovation, and improvement. Here’s a roadmap to integrating sustainability into supply chains, based on Steve’s reflections and my own experience as a sustainability professional: 🛠 The Five-Year Roadmap to Sustainability in Supply Chains 1️⃣ Set Clear Principles: -Publish sustainability principles and codes of ethics. -Share them with suppliers to set expectations early. 2️⃣ Assess and Align: -Conduct sustainability assessments for suppliers. -Use tools like CDP or collaborate with third-party evaluators. -Ensure alignment with your company’s mission and goals. 3️⃣ Build Relationships: -Foster open communication with suppliers. -Collaborate on goals rather than enforcing compliance-only approaches. 4️⃣ Integrate Sustainability into Contracts: -Include sustainability requirements in supplier agreements. -Recognize this as a long-term process—3 to 5 years for full integration. 5️⃣ Track and Improve: -Establish baselines to measure progress. -Use benchmarks and continuous improvement practices to evolve. 🌟 What Should You Ask of Suppliers? Here are key areas companies can address when working with suppliers: 🔵 Environmental Impact 🔵 Health and Safety 🔵 Stakeholder Engagement 🔵 Circular Economy Practices 💡 Why It Matters Sustainability isn’t just good for the planet—it’s good for business. Studies show: 🌱 88% of consumers are more loyal to companies that support environmental issues. 📈 Companies with strong ESG programs see higher employee retention and satisfaction. 💰 Businesses practicing sustainability often realize long-term cost savings through efficiencies and innovations. 🏆 A Balanced Approach: Carrots, Not Sticks If you’re starting this path, remember: 🌟 Progress takes time. 🌟 Collaboration drives success. 🌟 Transparency builds trust. What do you think? Have you faced challenges aligning sustainability with supply chain practices? #Sustainability #SupplyChain

The Missing Piece of Smart Things Manufacturing 🧠⚡ Remember our vision of 3D printing smart shipping boxes and supply chain sensors at any corner store earlier this week? One underlying technology that can make it possible are new chips that think like the human brain. Neuromorphic edge chips are now so small and efficient they can be embedded anywhere. We're talking tiny 1-milliwatt processors that work like our brains do—100x faster processing and 500x lower energy consumption. 🚀 Companies like BrainChip and SynSense are developing these today. While not ready for any old box yet, they're rapidly approaching the point where intelligence becomes as standard as plastic in manufacturing. What becomes possible when 1-milliwatt intelligence gets embedded anywhere? 💡 📦 Smart packaging on pallets that knows when something's wrong 🔐 Product-level monitoring with chips smart enough to detect issues 📊 Equipment sensors that understand their environment and alert you instantly ⚡ Connected intelligence in boxes, products, even intelligent documents Here's the breakthrough: 🎯 These chips literally work like our brains do—they only activate when something happens. Smart enough to understand when something's wrong, connected enough to let you know instantly. 🧠 Brain-inspired processing that mimics human neurons 🔋 1-milliwatt power - operates for months on minimal energy 💾 Microscopic size - getting small enough for embedding anywhere 💰 Incredible economics - intelligence approaching the cost of a sticker Imagine designing things by specifying not just shape and material, but exactly where to place micro-intelligence during printing. Every object emerges already smart, already connected. What becomes possible when intelligence is built into the manufacturing process? 🤔 The answer is reshaping entire industries—and we're just getting started. 🌍 #Innovation #3DPrinting #SmartObjects #SupplyChain #Logistics #Manufacturing #EdgeComputing #Neuromorphic

