[00:00:00] Sandeep Chatterjee: When we set up a process, we assume that it’ll never fail, but supply chains are bound to fail because the kind of vagaries which we see today, the kind of things which are changing every minute supply chains are bound to fail. But do I have a process in place that I can get up soon and make it right? I think this is the first thing, which I think a lot of companies are going wrong because they feel that it’ll run in an autopilot mode. It’ll never.
[00:00:28] Voiceover: Welcome to Supply Chain Now, the number one voice of supply chain. Join us as we share critical news, key insights, and real supply chain leadership from across the globe. One conversation at a time.
[00:00:40] Scott W. Luton: Hey, good morning, good afternoon, good evening, wherever you may be.
[00:00:43] Scott W. Luton: Scott Luton with you right here on Supply Chain Now welcome to today’s show, folks. I am really looking forward to, to today’s conversation. We’re gonna be exploring how organizations are finding clarity amongst all the chaos, especially in global supply chain, letting it just sound good, finding clarity across, uh, amongst all the chaos.
[00:01:02] Scott W. Luton: In particular, we’re gonna be examining how leading companies are unlocking. Big gains when it comes to profitability, true resiliency, and overall success despite all the endless disruption out there trade related and otherwise. Plus, we’re gonna be highlighting a special supply chain tech event that we look forward to every year.
[00:01:23] Scott W. Luton: So stay tuned for all of that and a whole bunch more. And you know, folks, as always, we’re gonna be delivering a conversation that is full. Of tons and tons of actionable insights by the truckload. So I wanna welcome in our esteemed guests here today. I wanna start with Sandeep Chatterjee, growth leader with the digital business Solutions supply chain and sustainability pillar.
[00:01:45] Scott W. Luton: With our friends at Infolob, and he’s joined by one of our faves who rejoins us here today. Jorge Morales Global COO, with the ISCEA, which also stands for the International Supply Chain Education Alliance. Jorge, hey, you doing today?
[00:02:03] Jorge Morales: Great, Scott. Thank you. Thank you for inviting me and inviting, uh, Sandeep.
[00:02:09] Jorge Morales: And thank you to, to the audience for, for listening.
[00:02:14] Scott W. Luton: No doubt. Uh, Jorge, great to have you back and you bring, you bring super friends with you. So Sandeep, welcome in. How you doing?
[00:02:22] Sandeep Chatterjee: Thank you so much. It’s great to be here and thank you for inviting me.
[00:02:27] Scott W. Luton: You bet any friend of Jorge’s is a friend of mine and I look forward to learning from you both here today.
[00:02:33] Scott W. Luton: Alright, so let’s do this Jorge. You know, I like starting with a fun warmup question because while work dominates our weeks very often we still take lots of time to, to pursue other, other important things in this life, right? That’s what makes it worth living. So Sandeep, you’re probably the first guest on quickly cataloging.
[00:02:53] Scott W. Luton: The couple thousand shows that we’ve done over my lifetime, and I think you’re the first that not only enjoys travel, but you have ventured up to Mount Everest. Tell us more about that. Sandeep.
[00:03:06] Sandeep Chatterjee: I think, uh, I did this in 2017 when I was exploding that what I should do next, then I thought that maybe I will make a trip to Mount Everest and I think that changed my life.
[00:03:18] Sandeep Chatterjee: First of all, seeing Mount Everest from very close, I think. There are no words to describe that. Second thing is if you look at the Sherpa community, I think the, they have not too many things in their lives, but I have seen them to be the happiest. I think, in fact, when you go to Mount Everest, I think, uh, the way you manage your supply chain with all the resources, bigger resources and how you plan it, I think, I think that’s a playbook.
[00:03:46] Sandeep Chatterjee: If I say in supply chain.
[00:03:48] Scott W. Luton: Oh, Sandeep. I love it. And, and the first part of your response, I can only imagine, you know, Jorge and Sandeep. I bet y’all both, much like Sandeep is describing, you’ve read about something, you’ve seen pictures from afar, and you finally get a chance to see it up. You know, close and in person and it almost takes your breath away.
[00:04:07] Scott W. Luton: And, and, and pictures don’t do it justice, you know, as, as, as far as, uh, where is my iPhone as far as our iPhones have come, when I’ve taken pictures of big majestic things, it just doesn’t do it justice. You’ve gotta be there. And Sandeep, that’s what I heard there in your once of a lifetime life-changing experience at Mount Everest.
[00:04:26] Scott W. Luton: Now Jorge. Little different for you because you and I were kind of, um, empathizing with each other about kid logistics. You’ve got four. I’ve got three. And we stay on the go fulfilling order orders, transporting them, you name it. So tell us more. You got two, two of your children are doing big things in the industry and two are still kind of up and coming, getting through school.
[00:04:49] Scott W. Luton: Tell us more, Jorge.
[00:04:51] Jorge Morales: Yeah. The, the, the grownups, they manage their own logistics, but the, the smaller ones, the, the little ones, they, they do require, uh, a lot of, they, they consume a lot of time. They, uh, have several activities. The youngest, they, they share a passion for, um. Uh, rock and, and they have their guitars and
[00:05:19] Scott W. Luton: Okay.
[00:05:19] Scott W. Luton: The
[00:05:19] Jorge Morales: one, the one that’s nine, it, he, it’s amazing how he plays guitar and, and does so, plays many, many songs and, and it’s, it’s really fun to, to watch them. But you have to. Take them to the guitar lessons and Right. Go over there and presentations and when in, in the, yeah, the, the, at the end of the summertime they, they, they both have presentations and you, you have to manage that, but it’s, it’s really fun.
