Kate Kaufman

Turn data into insight – map, monitor, and mitigate fortced labor risks across your value chain. Since the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) went into effect in 2022, sub-tier supply chain visibility has become an increasingly critical and ubiquitous prerequisite for import compliance. Automotive companies, due in no small part to their highly complex supply chains, are among the hardest hit by this requirement of anti-forced labor and ESG regulations. A recent study by Sayari analysts found that 95% of leading OEMs’ exposure to forced labor risk comes from sub-tier suppliers. The ability to identify and mitigate risks throughout their value chains is critical for OEMs aiming to minimize operational disruptions, avoid detentions, and maintain competitive advantage. Download the report to learn how Sayari is overcoming barriers to supply chain visibility, enabling OEMs to map their sub-tier supply chains, identify indirect exposure to forced labor risk, and foster greater supply chain resilience in an increasingly dynamic trade landscape. DOWNLOAD NOW

At the Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit in Denver, Scott Luton caught up with Rob Haddock, a seasoned supply chain practitioner and advisor with Demand Chain AI, to discuss the persistent planning challenges organizations face—and why maturity, discipline, and optimization still matter more than buzzwords. Demand Chain AI blends consulting services with advanced supply chain technologies, focusing on optimization across trade promotion management, demand sensing, supply planning, and detailed production scheduling. Haddock’s role centers on helping organizations strengthen business processes—particularly sales and operations planning (S&OP), performance reporting, and the practical application of technology to improve execution on both the demand and supply sides.   A Practitioner’s Perspective on Planning Gaps Haddock’s perspective is shaped by decades spent inside large, sophisticated supply chain organizations. Early in his career, he worked within an iconic, global beverage company where advanced planning environments were already in place—though, in hindsight, he admits those tools were sometimes underutilized. Today, Haddock spends much of his time working with small and mid-sized organizations that haven’t been as fortunate. In many of these environments, planning maturity is still low, foundational practices are missing, and—unsurprisingly—Excel remains the primary planning tool. “Basic business practices that have been around since the 1990s…