Robots Get the Munchies. Bots ride the subway to restock 7-Eleven. In Shenzhen, China, the future of urban logistics just rolled into the subway—and quietly boarded the train. China has deployed 41 autonomous delivery bots to restock 7-Eleven stores located within the city’s metro system. These three—foot-tall robots with glowing LED “faces” use AI-driven scheduling algorithms and LiDAR navigation to autonomously ride trains, traverse platforms, operate elevators, and bridge platform gaps—all during off-peak hours. Vx Logistics LLC, a Vanke subsidiary, manages the operation, with the fleet serving over 100 7-Eleven stores located within the city’s vast subway network. The robots operate during non‑peak hours, replacing human couriers who otherwise need to park on the street and unload stock. This isn’t sci-fi. It’s the real-time execution of a strategic response to: • Traffic congestion and curbside chaos • Rising labor and delivery costs • The environmental footprint of last-mile logistics And it’s not just about sandwiches and soda. Shenzhen’s broader “Embodied Intelligent Robot Action Plan” positions these #robots as a blueprint for future deliveries—medical supplies, parcels, even sanitation tools—through underground infrastructure. Why this matters: If convenience stores can be restocked underground via autonomous fleets, imagine what this means for airports, hospitals, stadiums, or campuses. It’s a signal that last-inches delivery—once an afterthought—could become a competitive edge in both speed and sustainability. Somewhere between tech novelty and operational breakthrough lies the next frontier of retail logistics. AI and technology are disrupting and reinventing logistics. Don’t fall behind; mind the gap. #Innovation #RetailTech #UrbanLogistics #AI #Robotics #LastMileDelivery #SupplyChain #Strategy

I recently had a fascinating conversation with Canon Reeves, CTO and Co-founder of Pipedream Labs, on my podcast. Here are three key takeaways: 1. Pipedream is developing a network of thin underground pipes and autonomous robots for urban delivery. This system could transform last-mile logistics, starting with drive-thru restaurants and potentially scaling to entire cities. 2. Their modular design approach enables rapid iteration and scalability. By focusing on customer-driven development, they're creating a system that can adapt to various environments and use cases. 3. Pipedream's innovative instant pickup system revolutionizes the traditional drive-thru model. By creating underground automated pickup and drive-thru stations, they're enabling restaurants, grocery stores, and retailers to increase capacity and revenue without expanding their physical footprint. If you're interested in urban infrastructure, robotics, or innovative logistics solutions, check out the full episode. Links are in the comments. I recommend listening at 1.5x speed. #UrbanInnovation #Robotics #LastMileDelivery

🚀 Shaping the Future of Supply Chains with AI, Computer Vision & Digital Twins Excited to be featured in FreightWaves, where I shared why the intersection of AI computer vision, digital twins, and real-world operations is so transformative. From my experience at A.P. Moller - Maersk to today at Interwoven Ventures, I’ve seen how these technologies can revolutionize supply chain resilience and efficiency: Unloading containers: Deploying smart cameras and AI raised prediction accuracy to ~82%—enabling minute-by-minute insights into workforce throughput and driving new performance incentives. Streamlining drayage: By consolidating data from 13 systems into a digital twin, we unlocked visibility, operational clarity, and multi-million‑dollar savings. What‑if scenario planning: Digital twins allow us to model disruptions—be it tariffs, wars, pandemics—and proactively engineer the resilient supply chains of tomorrow. My core message: “You have to declare what your problems are first, so then you can actually measure them.” Digital twins and AI shouldn’t be deployed for hype—they should be precision tools built to solve defined challenges . As co‑founder and GP at Interwoven Ventures, I’m keen to support #founders and execs driving these real-world solutions. If you’re developing tools that merge data, AI, vision, and operational benchmarks to streamline logistics—let’s connect! 🔗 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/grZVx443 Thanks to Noi Mahoney and the team at FreightWaves for the thoughtful coverage. #SupplyChainTech #DigitalTwins #AI