[00:05:50] Jorge Morales: It’s what you work for to, to get That’s right. Get those, those, uh, experiences and those kind of, that kind of satisfaction, uh, or looking at your kids.
[00:06:00] Scott W. Luton: I’m with you. It is a, it is certainly a, uh, project and a, um, this might sound weird, but a burden of love and a, and it’s an initiative and a project and, and logistics I’ll gladly manage every day of my life.
[00:06:12] Scott W. Luton: And I heard that there in your response. And by the way, Sandeep and Jorge, we’re gonna have to have your kids, your musicians, come join us and show that we’re gonna have to have a happy hour show. And maybe your kids can, can show us their guitar talents. Jorge, how’s that sound?
[00:06:26] Jorge Morales: Oh, that would be awesome.
[00:06:28] Jorge Morales: That would great. Yeah.
[00:06:29] Scott W. Luton: Yeah. Alright,
[00:06:31] Jorge Morales: let’s go.
[00:06:32] Scott W. Luton: Well, Sandeep and re as much as we could talk about, uh, Sandeep’s travel and incredible travel exploits there. And Jorge, we could exchange kids stories. We’ve got a lot of good stuff when it comes to leadership and supply chain and technology innovation to get to here today.
[00:06:47] Scott W. Luton: Let’s do this. I wanna start with some level setting. So, uh, Sandeep, I’m so glad that you’re here today with us. I’d love. For our audiences benefit those tuned in, watching or listening. Uh, tell us a little more about your role at Infolob as well as what the company does.
[00:07:02] Sandeep Chatterjee: Okay, so Infolob is into digital transformation.
[00:07:05] Sandeep Chatterjee: So I look after the supply chain pillar because, uh, right now as we look, most of the supply chains are going a re doing a rewiring. So it’s a mix of tech and business consulting, what we do. But the thing is, we are also looking at an outcome based, uh. Engagement rather than just doing a recommendation. I think that’s where I’m leading the supply chain and sustainability pillar for our businesses, uh, in US and Middle East.
[00:07:34] Scott W. Luton: Outstanding. And I bet given your expertise in all your teams’ work in digital transformation, I bet you are staying busy, Sandeep.
[00:07:44] Sandeep Chatterjee: Yes. I think, uh, for any supply chain professionals, I think every second is different and I’m loving it.
[00:07:52] Scott W. Luton: Oh, I can tell. I can tell. And you know, I really appreciate what you shared there, uh, with, it sounds like a key part of your approach.
[00:07:59] Scott W. Luton: Focus on the outcomes, not just a game plans, right. Not just to strategies, but focused on helping companies and their hardworking leaders and teams get the outcomes that that. You could argue they deserve your quick response there, Sandeep.
[00:08:15] Sandeep Chatterjee: Absolutely. What happens is when we are saying that if you do this, your transportation cost will reduce by 10%, and we have to show that we have to help them do that.
[00:08:24] Sandeep Chatterjee: Otherwise, just doing a study, doing a recommendation doesn’t help if it is not implementable. I think that’s what I’ve seen in my life. So most of the engagements, which I do, I always. See that I see through the entire outcome because finally, it’s the tangible result, which I am everybody’s looking at.
[00:08:45] Scott W. Luton: Sandeep, I love it. And, and the trust. Well, as you do that and fulfill that core approach of yours, the trust you build, because you deliver exactly what you know we plan to do at the outset. So love that. Uh, Jorge a little different, you know, so a lot of our audience, I bet we’ll remember your earlier appearances here and, and some of our other collaborations out at different shows and whatnot.
[00:09:07] Scott W. Luton: But for our newer audience members. Uh, much like Sandeep, if you kinda share a little bit more about your role at ISCEA and what the company does.
[00:09:17] Jorge Morales: Well, ISCEA is, um, we were the first organization certifying supply chain managers globally. It’s a, a. Supply chain is something that’s not new, of course, and logistics, it’s been therefore as, as long as, uh, uh, humanity.
[00:09:36] Jorge Morales: So that’s right. But the, the, the concept of supply chain management really took shape, uh, by the end of the 20th century. So it’s, uh, uh, we started certifying supply chain managers in. Uh, in the early 21st century, just at the turn of the century. And, uh, we were, and we are still, are very process oriented.
[00:10:03] Jorge Morales: Uh, uh, not focusing only on production or logistics or, uh, procurement or. All the other parts that are essential to to, to supply chain management, but mostly process oriented. All, all those functions contribute to. Two processes that are key to providing value to customers and thus to generate profit for, for all these supply chain stakeholders.
[00:10:32] Jorge Morales: So it’s, uh, very interesting. I, I, myself, I, I got involved, uh, with ISCEA 20 years ago. I don’t know if you remember this. RFID technology Boom. Oh yeah. Uh, uh, 20 years ago I was one of be, before I got my master’s in business analysis and consulting, I, uh, I, I have a bachelor, uh, degree in engineering and I was much into machines and robotics.
[00:11:01] Jorge Morales: And electronics. Wow. And I was one of, one of the few. RFID specialists in, in, in, in Latin America back then. So that’s how I got involved with ISCEA by through technology. So that’s why technology, I’m so passionate about technology and I, and I’ve seen how all these technologies that are help companies thrive, uh, and, uh, how, how, how they contribute to and generate value.
