MHD SUPPLY CHAIN
SUPPLY CHAIN INNOVATION In facing down global supply chain challenges, our greatest weapon may well be the ability to think outside the box. Vative’s Theo Pappas, Kyle Rogers of SCLAA, and Swinburne University’s John Hopkins, sat down with MHD to explore the new frontiers of innovative supply chain thinking.
John Hopkins, Kyle Rogers, and Theo Pappas are working together to develop innovative supply chain mindsets among a new generation of workers.
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here are certain times when old adages again spring suddenly to life, and in the current global supply chain climate, one such saying is more relevant than ever: ‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going’. But toughness isn’t about gritting your teeth, digging in your heels, and trying to weather the storm as it heads towards you. Grit is the ability to survive, thrive, and adapt to changing environments. In a supply chain sector perpetually in flux, fortune favours the bold. Theo Pappas, CEO of Vative, an expert in business transformation who assesses and devises solutions utilising a range of methodologies, strategies, and tools – as well as a knack for creative thinking – is a bold man whose passion is to inspire boldness in others. “Most people in supply chain, if they’ve been in the industry for a while, tend to continue doing what they’ve always done,” Theo says. “But with new challenges facing supply chain every day,
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if you’re standing still then you’re going backwards. “What we do at Vative is work with companies to change their culture, help them challenge the status quo, and get them to think differently.” The challenges facing global and Australian supply chains are too numerous to enumerate here, but John Hopkins, Associate Professor, Supply Chain Management, at Swinburne University of Technology – with whom Theo and Vative have a longstanding, established partnership – offers a no-nonsense summary: “We’ve always had challenges – but we probably have more challenges facing us now than we’ve ever encountered historically.” By way of illustration John points to COVID-induced labour shortages, shipping disruptions, rising inflation, high fuel prices, geopolitical tensions in the Pacific, trade wars, and renewed hostilities in Europe. “And while we are hopefully closing
the door on the pandemic after a few tough years, new public health threats are waiting in tow,” he says. “We’re seeing a resurgence of foot and mouth disease and monkeypox. “Aside from the health ramifications, these new threats will impact food prices in this country – and that’s no small thing. On top of inflation, further spikes to food prices impact everyone. Individuals and organisations will be paying more, with knock-on effects on purchasing power and wage pressures.”
BRAVE NEW WORLD, BOLD NEW STRATEGIES “I talk with businesses every day that are hurting because of the issues John mentioned,” Theo says. He adds that every business also faces challenges and pain-points unique to them. One major mistake some companies make, he notes, is attempting to control factors that are beyond anyone’s control. “The world is only getting more