🔍Quality Engineer Part 5: FMEA & Risk Analysis "What's the worst that could happen?" That question right there... is the beginning of FMEA. Failure Modes and Effects Analysis is how engineers, QA, and manufacturing teams predict failures before they happen, assess the risk, and put controls in place. But trust me, it’s not just paperwork. It’s critical thinking, cross-functional collaboration, and risk-based decision-making. Let me give you two examples 👇 ☕ Relatable Life Example You’re making coffee before work. You skip checking the water tank. Boom — no water. Next thing? You’re late, stuck in traffic, angry, and caffeine-deprived. 😤 Your FMEA might look like: Failure Mode: No water in coffee machine Effect: Delayed morning, bad mood, low productivity Severity: 7 Occurrence: 5 (you’ve done it before) Detection: 3 (no alarm on your machine) RPN = 7 × 5 × 3 = 105 Control? ✔ Add checking water to your nightly routine. FMEA is basically engineering-level overthinking with results. 😄 Now lets understand in 🧪 Technical (Pharma) terms: We were introducing a new automated blister packaging line. Before going live, we ran a PFMEA with Quality, Engineering, and Production. We identified failure modes like: Tablet misfeed Foil misalignment Seal integrity failure For each one, we scored: Severity (S) – How bad is the impact? (Patient safety = 9/10) Occurrence (O) – How often could this happen? (Misfeeds = 6/10) Detection (D) – Can we catch it before release? (Cameras = 7/10) 📊 Risk Priority Number (RPN) = S × O × D = 378 That’s high. So we: Added redundant camera systems Improved PM schedule Added auto-reject logic for seal deviation Result: Lower RPN, better control, smoother validation. 💡 Why It Matters FMEA teaches you to: Think ahead Collaborate cross-functionally Prioritize risk Drive process improvement It’s one of those tools that once you learn it, you start seeing it everywhere. 🎓 Want to Learn more on PFMEA from Experts? If you're interested in mastering PFMEA, here is one of the best industry-recognized programs: ✅ ASQ - World Headquarters - PFMEA Training Program 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ehpP3_cR This course is practical, detailed, and align with what the industry expects from process engineers and QA professionals. 💡 Takeaway FMEA isn’t just a form — it’s a way of thinking. If you can understand how and where things go wrong, you’ll always be one step ahead — whether you're on the shop floor or in a boardroom. #FMEA #RiskAnalysis #QualityEngineering #CAPA #Validation #MedicalDevices #PharmaIndustry #ProcessImprovement #LinkedInLearning

Automation is a double-edged sword. It can amplify your success or magnify your mistakes. Automating a bad process doesn't make it better; it just makes it happen faster. The same holds for IoT. Without precise engineering, your fancy gadgets are just that: Fancy. Your data should work harder and smarter. That's where Industrial Engineering comes in. It gives IoT the power to: - Reduce errors - Increase output - Improve quality - Enhance safety Industrial engineering is the secret sauce that turns smart devices into smart decisions. So, if you're struggling with IoT, it's time to start developing a laser-focused engineering strategy and unlock the full potential of your data. 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗼𝗧 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 - Real-time data is great : But Precision Matters: Industrial Engineering ensures IoT focuses on the right metrics. - Outcome: Rapid corrections and reduced defects—leading to consistently high-quality products. 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗼𝗧 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 - The fix first rule: Automating inefficiencies is just accelerating the problem. - The engineer's eye: Industrial Engineering identifies where IoT will truly shine. - The result: Less manual work, more streamlined processes, and maximum IoT impact. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 - IoT brings visibility and Engineering Brings Efficiency: Industrial Engineering ensures inventory systems are designed to handle real-time data. - Right place, right time: Engineering maps out efficient supply chain flows to guarantee stock accuracy. - IoT + Ind Engineering = Zero stock surprises: Real-time data meets flawless material handling, keeping inventory exactly where it should be. 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮: 𝗜𝗼𝗧 & 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 - IoT's power: Tracks and traces products in real time. - Engineering role: Optimizes each link of the supply chain, ensuring data becomes actionable insights. - What's the outcome: Informed decisions, reduced delays, and an efficient supply chain powered by precision. Take your game to the next level!