[00:11:30] Scott W. Luton: Jorge, I love that. And clearly it’s something you’ve got roots in and you’re passionate about. And you know, based on what the is CEA is doing, they’re really filling such an incredible a gap in industry because, as Sandeep said, the constant rewiring and the transformation that’s going on and, and the ever evolving market conditions, including how consumers.
[00:11:52] Scott W. Luton: What they demand and service levels and delivery, you name it, is constantly evolving. We’ve got to be constantly learning and also helping our team members up, you know, learn new skill sets so they can find more and more success in these ever shifting sands. So I really appreciate the noble mission you and your team are on.
[00:12:11] Scott W. Luton: And Sandeep, really quick, we’re gonna talk about your book in just a second, but Sandeep. If you would speak, especially given that you’re neck deep in transformation where all that change is taking place. Speak to the importance of supply chain practitioners really staying up to date on their skill sets and their learning.
[00:12:28] Sandeep Chatterjee: I think, uh, if I look at it 20 years ago when I graduated, maybe everybody wanted to do a finance or a. Marketing because that was more glamorous. But I think I was the only person who wanted a care in supply chain. And today when I look at the rivers, everybody wants to get into supply chain because it’s ever dynamic.
[00:12:49] Sandeep Chatterjee: It has got a seat on the board, and that’s why it’s very important the way the feed is changing every day is new. So that’s why you have to update it because the technology is changing so fast. There are more complexities, so that’s why it’s very important to keep also updated because while some of the older technologies have become obsolete, some of the older processes, because I remember just in time I think is a good concept.
[00:13:18] Sandeep Chatterjee: But if in today’s world with a 10 minute delivery, I think just in time may not be enough. You still need to have buffers. I think this is where you have to look at the concepts, look at what is happening around. What I say is, as supply chain practitioners, you have to be on the ground because while it looks fancy to sit in a room and, but I think supply chains doesn’t happen here.
[00:13:41] Sandeep Chatterjee: You have to be on the ground because you have to observe, observe, and observe, and again, back it up with knowledge and it is changing real fast.
[00:13:51] Scott W. Luton: Sandeep, we could make a whole podcast. I think around your last response. There’s so much there, uh, to, to observe as you say, the value of ob observation, but then explore, I mean, you going back to inventory, which we’re gonna touch on in a second, uh, here, at least in North, in North America.
[00:14:06] Scott W. Luton: Uh, I was, I was looking at data the other day about inventory levels. It’s a constant roller coaster based on, you know, the changing conditions. One minute you wanna have plenty on hand. Next minute you wanna go JIT, and then it’s back. It is really, I’ll tell you, it’s back and forth, back and forth, but the undeniable thing that y’all both touched on that we’re all talking about is investing in yourself and professional development is so important.
[00:14:31] Scott W. Luton: And I would argue the more we do that, the more Sandeep and Jorge Sandeep talked about other. Functional areas were glamorous back in the day. Hey, I would argue that supply chain and supply chain practitioner roles are really becoming very glamorous, right? And gosh, they’re creating such value out in the marketplace.
[00:14:48] Scott W. Luton: Um, okay. Speaking of glamorous Jorge, we are in company. Of a glamorous author of a wonderful, uh, a great selling book called The Consulting Way. So Sandeep, I, I, I was lurking on some of your followers the other day, and I came across one of, uh, a really smart leader and I’m, I’m gonna take their quote. They spoke to your book The Consulting Way as a framework that turns chaos into clarity.
[00:15:17] Scott W. Luton: Love that. So tell us more about The Consulting Way, Sandeep.
[00:15:22] Sandeep Chatterjee: Actually, uh, the idea behind writing this book is when I went into consulting, I really struggled. I had no mentor to tell me what to do, but I think I wanted to make it easy for people who can make a conscious decision whether to get into consulting.
[00:15:38] Sandeep Chatterjee: So that’s the idea behind the book, and it is more written from a practitioner’s point of view. It’s more, if you say reality, it’s more practical examples and. Today’s supply chain is all about cows, all about ambiguity, and a lot of people are overwhelmed with that. Mm-hmm. So this book is trying to demystify some of the things like cows, this will be there, but how you actually take something out of it, how you can give it some order.
[00:16:07] Sandeep Chatterjee: I think I have tried to address this from a practitioner’s point of view, because a lot of people just get the struggle, just get lost in all these frameworks and all these. Loads of information. So basically there are bits and pieces of information here and there, but I thought that maybe will make it easy for people to make a conscious decision to do what
[00:16:29] Scott W. Luton: they wanted to do in life.
[00:16:30] Scott W. Luton: Sandeep, I love this. And quick follow up before we get Jorge’s, uh, Jorge’s comment. It sounds like you were very practical. Uh, it really drew in your experiences, which is gonna help a lot of folks. And it sounds like, and I hadn’t read it yet, it’s it’s on my reading list, but it sounds like you, you were very transparent and vulnerable with what some of the challenges you experienced to help others not experience the same challenges.
[00:16:55] Scott W. Luton: Is that right?
[00:16:56] Sandeep Chatterjee: Absolutely, because I struggled a lot because I had no mentor at that time, but I think. If I would’ve gone back 20 years ago, I think I would’ve started with this book. That’s what was the idea. We had this book.
