Supply Chain Transparency

In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, we talk about supply chain transparency.John dives into why it is important for businesses to be transparent about their supply chain processes, the level of transparency businesses owe to the general public, actionable tips for businesses looking to improve transparency in their supply chain, and much more.Practically, businesses need to digitize their supply chain data and move on from faxes and spreadsheets. Digitization helps remove mistakes and improves supply chain transparency overall.We look at the differences between supply chain transparency and supply chain visibility. Visibility means that no matter where you are in the supply chain, you can have access to the components and elements of products going through the supply chain. John discusses how a lack of supply chain visibility can prevent manufacturers from communicating health or safety concerns to their consumers. Manufacturers want to get their ethical and safety standards to the consumer as soon as possible, even in the case of a recall, to maintain that healthy customer relationship. Framing the issue of transparency and visibility from both the moral perspective and the business bottom line, John explains why it is in manufacturers’ interest to make it as clear and simple as possible. The availability of information prevents consumers from imagining worst case scenarios and enforces relationships across the entire supply chain.