{"id":8836,"date":"2026-06-26T07:15:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T12:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mhisolutionsmag.com\/?p=8836"},"modified":"2026-06-26T05:12:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T10:12:01","slug":"rewiring-the-supply-chain-for-whats-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mhisolutionsmag.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/26\/rewiring-the-supply-chain-for-whats-next\/","title":{"rendered":"Rewiring the Supply Chain for What\u2019s Next"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"carolThe 2026 MHI Annual Industry Report findings underscore that supply chains can no longer evolve incrementally. To compete in an era defined by volatility, organizations must integrate artificial intelligence, automation and workforce strategy into a cohesive, scalable operating model.<\/span><\/h4>\n
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BY CAROL MILLER<\/span>, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, MHI<\/div>\n

W<\/span>ITH THE RAPID<\/strong> emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), supply chain leaders have arrived at a breakthrough moment.<\/p>\n

According to the 2026 MHI Annual Industry Report, “Rewiring the Future: A Supply Chain Playbook for Innovation,” today\u2019s operations continue to be shaped by a convergence of pressures. Among them: economic uncertainty, labor shortages, rising customer expectations and accelerating technological change. In response, organizations are moving beyond isolated improvements and increasingly turning to AI as a means to achieve a more fundamental transformation\u2014what the report describes as “rewiring the supply chain” end\u2011to\u2011end.<\/p>\n

“Supply chains can no longer be optimized at the edges,” John Paxton, CEO of MHI, said. “Leading companies realize their supply chains must be rewired end\u2011to\u2011end. Only connected, intelligent and automated real\u2011time networks will withstand the volatility and meet future customer demands for speed and efficiency. AI gives them the opportunity to combine both software and physical systems to pull everything together.”<\/p>\n

Paxton made his remarks during a MODEX keynote presentation on April 15, during which the latest report was released. Researched and written by MHI and Deloitte for the past 13 years, the new report offers insights into emerging disruptive technologies and innovations driving supply chain transformation worldwide. It joins all of MHI\u2019s previously published annual industry reports as a free download at mhi.org\/annual\u2011industry\u2011reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The 2026 report was informed by survey responses received in December 2025 from more than 500 supply chain leaders across a broad assortment of industries, noted Paxton.<\/p>\n

“Participating companies range from small to large, with 51% reporting annual sales in excess of $50 million and 18% of $1 billion or more. Participants with the titles of CEO, president, vice president, SVP, director, general manager or department head provided 61% of the data,” he said. “That gives us key insights into the supply chain strategies from a leadership perspective.”<\/p>\n

The report\u2019s findings reflect a decisive shift among supply chain leaders\u2019 strategies surrounding innovations and investments, Paxton continued.<\/p>\n

“Competitive advantage will no longer come from adopting technology alone, but from how effectively companies scale, integrate and operationalize it,” he noted. “Today, the biggest threat supply chains face isn\u2019t disruption. It\u2019s the failure to innovate and the risk of running tomorrow\u2019s operations on yesterday\u2019s equipment and technology.”<\/p>\n

That shift is not theoretical. It is already underway, agreed Wanda Johnson, supply chain technology fellow at Deloitte Consulting. Johnson again returned to lead the research behind the report.<\/p>\n

“The report\u2019s findings emphatically indicate that AI is shifting supply chains from static, schedule\u2011driven execution to much more dynamic, real\u2011time orchestration,” noted Johnson. “Supply chain leaders are seizing the opportunities that AI can deliver. Those who connect operational excellence, AI\u2011driven orchestration and workforce readiness into a single playbook will not just withstand disruption. They will convert it into sustained performance and growth.”<\/p>\n

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CREDIT SHUTTERSTOCKAI\/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As with prior reports, the release of the 2026 MHI Annual Industry Report was accompanied by a MODEX keynote panel discussion. Moderated by Johnson, four panelists offered insights, context and perspective on its findings. They included:<\/p>\n