Top 10 Blunders #9 – Resisting Change
“That’s the way we’ve always done it” and “that will never work” are two perspectives that will quickly render a produce supply chain obsolete. Tradition-laden, manual supply chain...
“That’s the way we’ve always done it” and “that will never work” are two perspectives that will quickly render a produce supply chain obsolete.

Tradition-laden, manual supply chain operations will fail to gain the competitive advantage of modern approaches to fulfillment, software advancements, labor-saving automation, and collaborative relationships.
Customer service will suffer, and regulatory compliance will become even more difficult.
Overcoming the resistance to change may require intervention from an outsider like a consultant or trusted industry advisor.
An external assessment of current supply chain practices and performance provides a benchmark of where the company is leading, on par, or lagging competitors.
Investment must be made to upgrade process capabilities and people skills when needed. Hiring talent from outside the organization can bring a fresh perspective on how to make impactful supply chain improvements.
This is an excerpt from the most recent Produce Blueprints quarterly journal. Click here to read the full article.
Image sources are either licensed or customer-provided.
Dr. Brian Gibson is executive director of Auburn University’s Center for Supply Chain Innovation and a former logistics manager. He is coauthor of Supply Chain Management: A Logistics Perspective (10th ed.) and active in supply chain executive education, research, and consulting.
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