All posts by Supply Chain Expert

All things impacting global supply chains this week with Tony Hines.

• Oil prices have fallen this week as demand has fallen.
• Inflation in the UK falls as the latest CPI figure hits 6.8% a fall of 1.1% on the previous months. Gas price falls have underpinned the fall in the index.
• Consumer's in the UK are feeling the pinch as the cost of living crisis bites.
• An attitude survey in the UK showed that the majority of people polled thought that Railways and Utility Companies ought to be in public ownership to protect services.
• The US imposed import duties on solar panels finished in South East Asia to avoid tariffs on products coming directly from China.
• California automobile regulators investigate cause of crashes.
• Automobile Association UK said that EV's do break down more than combustion engine vehicles but not by as much as is often claimed according to their call logs.
• Chinese auto maker brands are not known in Europe and consumers are sceptical about purchasing Chinese brands.
• Government targets to increase wind-power targets look expensive and unrealistic. They would have to increase capacity fivefold with $27 billion  investment to get there. 
• The central bank in Russia raises interest rates by 3.5% to 12% in an attempt to defend the exchange rate of the rouble.

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About Tony Hines and the Chain Reaction Podcast – All About Supply Chain Advantage

I have been researching and writing about supply chains for over 25 years. I wrote my first book on supply chain strategies in the early 2000s. Each week we have special episodes on particular topics relating to supply chains. We have a weekly news round up every Saturday at 12 noon. All things impacting global supply chains in that week, so come and join us on the Chain Reaction podcast. I look forward to seeing you there.

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All things impacting global supply chains this week with Tony Hines.

• South Korea protesters angry that Japan has announced discharges of contaminated water from the Fukishama nuclear plant into the Ocean.
• Brent Crude hits $86 and West Texas $82. Oil prices are up because of limited supplies from OPEC+.
• GDP in the UK for July up to 0.02 per cent.
• Deflation not Inflation is China's problem as out put falls and other challenges ahead. Falling domestic demand is an issue along with an unstable world economy because of Russia's war in Ukraine.
• Pakistan faces its worst economic crisis since 1947. Interest rates hit an all time high.
• Britain has the oldest railways system in the world but it is broken as strikes continue and customer satisfaction is at an all time low.
• Big Tech petulance threatens future services. Privacy, security and personal saftey at the heart of the concerns. Is there too much interference from governments or is it necessary to protect citizens?
• Delays in the Panama Canal cause problems for shipping logistics. Water down, numbers down, cost up and time extended for carriers. 40% of containers travel from the US to Asia via this route. 
• Yellow files for bankruptcy in the US after 99 years in business with 30,000 jobs at stake.
• Moller Maersk loses market share since the pandemic.

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About Tony Hines and the Chain Reaction Podcast – All About Supply Chain Advantage

I have been researching and writing about supply chains for over 25 years. I wrote my first book on supply chain strategies in the early 2000s. Each week we have special episodes on particular topics relating to supply chains. We have a weekly news round up every Saturday at 12 noon. All things impacting global supply chains in that week, so come and join us on the Chain Reaction podcast. I look forward to seeing you there.

You can follow and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform.
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News about forthcoming programmes click here

Tony Hines takes a look at the benefits supply chain collaborations can bring to those collaborating. A good starting point he says is to take a look at the  research on the topic to see what is already known.

First up is an article in production planning and control looking at risk management under technology turbulence.
Shuting Li, Tongtong Xu, Kihyun Caleb Park & Mingu Kang (2023) The effect of supply chain collaboration on firms’ risk management under technology turbulence, Production Planning & Control, DOI: 10.1080/09537287.2023.2225474

Benefits claimed include:
On time deliveries, reductions in production delays, imprrovements in security if you trust your partners and many more.

Digital Transformation Is Changing Supply Chain Relationships

by  Maria Jesús Saénz,  Elena Revilla,  and Inma Borrella in the Harvard Business Review published in July 2022 discusses the benefits of developing relationships through digital transformation.

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About Tony Hines and the Chain Reaction Podcast – All About Supply Chain Advantage

I have been researching and writing about supply chains for over 25 years. I wrote my first book on supply chain strategies in the early 2000s. Each week we have special episodes on particular topics relating to supply chains. We have a weekly news round up every Saturday at 12 noon. All things impacting global supply chains in that week, so come and join us on the Chain Reaction podcast. I look forward to seeing you there.

You can follow and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform.
Follow like and share the Chain Reaction Podcast with colleagues and friends on social media.