[00:17:08] Scott W. Luton: I love it. And reflection’s powerful as we all know. I can’t wait to get my copy and read it.
[00:17:12] Scott W. Luton: So, Jorge, there are so many different thoughts I’ve got turning through my brain right now about Sandeep’s purpose behind publishing The Consulting Way. And I know it’s on your reading list too, Jorge, but what’d you hear? What’d you, what’d you appreciate about his, why for publishing that book?
[00:17:29] Jorge Morales: I think that’s, it’s, it’s wonderful and.
[00:17:32] Jorge Morales: I, I, I love the Sandeep’s approach to, to his, uh, experience because sometimes we’ll learn and most of the times we’ll learn a lot more from our mistakes and, and, and when things go wrong than when things go right. So I, I think it’s great. And, and I, I, I really look forward to, to reading gear books, Sandeep.
[00:17:56] Scott W. Luton: I You too. Thank
[00:17:56] Sandeep Chatterjee: you. Thank you.
[00:17:57] Scott W. Luton: All right, I’m gonna get my copy soon and, and, and hopefully when I see you at SCTECH 2025, I’ll get you to autograph it. We’ll see more on that big event and that book here in a few minutes. Okay. Let’s do this, the kind of the center plate topic here today we’re gonna be talking about.
[00:18:15] Scott W. Luton: Some of the themes we’ve already kind of opened up with y’all’s background, your passions, your expertise, and some of the things you’re doing. Because as we all know, business leaders out there are striving, they’re working hard, them and their teams to find that calm and that clarity amidst all the storm, the constant storm, amidst all the chaos that comes with not only the current challenging trade landscape, right?
[00:18:37] Scott W. Luton: As one of the many. Sources of friction and disruption out there. ’cause there’s lots of them, but also all the change and the reconfiguration, the transformation that both of y’all were speaking to earlier, that continues to take place across industry and the velocity of change and innovation and disruption is daunting and it’s not slowing down.
[00:18:58] Scott W. Luton: So. Sandeep, I wanna start with you. What are a few thoughts for those leaders out there that are looking to optimize profitability? Kinda what we were talking about earlier, profitability, real resilience, not the fake stuff, and really overall success amongst all the chaos. What’s your first observation there?
[00:19:16] Sandeep Chatterjee: I think first thing, what I believe is, uh, when we set up a process, we assume that it’ll never fail, but supply chains are bound to fail because the kind of. Aries, which we see today, the kind of things which are changing every minute. Supply chains are bound to fail. But do I have a process in place that I can get up soon and make it right?
[00:19:38] Sandeep Chatterjee: I think this is the first thing, which I think a lot of companies are going wrong because they feel that it’ll run in an autopilot mode. It’ll never, so I think some kind of a risk analysis or some kind of redundancy needs to be built in for your supply chain to be more resilient. Yes. The second observation.
[00:19:56] Scott W. Luton: Hey, sand, really quick. Sandeep, can I, can I put in just really quick because there’s a story of the Titanic that we all know and the assumptions that they’re builders and the pride, ’cause it was a majestic vessel. However, it was based on one fatal flaw that really, that really, uh, skewed probably the crew.
[00:20:18] Scott W. Luton: And factored into how they operated that vessel, right? We all know the fateful story, so that is an excellent challenge to supply chain leaders out there. We gotta operate as if it’s gonna break, it’s gonna fail, and where are we, where’s the biggest risks that we’ve gotta manage? Is that right, Sandeep?
[00:20:36] Scott W. Luton: Absolutely. Absolutely. Okay. All right. So number two. I bet we’re talking inventory, is that right?
[00:20:41] Sandeep Chatterjee: Yeah. Inventory. I think, uh, a lot of people think that, no, I should have zero inventory. Zero inventory is a myth. Again, I have seen inventory fluctuating because we have not done a proper analysis. We have more of the bad inventory and less of the good inventory because you still need to have your inventory.
[00:20:58] Sandeep Chatterjee: How much where, what type of inventory to meet those service levels. I think this is something people while have not really done it well, the proper analysis. I think while there are loads of data, but I, as I said, there are stockouts, there is excess stock. Because we have not really done our homework well.
[00:21:18] Sandeep Chatterjee: Again, that’s what my observation has been. Uh,
[00:21:21] Scott W. Luton: I like over the years. I like that Sandeep, and as we all know with stockouts, oftentimes those are opportunities. Revenue generation opportunities. You’ll never get back. You’ll never get back. And have you seen Sandeep? Really quick question and then we’re gonna get to your third observation.
[00:21:36] Scott W. Luton: Have you seen the inventory levels of various data in some of the markets you’re serving? Kind of the, the rollercoaster effect there.
[00:21:44] Sandeep Chatterjee: Yes, very much because, uh, particularly in the FMCG business and with the quick commerce setting in, I think, uh, it’s, it’s just all over the place. I think there’s a lot of things which have to be done here.
[00:21:57] Scott W. Luton: Yes. A lot of factors in a very long equation. A really quick before we hit the, uh, uh, Sandeep’s, third observation, Jorge, we’ve covered two big. Buckets here that, uh, that never fail mentality that we can’t have in supply chain leadership. And then of course inventory, which is a big part of conversations every day and always will be probably with supply chain.
[00:22:19] Scott W. Luton: Uh, quick comment there, Jorge.
