Ep. 27 - Fixing Broken Supply Chains: Rob Field’s Playbook - Rob Field

Rob also dives deep into diagnosing broken supply chains: where to begin, why data quality is a persistent barrier, and how upstream supplier constraints can quietly cripple downstream service performance. With practical examples from high-pressure turnaround environments, he illustrates the importance of simplicity in inventory design, rigorous data cleansing, and leadership that listens before acting. The conversation closes with a future-facing view on AI, co-intelligence in supply chain, and Rob’s “magic wand” issue: real-time product visibility—something the industry still has yet to solve.GUEST BIO Rob Field is a senior supply chain leader with a career dedicated to transforming underperforming operations into efficient, service-driven networks. His experience spans major UK organizations including Centrica’s British Gas Services and JLA, where he led significant restructurings in inventory strategy, warehouse operations, and service-engineer supply models. Known for simplifying complex systems and restoring operational performance, Rob specializes in demand-led inventory planning, data-driven decision making, and building high-performing supply chain teams. His work consistently improves first-time-fix outcomes, reduces backlogs, and enhances customer satisfaction in service-intensive industries.KEY TAKEAWAYSMany supply chain careers begin accidentally—but Rob intentionally chose the field.Service-driven supply chains face dual demands: internal engineers and external customers.Early-career exposure to large-scale centralization at Centrica shaped Rob’s operational mindset.Data quality is often the first barrier to diagnosing real supply chain issues.At JLA, 17,500 SKUs were streamlined to ~8,500 while still fulfilling 98% of demand.Simple, clear inventory categorization can outperform complex multi-tier models.Cultural/behavioral problems (buying for discounts, not demand) can overload warehouses.Leadership begins with listening: interviewing every team member reveals hidden truths.AI’s future role is as co-intelligence, not total automation; human oversight remains vital.The biggest unresolved industry challenge: real-time visibility of every product’s location.CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome to Chain Reaction 00:35 Rob’s Path into Supply Chain 02:22 Lessons from Early Career at Centrica 04:08 Supply to Field Engineers vs Traditional Logistics 05:01 Complexity of Multi-Stream Service Supply Chains 07:08 First-Time-Fix, Van Stock, and Systems Adoption 08:33 Data Challenges and Inventory Strategy 09:44 Tech vs People: What Really Breaks Supply Chains 10:29 SKU Reduction and Warehouse Transformation 12:19 Cutting Backlogs Through Demand-Led Inventory 13:13 How Rob Approaches Turnaround Projects 15:12 Most Common Causes of Supply Chain Problems 16:00 Upstream vs Downstream Failure Modes 18:31 Structural vs Operational Root Causes 20:18 Eliminating Bad Buying Practices 21:14 Can Tech Fix Supply Chains? 23:45 AI as Co-Intelligence in Supply Chain 24:37 Supply Chain Leadership & the CSCO Role 27:29 Why Supply Chains Need a Seat at the Table 29:25 Rob’s Magic Wand: True Product Visibility 31:00 Closing Thoughts and ThanksLINKEDIN PROFILESGuest - Rob Field Host - Michael Ostroumov