Your electrical engineering team might be harboring a dark secret... I hear all the time from leaders at hardware companies, "I want supply-chain decisions made earlier in the engineering process, but I don't want to turn our EEs into procurement." I was discussing this with an EE friend at a large tech company recently. His reaction? "I already spend at least 1 full day each week on procurement so that ship has sailed" Between avoidable re-respins due to sourcing issues, reviewing alt approvals, NPI material purchasing, and prototype kit management, your EEs are probably spending as much as a quarter of their time on "procurement" activities instead of engineering.  How do we solve this? 1. Avoid re-spins and 11th hour alt approvals by giving EEs accurate lifecycle and supply chain forecasting data where and when they need it. To often, powerful data is only available to supply chain teams or librarians. I hear over and over again from EEs, "Just give me the info to know which parts are going to be okay to use, so I don't have to re-spin it later" 2. Embrace the importance of NPI procurement and materials management. Let supply chain teams focus on delivering value at scaled production, but don't push the inevitably huge workload of NPI procurement and kitting back on EEs. A dedicate engineering ops or NPI procurement hire can be a huge force multiplier for EE teams, or a platform like Cofactr‎ completely handles these for our customers. 3. Give the right tools to procurement. Accurate supply chain intelligence, procurement automation, and electronics-specific demand planning tools like Cofactr‎ can help procurement teams stay ahead of supply challenges and avoid re-spins, allowing EEs to keep focused on building the next great thing. #supplychain #electricalengineering #electronicsmanufacturing

🚢Supply chains aren’t broken. They’re brittle—too rigid for a world that changes by the hour. To stay resilient, companies must adjust their sails—modernizing not just for efficiency, but for agility, visibility, and adaptability. Here are the technologies powering this transformation: ⸻ 🔧 Tech That’s Reshaping Supply Chains 1. AI + Predictive Analytics (Microsoft Azure AI) → From reactive to proactive: anticipate demand shifts, optimize routes, and rebalance inventories dynamically. 2. Digital Twins (AWS IoT TwinMaker) → Simulate your entire supply chain—see where stress points form before they break. 3. Intelligence Layer (Palantir Technologies Foundry) → Integrate siloed data into one operational picture to make better decisions, faster. 4. Edge Computing & IoT (AWS Greengrass, Microsoft Azure Percept) → Real-time monitoring at the source: track goods, detect issues, and respond instantly—even without centralized systems. 🚢 “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” – Jimmy Dean ⸻ 📌 3 Business Takeaways 1. Visibility is no longer optional. If you can’t see your supply chain in real time, you’re driving blind. 2. Resilience comes from orchestration, not overstocking. You don’t need more—just smarter, faster coordination. 3. It’s not about control—it’s about seeing around corners, responding to good data. 🧭Build a supply chain that can bend without breaking. 🧠 How are / would you increase adaptability? How important is flexibility and agility in YOUR world? #SupplyChain #DigitalTwins #AI #IoT #MicrosoftPartner #AWSpartner #Palantir #LogisticsInnovation #Resilience #Softura #PoweredByAgility

💬 Design engineers, let’s talk configuration management.  If you work in specialized machinery manufacturing, you know how painful it can be to manage customer-specific designs, engineering changes, and configuration variants.   One small design change, and suddenly: ⚠️ BOM mismatches between engineering and procurement ⚠️ Supply chain scrambles to source last-minute components ⚠️ Manufacturing builds the wrong version of a machine ⚠️ Warranty claims skyrocket because no one can track what actually got built   And here’s the kicker—it’s not just an engineering problem. Bad Configuration Management ripples through the entire business, hitting finance, operations, and supply chain.   So how do we fix it?   In this article, I break down: 🔹 The most common configuration management nightmares we see every day 🔹 How to streamline BOMs, engineering change management, and traceability 🔹 The Critical Thread approach—connecting PLM, ERP, MES/MOM, and supply chain data 🔹 The financial impact of getting Configuration Management right   If you’re wrestling with variant management, last-minute design changes, or digital thread gaps, this article will give you real solutions you can apply today.   🚀 How are you handling Configuration Management in your company? What’s working—and what’s causing you the biggest headaches? Let’s discuss in the comments! ⬇️