[00:22:21] Jorge Morales: Yeah. Inventory of course is one big source of, uh, of cost, but, but also the procurement process and the sources from where we are getting. Everything we need to operate nowadays. Uh, supply chains nowadays, which are global and how they’re being reconfigured. And this is a, a very interesting time because we are seeing a lot of supply chain reconfiguration and finding new sources of supply is, uh, is, is challenging and it requires a lot of, uh, long-term decision making.
[00:23:02] Jorge Morales: And yes. And, and, and that’s something that’s, uh, very important nowadays because, uh, having the insights, the data that will make that decision making process effective is something we need to focus on. Yes. How, how. How can we use our resources in the best way possible given this new set of rules, this new configuration we are, or this new configuration options we are able to choose from.
[00:23:34] Jorge Morales: So we’re living in, in a, in a very interesting time, and we need to gather more knowledge, more information, more data, more insights. We need to network more, understand more what other people are doing. What, uh, are making them successful or what are making them fail? So it’s a, I think it’s, it’s a very interesting time.
[00:23:58] Jorge Morales: And those who are looking for these kind of knowledge and questioning, like you said, with the Titanic, questioning the assumptions and questioning their way or their own processes, those are the supply chain professionals that are going to thrive in this
[00:24:16] Scott W. Luton: time. Yes. And we’re gonna talk, and I’m gonna circle back to Sandeep in just a second, but decision making, man, all the micro decisions and the big decisions we’ve gotta make throughout the day.
[00:24:26] Scott W. Luton: And of course there’s tons of, of innovative technology that that, that either helps. Teams and supply chain professionals around the world make better and faster and more confident decisions, or in some cases, we’re finding ways to eliminate having to make the decision altogether, which is exciting, right?
[00:24:44] Scott W. Luton: And frees up all kinds of time for our hardworking teams. Sande, before I move to your third observation, which we’re gonna talk about transportation in just a second, would you comment on Jorge’s thoughts there about. The immense imperative that we have in global supply chain to find ways to completely overhaul and enhance how our teams make decisions.
[00:25:06] Sandeep Chatterjee: Yeah, absolutely. Because, uh, the advantage today is today we have a lot of data. Today we have technology where it can mimic your physical world. So you can actually look at a screen and see what is going wrong. So with this kind of data and the technology available, I think we should. Be able to make decision faster and correct decision.
[00:25:29] Sandeep Chatterjee: In fact, some of the things can also be done automatically if you configure the rules that way. But I think we are living in very exciting times because today any technology can talk to any other technology, and that’s a big boom when we can actually look at a detailed replica of the physical world and.
[00:25:48] Sandeep Chatterjee: Just see, yeah. Hey, here it is going wrong. Maybe we can do something here.
[00:25:52] Scott W. Luton: I love that interoperability of course, and, and how we’re making big gains and get all these technologies and apps, you, platforms, you name it in the sandbox to get along and who knows, maybe technologies can get along better than humans can, you know?
[00:26:07] Scott W. Luton: We’ll see. Um, alright, so let’s talk about your third observation around transportation and some of your observations there. Sandeep, Sandeep, tell us more.
[00:26:17] Sandeep Chatterjee: So transportation historically, uh, just because it has been done the in this way doesn’t mean it is the best way. For example, let’s say when it comes to, say, trucks, typically when we move our trucks from our factory to the dealers, it usually done by a roadway.
[00:26:32] Sandeep Chatterjee: And roadway is one of the most expensive ways of looking it. But today I’m seeing that people are mounting these trucks on rails and then they’re moving it. It works out to be cheaper. Same thing. We have waterways, we have countries which have huge coastal lines. I think just because it has been historically done that way doesn’t mean that’s the best way.
[00:26:53] Sandeep Chatterjee: So it’s time that we look at a multimodal. Of course, there’s a whole lot of infrastructure which have to support in that thing, but I think it’s important that we challenge those assumptions and not many leaders are bold enough to make those for whatever, for multiple reasons. Because either. The time span is too short or it’s all, uh, the risks are very high, but I think somebody has to really make those calls and see, because if you’re talking about optimizing, I think we have to explore, I think, and today we have technology today of data we actually simulate and see where it is.
[00:27:30] Scott W. Luton: Same so true. Um, and it’s amazing. Despite all that we have at our fingertips here in 2025, we all probably rub elbows with people that we love, but some of ’em are stuck in 1985 and doing business and doing supply chain like we’re in 1985. And that kinda leads me to, uh, Jorge, your second and final observation here about how we’ve got the challenge assumptions, because that’s kind of what Sandeep is talking about there.
[00:27:58] Scott W. Luton: Or he tell us more.
[00:28:01] Jorge Morales: Yes. I, I think I mentioned this, uh, a lot nowadays, unfortunately, some, some leaders all around the world who just listen at what they want to hear. Yeah. They, they have their vision of the world and, and, and they don’t question themselves or question. The assumptions, these, these assumptions or information or insights that might be obsolete or might be wrong.
[00:28:30] Jorge Morales: It’s very important for companies nowadays. We, we can’t afford the luxury of making bad decisions. Of course, we, we will make some, right? Sure. It’s on a vulnerable. But, uh, we must try to make the highest percentage of, of good decisions. And, and to do that we must. Question ourselves, question their assumptions, gather insight, gather data, and uh, try.
[00:28:57] Jorge Morales: I try, try, try to do best. Like Sandeep said, we have a lot of technology tools nowadays that are very, very powerful and, uh, that help this decision making process. But also we need to be willing to. Move, uh, across that barrier that holds us from getting into technology? Yes. Because sometimes, uh, we think, well, this is a technology topic.
