By John Paxton, CEO, MHI
Digital supply chain innovation has been the common theme over the last eight MHI Annual Industry Reports. However, the pandemic drove home the necessity of digital innovation as a core supply chain competency—and it has catapulted this opportunity to the top of CEOs’ agendas. For some, the pandemic served as a proof of concept for their digital investments as they weathered, and even thrived, amid the disruption. For others, COVID was a big wakeup call that they were caught behind the digital curve.
It is now clear that the supply chain transparency and resilience provided by digital innovation is the difference-maker between companies that can respond, recover and thrive when disruption hits and those that cannot. COVID will not be the last disruption and future survival depends on investment in innovation driven resilience.
According to the newly released 2021 MHI Annual Industry Report: Innovation Driven Resilience, 83% of the manufacturing and supply chain professionals surveyed said that digital supply chains that are connected, intelligent, scalable and nimble will be the norm by 2026—22% say they are the norm today. The report found that investment in these innovations has also risen significantly from last year with 44% planning to invest more than $1 million and 11% planning to invest over $10 million over the next two years.
This issue of MHI Solutions focuses on the top technologies driving supply chain resilience, the steps to implement and what these technologies will mean for the future supply chain workforce.
We have also included detailed information on ProMatDX, which will be held April 12-16 (see page 86 for further details). ProMatDX is where the brightest minds in manufacturing and the supply chain will gather to learn and discuss the technologies and trends of today as well as the challenges of tomorrow.
With over 350 sponsors, four keynotes and hundreds of educational sessions and product demonstrations, ProMatDX is where leading companies can find the latest information and practical advice on supply chain investments. It is also the best place to experience the latest and greatest digital supply chain equipment and technology innovations.
Many of these innovations are among the submissions for the 2021 MHI Innovation Award. The MHI Innovation Award winners will be announced at an April 12 keynote during ProMatDX.
I hope that you find this issue of MHI Solutions helpful by providing information and resources to address supply chain transparency and resiliency in your operations.