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News about forthcoming programmes click here

All things impacting global supply chains this week with Tony Hines

• The Freemantle Highway caught fire and is being towed to safety close to the Dutch coast. It has just under 4,000 cars on board.
• Wilko a 90 year old brand is likely to go into administration. It is a much loved family business with 400 stores and 12,000 employees. It operates in a very competitive market segment and has competition from B&M, Home Bargains and the Range. B&M and the Range have more out of town stores which is convenient for consumers wanting to buy bulky items.
• X marks the spot – the big X had to be removed from Twitters San Francisco HQ because the neighbours complained.
• Hyundai and Kia recall more than 91,000 vehicles in the US
• The Food Farming and Countryside Commission in the UK has started a national conversation about food and food security.
• The Rhine river levels fall causing problems for water transport damaging trade.
• Bank of England raises interest rates 0.25% to 5.25%.
• Heatwaves, droughts and floods in Europe impacting crops and food supplies.

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About Tony Hines and the Chain Reaction Podcast – All About Supply Chain Advantage

I have been researching and writing about supply chains for over 25 years. I wrote my first book on supply chain strategies in the early 2000s. Each week we have special episodes on particular topics relating to supply chains. We have a weekly news round up every Saturday at 12 noon. All things impacting global supply chains in that week, so come and join us on the Chain Reaction podcast. I look forward to seeing you there.

You can follow and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform.
Follow like and share the Chain Reaction Podcast with colleagues and friends on social media.

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News about forthcoming programmes click here

All about supply chain advantage.

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About Tony Hines and the Chain Reaction Podcast – All About Supply Chain Advantage

I have been researching and writing about supply chains for over 25 years. I wrote my first book on supply chain strategies in the early 2000s. Each week we have special episodes on particular topics relating to supply chains. We have a weekly news round up every Saturday at 12 noon. All things impacting global supply chains in that week, so come and join us on the Chain Reaction podcast. I look forward to seeing you there.

You can follow and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform.
Follow like and share the Chain Reaction Podcast with colleagues and friends on social media.

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News about forthcoming programmes click here

All things impacting global supply chains this week.

• Russia stops grain deal which means no grain will be exported by sea from Ukraine.
• Threats to land between Lithuania and Poland
• Europe's green energy plans under pressure.
• Tessla in the news as US regulator is investigating a crash in Lake Tahoe.
• Tata invests in UK battery plant in Somerset for Jahuar-Landrover.
• Renault and Geely invest £7 billion in engine plant joint venture HQ in the UK.
• CPTPP deal secured by UK Government. The first European Government to join.
• The UK also signed a trade deal with New Zealand.
• Inflation in the UK falls to 7.9 per cent.
• Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) completes a two month investigation int supermarket prices.
• Pfizer plant in Nort Carolina hit by Tornado disrupting supplies.
• Relaunch of the Moskvitch car brand.
• The Conference Board index in the US predicts recession.
• Membership club retailing comes to China.
• Economics of wind turbines change as raw material prices increase.
• Celebrated British poets deemed unsuitable to be Poet Laureate.

You can follow Chain Reaction on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook

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About Tony Hines and the Chain Reaction Podcast – All About Supply Chain Advantage

I have been researching and writing about supply chains for over 25 years. I wrote my first book on supply chain strategies in the early 2000s. Each week we have special episodes on particular topics relating to supply chains. We have a weekly news round up every Saturday at 12 noon. All things impacting global supply chains in that week, so come and join us on the Chain Reaction podcast. I look forward to seeing you there.

You can follow and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform.
Follow like and share the Chain Reaction Podcast with colleagues and friends on social media.

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News about forthcoming programmes click here

Trailer featuring Jenny.

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About Tony Hines and the Chain Reaction Podcast – All About Supply Chain Advantage

I have been researching and writing about supply chains for over 25 years. I wrote my first book on supply chain strategies in the early 2000s. Each week we have special episodes on particular topics relating to supply chains. We have a weekly news round up every Saturday at 12 noon. All things impacting global supply chains in that week, so come and join us on the Chain Reaction podcast. I look forward to seeing you there.

You can follow and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform.
Follow like and share the Chain Reaction Podcast with colleagues and friends on social media.

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News about forthcoming programmes click here

What if the vehicle you're driving has a hidden danger that could put your life at risk? Discover why car recalls are more important than ever as we dive into the world of automotive safety. In this special episode, we discuss the recent Ford Motor Company recall of 125,000 sport utility vehicles and trucks due to potential engine failures and fires. We also explore the increased complexity of hybrid and electric vehicles and how this might lead to more recalls in the future. Furthermore, we touch on the role of regulatory agencies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Driver Vehicles Standards Agency (DVSA) in protecting consumers and providing information about recalls.