[00:29:26] Jorge Morales: It’s, it’s for the IT people and or, or the systems or wherever the, the name in, in, in the, of, of that area in the company is. But uh. It, it’s, it is not it. It’s, uh, it’s important not we, we don’t need to understand how things work in order to use them, but we need to understand what those technology tools can do and can’t do.
[00:29:52] Jorge Morales: So we, we need to understand the limits. We need to understand. How they may help us and which ones are best suited to, to, to help us and to help our company to improve profitability, sustainability, and all our overall processes.
[00:30:11] Scott W. Luton: Jorge that is right. And, and uh, you brought at least three thoughts to my mind right off.
[00:30:16] Scott W. Luton: And Sandeep, I’m also gonna get your reaction to what Jorge was just sharing there three things really quick. Number one, I think it was Jeff Bezos back in the early days of Amazon that challenged his leadership team to be right more often. I think I can attribute that to Jeff Bezos. That’s one of the things you touched on, Jorge.
[00:30:32] Scott W. Luton: Number two, keeping it real, you know, business leaders out there. I’ve been guilty of it in my journey for sure. I think I have an understanding of how it goes from day to day and how we we deliver and how we make stuff and ship stuff. You gotta go to the gemba and learn from the experts and really get grounded in real reality, and there’s great.
[00:30:52] Scott W. Luton: Tools have been around forever that that can help you do that. I bet both of you are familiar with value stream mapping. It’s a oldie, but it’s a goodie. It really helps deliver eureka moments. And then lastly, one of my favorite things as being a resident non technologist, Jorge in Sandeep. I started in engineering, in computer engineering at that in college, and I got out quick because that wasn’t my calling.
[00:31:15] Scott W. Luton: But one of my favorite things about this golden age of technology and this movement we’re in is that. We’ve been able to create technology where it level sets, and even the non technologists out there can lean into some really innovative cutting edge technologies that not, they don’t have to code, right?
[00:31:32] Scott W. Luton: As an example. And I love the inclusive and the productive and the, uh, the game changing dynamics that, um, organizations can draw on there. Sandeep, uh, whether it’s anything Jorge said there, your quick comments and then we’re gonna get some examples from you both.
[00:31:49] Sandeep Chatterjee: So I think, uh, particularly with the decision making, I think what Jorge touched upon that I think, uh, now we have tools which can actually help us make those decisions.
[00:31:59] Sandeep Chatterjee: I think, I don’t know why people are sometimes reluctant, they see it coming, but I think there’s some kind of resistance. But as I liked your thought, that maybe to the technology talk to each other better than humans. I think supply chains are built on trust. And I think this is where things are going wrong because I’ve seen, I had the best process, I had the best technology, but I think things failed because there was lack of trust among the supply chain partners.
[00:32:27] Sandeep Chatterjee: I think this is important because we should not treat a supply the supplier because they’re an extended supply chain. I know it’s easy to say that, right? But finally what I have seen is, uh, today people have choices. People can go anywhere, but I think. There have been cases. If you are true to your partners, I think your supply chains will work very well.
[00:32:53] Scott W. Luton: Sandeep, you, you said the billion dollar word, maybe the trillion dollar word, and that’s trust. And there’s so many definitions of that, but across a supply chain ecosystem where you’ve got all this multitude of, of interchanges, right, and trade-offs, you know, building trust for all parties, that’s how we can move faster and more profitably and with mutual benefit for, for a very healthy ecosystem where, you know, as we all know, you’re only as strong as your weakest supplier, right?
[00:33:20] Scott W. Luton: Anyway, that’s a whole different series, a whole different, whole different show. Let’s do this. Ho I’m gonna come back to you. I wanna get, I, I’d love to get an example or two from both of y’all in terms of leading organizations or supply chain leaders out there that are really leveraging supply chain tech to unlock the success.
[00:33:38] Scott W. Luton: Innovation. We’re gonna get to a big event here in a minute where folks can, can dive into a lot of these topics we’re talking about. But Jorge, is there an example that comes to your mind of something we’re talking about here?
[00:33:49] Jorge Morales: Our, um, upcoming event, the Asset Tech, the supply chain technology event will showcase several, several cases, uh, brought by industry experts who have worked with these technology tools in order to improve their processes.
[00:34:09] Jorge Morales: Uh, the asset Tech is one of the two great events we have each year. IUCA as, as, as you know, we. We, our core businesses, education and cer, certification and recognition, those are the three words describing everything we do. And, uh, we have several certification programs, including one in supply chain technology.
[00:34:33] Jorge Morales: And, uh, we have one, one big event for sustainable supply chain in, in April. And one big event, uh, that’s coming, uh, up in September, September of 22 to 25. And, uh, we have those, uh, two events annually. Aztech, which is the supply chain technology event, focuses on how these technology tools can improve supply chain processes.
[00:35:01] Jorge Morales: And we have. Um, companies that bring their success stories, how, how they’re using technology. We have consultancy firms, we have technology companies. Of course we have Google, Microsoft, Cisco. We have, uh, for example, uh, uh, Sandip is wearing, uh, glasses. So we have the, the largest manufacturer of, of, of glasses globally, which is Essilor, Luxottica, the manufacturers of Thrivent and many other brands.
