Flexibility Promoting a Health and Sustainable Supply Chain

Blog by Julie Urlaub, Founder and Managing Partner at Taiga Company
Jul 14, 2011 3:30 PM ET

Taiga Company blog by Julie Urlaub, Founder and Managing Partner at Taiga Compa…

“Supply chains that focus on speed and costs tend to deteriorate over time.”   A quote taken from the 2004 Harvard Business Review study, Triple-A Supply Chain, this statement seemed contrary to the ‘efficiency drive’ of the times. Since then, an economic downturn and a now resurgence in demand have refocused the views of sustainable supply chain management.  This begs the question: Which SSCM philosophy rings true today?   Our sustainability consulting practice frequently interfaces with business leaders who are unaware of the potential cost and business risk they may be incurring though short-term focused or more seriously misaligned supply chain actions.   While many organizations often target immediate benefits from supplier rationalization or inventory reduction, today’s better known and leading SCM organizations acknowledge the greater risk of a strained supply chain in a stabilizing market.   Actions over the past few years dramatically shifted the direction of many supply chains.  However, our professional consulting views the financial recovery as a new platform for more sustainable supply chain management.  Focused less on efficiency and more on supply flexibility, Sustainable SCM is now targeting: click here to read more about flexibility in a healthy supply chain.   

Home to one third of the earth's trees, the Taiga is the largest land-based biosphere and encircles the globe. Its immense oxygen production literally changes the atmosphere and refreshes the planet. It is this continuous renewal that has shaped Taiga Company's vision to drive similar change in the business world. Taiga Company seeks to be the "oxygen for your business".