But wait, there's more! We tackle the controversial topic of Tesla's autopilot system and the ongoing investigations surrounding the safety of such autonomous driving features. With insights into the various levels of vehicle autonomy and the potential risks involved, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of automotive safety. Finally, we share some shocking facts about the largest and most complex safety recall in US history involving Takata airbags, which resulted in millions of vehicles being recalled due to potentially explosive airbags. Don't miss this eye-opening and informative discussion on product safety in the automotive industry!

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About Tony Hines and the Chain Reaction Podcast – All About Supply Chain Advantage

I have been researching and writing about supply chains for over 25 years. I wrote my first book on supply chain strategies in the early 2000s. Each week we have special episodes on particular topics relating to supply chains. We have a weekly news round up every Saturday at 12 noon. All things impacting global supply chains in that week, so come and join us on the Chain Reaction podcast. I look forward to seeing you there.

You can follow and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform.
Follow like and share the Chain Reaction Podcast with colleagues and friends on social media.

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News about forthcoming programmes click here

Tony Hines explains why last mile delivery has become such a hot topic to achieve a competitive advantage.

Last mile logistics refers to the final stage in the delivery process. It's the final step in the  chain where the goods or the services move from the hub or a warehouse facility to the end user which maybe a customer or a consumer, So it could be a business to business transaction or it could be a retail transaction direct to consumer. Potentially it's the most critical stage of the process. It's the stage by which customers and consumers judge customer service experience. It can be expensive, it can be complex, and the last mile might be just a few blocks away, or it could be 50 or 100 miles, depending on the location of the customer. It's simply a term for the final stage in any delivery process moving from the point of the final hub depot. through to the customer. 

The focus of course from the supply chain point of view, those operating the logistics for the last mile is to deliver items to the end user as quickly as possible without delay at the lowest possible cost The boastful Amazon promise, if you're a prime customer, they'll get something to you. If you order in the morning, they promise to get it to you by the evening. Next day, delivery services have become a standard, particularly for non food items and next hour delivery is now being trialled in a number of places. The growth of the Internet and online shopping has, of course, forced dramatic change in this part of the supply chain system. 

Parcel deliveries now have to be extremely efficient. Back in 2017 pre pandemic there were some 3.2 billion parcels shipped in the United Kingdom alone, and an 8.2% year on year increase. This shows a rise of around 65% since 2012. As I said, the last mile logistics can be very complex and they can be costly. Customers now demand more timely deliveries and they want the goods almost as soon as they've purchased them. 

They want to know that they're on the way and they want to know that they're going to come in good time. The problem of course is traffic congestion, which has increased consistently year on year and it has both negative impacts on the economy, the environment and of course people's health and well-being. 

There are more rural delivery vans on the road and delivery motorcycles on the road than ever before, and they all lead to pollution. As demand for goods has increased, so too has demand for end to end, supply chain solutions. In the business to business situation, the sooner goods get delivered, the quicker the payments are made and the quicker profits arrive. Quick supply is very important in this part of the indu

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About Tony Hines and the Chain Reaction Podcast – All About Supply Chain Advantage

I have been researching and writing about supply chains for over 25 years. I wrote my first book on supply chain strategies in the early 2000s. Each week we have special episodes on particular topics relating to supply chains. We have a weekly news round up every Saturday at 12 noon. All things impacting global supply chains in that week, so come and join us on the Chain Reaction podcast. I look forward to seeing you there.

You can follow and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform.
Follow like and share the Chain Reaction Podcast with colleagues and friends on social media.

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News about forthcoming programmes click here

What's the future of work going to look like, and how will it impact global supply chains? This eye-opening episode uncovers the findings from the World Economic Forum's report on the future of skills in the workplace and the critical implications for supply chains. We discuss the effects of supply shortages, the transition to green energy, and the labor market churn resulting from several concurrent macro trends. Discover how climate change, economic uncertainty, and rising inflation are shaping the job market and global supply chains today.

Join us as we examine the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs survey, which reveals the expected job growth spurred by increased adoption of technologies such as digital platforms, big data analytics, environmental management technologies, encryption and cybersecurity, e-commerce, AI, and much more. We also explore the anticipated job decline in robots and non-humanoid technologies and the impact of investment in green transition, supply shortages, and consumer expectations on the workforce. Stay ahead of the curve and prepare for the future of work with this essential episode.

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About Tony Hines and the Chain Reaction Podcast – All About Supply Chain Advantage

I have been researching and writing about supply chains for over 25 years. I wrote my first book on supply chain strategies in the early 2000s. Each week we have special episodes on particular topics relating to supply chains. We have a weekly news round up every Saturday at 12 noon. All things impacting global supply chains in that week, so come and join us on the Chain Reaction podcast. I look forward to seeing you there.

You can follow and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform.
Follow like and share the Chain Reaction Podcast with colleagues and friends on social media.

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News about forthcoming programmes click here