[00:35:30] Jorge Morales: And, uh. They, they’re bringing their knowledge, the insights, all these, uh, experience that they will share with us during Aztech. So I think that’s, that’s a, it’s a fantastic opportunity and it’s a, an event that you can join virtually. So you, you, you have that opportunity to attend virtually and also watch the recordings after that.
[00:35:52] Jorge Morales: So, which is. Great. Because our community is global. We have a really global community, and we have people, uh, certificate holders and members all around the world. And it’s very, it’s kind of difficult if, if you have a, a conference that in your time zone is at 3:00 AM in the morning, so that, that may be challenging to, to that’s right.
[00:36:13] Jorge Morales: But if you, if you, if you join us and, and, uh. You, you get your ticket. You can also watch the presentations after that recorded. I love it. So that’s, that’s a nice thing to have. And also you get access to our knowledge base from the year before.
[00:36:31] Scott W. Luton: Lots of value. Lots of value, and, and Sandeep, I’m coming to you for an example, and then we’re gonna talk about your keynote that you’re giving there.
[00:36:37] Scott W. Luton: But folks in the meantime, go to SCTECH show.com to learn more about this September 22nd through the 25th event, which offers in-person opportunities, virtual opportunities. And a lot of you heard Jorge there, describe all the different layers of value that it offers and you know. What I’ve learned a common theme in, in a lot of the leading supply chain events out there, such as Jorge’s, is you get leaders together that are exchanging their challenges, unique ones, common ones, and then they’re exchanging how they’re tackling them or not making as much progress, and there’s so much power there in that market.
[00:37:14] Scott W. Luton: Intel Exchange. Sandeep, I wanna ask you about your, your keynote here in a second at, uh, the SCTECH, uh, event, but first. Jorge mentioned a lot of companies, and of course we’ve talked about a lot of different examples of where supply chain leaders are finding breakthroughs. Is there one particular example that comes to your mind mm-hmm.
[00:37:34] Scott W. Luton: Before we, we talk about your keynote?
[00:37:37] Sandeep Chatterjee: Sure. So maybe I will, uh, talk about two examples. Now, if you look at today’s supply chain, the way I put it is supply chain starts from your customer. So every customer will want a personalized product. And as an organization, if I try to. Make a product for every customer.
[00:37:56] Sandeep Chatterjee: I think it’s not financially viable. So what companies are trying to do is they’re trying to postpone it closer to the customer. Let’s take the example of Asian paints way back in 1990s. If I wanted a particular paint, if they didn’t have it, they will say, sir, we don’t have it. We will have to make it for you.
[00:38:15] Sandeep Chatterjee: That’s another three months. Today you go to any of these retail outlets. They will mix and match and give you any color. So they have standardized the combination of colors using technology, that any color can be clear as a combination of multiple colors. So that’s where you are delight. It’s a make to stock for the company, but for the consumer, you are giving him a personalized product.
[00:38:38] Sandeep Chatterjee: The second example, which I wanted to give is today the way things are moving as we are moving towards persuasion. There are parts, maybe let’s say it’s take the airline industry, you will make parts maybe once in your lifetime. And if you have to make a part, it’s again, you have to create a mold, you have to have a dye.
[00:38:57] Sandeep Chatterjee: It’s a long process, but I think 3D printing promises a lot because it works where the fixed cost is low, but the variable cost is high. But for parts. Which you will make once you’re on lifetime. And the 3D manufacturing has opened up a lot, and particularly in the medical world where we are talking about artificial kidneys, artificial heart using 3D printing.
[00:39:20] Sandeep Chatterjee: I think these are the two very promising technologies which I’ve seen, and it is going to be even more exciting.
[00:39:27] Scott W. Luton: Sandeep, I couldn’t agree with you more, especially on 3D printing or additive manufacturing, whatever you want. And then there might be some nuances between there. I agree, I think, I think there are massive returns in the upside of the impact These technologies have been around forever.
[00:39:42] Scott W. Luton: You know, we’ve been promising gains from 3D Min, 3D printing forever. But folks, it’s coming. The best is yet to come, I believe, and I was just at Jorge and Sandeep. I was just at, uh, a comic con convention with my son Ben, who’s a massive fan, right? And we were walking the trade show floor and running into these incredible costumes and artists and you name it.
[00:40:04] Scott W. Luton: And the best uniform we saw, it was Iron Man. And it was, it was like straight outta Hollywood and everything. Sandeep, to your point, was 3D printed and it was pristine. It was the. It was almost as majestic as Mount Everest. And that might sound weird, but it was crazy. Sandeep and Jorge. So folks, the best is yet to come and those are great examples.
[00:40:25] Scott W. Luton: So Sandeep, let’s do this. You’re gonna be one of the great speakers at SCTECH 2025 the Jorge was talking about earlier. Folks, again, we wanna encourage you. Go check out SCTECH show.com to register, learn more, sponsor, network, you name it. What will you be keynoting about Sandeep, if you had your, um, you know.
[00:40:45] Scott W. Luton: Your theme in a nutshell, what would that be?
[00:40:48] Sandeep Chatterjee: So I’m talking about quick commerce because uh, now this space is really heating up because the customer tolerance time is reducing drastically. So everybody’s getting into a 10 minute delivery, eight minute delivery, but there’s an economics behind that.
[00:41:02] Sandeep Chatterjee: There’s a proper supply chain planning behind that because if you’re talking about a 10 minute delivery, you have to plan well in advance. The thing is. People think that these are the delivery guys. It doesn’t happen if you have to do a 10 minute delivery, you have to plan three, four years in advance.
