Mallery Dosdall

Prospects of supply chain automation have the industry abuzz. It’s even become a major sticking point in the International Longshoremen’s Association contract negotiations with the United States Maritime Alliance. The dockworkers do not want ports to automate processes out of fear they will lose their jobs to machines. Today, there are seemingly endless possibilities for optimization. Terms like generative artificial intelligence and machine learning have become commonplace in discussions about ways to gain efficiencies and reduce costs. Can man and machine work together as businesses leverage automation for optimization? Beyond the Buzz: Understanding the Automation Imperative Machine learning, a subset of artificial intelligence (AI), is described by Business News Daily as a later-stage development in which machines take in data on their own and then analyze it. Automation, on the other hand, is fixed on repetitive tasks; after a job is performed, an automation system “thinks no further.” The Business News Daily article explained that “automation involves an entire category of technologies that provide activity or work without human involvement,” while AI involves “a machine exhibiting and practicing something similar to what we describe as human thinking – that is, the ability to interact in thousands of ways with the…

In a recent conversation, Supply Chain Now’s Scott Luton gained perspective from Sylvia Wilks, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Lamb Weston, who shared a powerful point of view on what it takes to lead in today’s increasingly complex, high-stakes supply chain environment. Her journey, from leading transformative initiatives at Starbucks to shaping global operations at Kimberly-Clark and REI, offers a consistent message: Success in supply chain isn’t just about systems or strategy. It’s about people, integration, and clarity of purpose. Wilks’ passion for supply chain was sparked during her time at Starbucks, where she led a bold initiative to insource instant coffee production. What began as a business case evolved into a transformative opportunity. “Seeing the entire chain, from strategy through operations, work seamlessly toward a common goal reinforced how much value organizations unlock when supply chain subfunctions operate collaboratively rather than in silos,” she explained. The idea of breaking down silos to create an integrated value chain has remained a central theme throughout Wilks’ leadership career.   The Power of People and Integration Across organizations of all sizes, Wilks sees a common thread: The challenges may be similar, but outcomes depend on how well teams work together. “My passion…