[00:41:18] Sandeep Chatterjee: So I will talk about some of the nuances. What are the things which can go right, what can go wrong? And I think that’s an exciting space. I thought that maybe I will just touch upon that.
[00:41:30] Scott W. Luton: Uh, I agree with you. I agree, and I can’t wait. I hope to catch your keynote in person. I hope to meet Jorge in person so I can, I gotta, I gotta steal some fashion tips from Jorge ’cause I love that shirt.
[00:41:42] Scott W. Luton: Uh, he is, he’s wearing today and of course the networking, the net networking’s top notch. We’ve heard about it over the years. And again, I’m gonna get you to sign my copy of The Consulting Way, so stay tuned. So folks, I wanna make sure. If you forget everything else, and I sure hope you don’t because Jorge and Sandeep has really offered some, some great powerful observations here today.
[00:42:00] Scott W. Luton: But September 22nd through the 25th, when you venture over to SCTECH show.com, this is the screen, one of the screens you’ll see. And by the way, Jorge, down here in the left hand corner. 10 years of SCTECH. So I should just say on behalf of all of your friends here at Supply Chain Now, congratulations because I bet you could write a book on what you’ve experienced over the last 10 years.
[00:42:23] Scott W. Luton: Is that right Jorge?
[00:42:24] Jorge Morales: Yeah, that is correct. It’s, uh, it’s been a, a journey. Uh, uh, when, when we had the first, uh, ATech, I, I, I had hair. Uh, I, I, I I look different. Hey, yeah.
[00:42:40] Scott W. Luton: It changes us. These journeys changes. Yeah. But, uh, y’all have been, Hey, you’ve been building and building and building and helping lots of folks.
[00:42:46] Scott W. Luton: Uh, but
[00:42:47] Jorge Morales: technology has also evolved at an amazing pace. Uh, we, we have. Supply chains have evolved. The perception of the business environment has changed. Yes. So, uh, there are many things and yes, I, I agree with you. I, I, I can write a book about what’s happened in, in the supply chain and the technology supporting the supply chain processes, no doubt, throughout these 10 years.
[00:43:12] Jorge Morales: So it’s been really interesting. And we’re still trying to deliver value by bringing to our global community these insights, these valuable knowledge that can help them make better decisions.
[00:43:29] Scott W. Luton: I love it. And better careers and more success in their organizations and easier, more productive days. All of that and a whole bunch more.
[00:43:38] Scott W. Luton: Really appreciate that. Let’s make sure folks know how to connect with y’all both. So, Sandeep Chatterjee, growth Leader with the Digital Business Solutions Supply chain and sustainability pillar with Infolob and also author of what I bet’s gonna be a, a bestseller, The Consulting Way. Um, how can folks connect with you Sandeep?
[00:43:57] Sandeep Chatterjee: I think you can connect me through LinkedIn. So there, so that’s the easiest way and once we exchange, I think, uh, we can have access to my phone and email. So I think LinkedIn is the easiest
[00:44:09] Scott W. Luton: way. Alright, Sandeep, you’re teasing. More access to you. I like that. Uh, connect with first at LinkedIn he says, and go find this book folks.
[00:44:17] Scott W. Luton: Uh, we need more. Uh, keep it real books these days that no fluff, you know? No, um, um, folks that actually have lived it and they’re willing to open up and share you with you the good, the bad and, and the toughest of days. So good stuff. Really appreciate you being here. Sandeep and Jorge Morales Global COO with ISCEA and one of the great leaders of, uh, the SCTECH 2025 event, 10 year anniversary coming up, how can folks track you down, Jorge?
[00:44:49] Jorge Morales: They can reach out through LinkedIn as well and uh, they can send me an email, uh, at, uh, Jorge. Well it would be with a, with a J.
[00:45:01] Scott W. Luton: Okay. Uh,
[00:45:03] Jorge Morales: jorgem@iscea.com.
[00:45:06] Scott W. Luton: All right. It’s just that easy. And again, folks, if you’ve got a, uh, a short memory like mine, this is why we say it three times at least. Go check out, learn more about this event, this 10 year anniversary event, sctechshow.com, and it’s really easy to navigate and hopefully plug in and participate.
[00:45:22] Scott W. Luton: Uh, September 22nd through 25th. 2025. Okay, big thanks again, Sandeep and Jorge, thanks so much for being here. Uh, really have enjoyed our conversation. We look forward to reconnecting soon, folks. Hope you’ve enjoyed. This great episode. I can’t wait to, um, be at the event. I can’t wait to get my copy of The Consulting Way, but let us know, let’s know your take on today’s conversation.
[00:45:45] Scott W. Luton: We’d love to get feedback. Feedback’s a blessing, and we get, we’re fortunate to get lots of it, some of it more constructive than others, but we’ll take it all. But folks, the challenge though is to take one thing you heard here today. Great stuff from Jorge and Sandeep. Take one thing. Put it into practice, share it with your team.
[00:46:02] Scott W. Luton: It’s all about deeds, not words. That’s how we’re gonna keep transforming, rewiring, reinvigorating how global supply chain happens, leaving no one behind. So with all that said, Scott Luton challenging all y’all out here. Do good, give forward, be the change that’s needed, and we’ll see next time right back here.
[00:46:18] Scott W. Luton: On Supply Chain Now. Thanks. Bye bye.
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