The MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics (MIT CTL) is part of the Engineering Systems Division in the School of Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.   For more than five decades, MIT CTL has been a world leader in supply chain management education and research. MIT CTL has made significant contributions to supply chain and logistics and has helped numerous companies gain competitive advantage from its cutting-edge research.  Visit our website to learn more about our educational offerings, research initiatives, and outreach opportunities! https://ctl.mit.edu/  

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Best Indie Book Award: Nonfiction

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Sejong Book Award: Balancing Green

Estimating the task content of work: workforce design for AI-driven human-robot collaboration in intralogistics

Across the Atlantic: Early Labor Market Responses Following the Introduction of AI in the United States and the European Union

News Sentiment as a Dynamic Predictor of Job Automation Risk

Today’s book explains why supply chains are complicated to operate (and getting more challenging!). Fortunately, future managers can employ a combination of suitably educated employees and digital technology to manage ever-higher complexity successfully. People and companies can use digital technologies to make themselves more efficient and more effective in addressing the expanding and changing needs of the planet. Our guest is the author of a 1985 textbook on transportation networks and eight management books dealing with supply chain resilience, sustainability, and industrial clustering; we welcome the author of The Magic Conveyor Belt: Supply Chains, A.I., and The Future of Work, we welcome Professor Yossi Sheffi.   00:00:00.067 The Challenges of Operating Supply Chains 00:03:23.626 The Complexity of Supply Chains and Appreciation for Efforts 00:05:21.979 The Complexity of Global Supply Chains 00:06:57.421 Complexity of Supply Chains in Automobile Industry 00:13:35.997 The Surprising Complexity of the Banana Supply Chain 00:18:23.385 The Supply Chain: Synchronizing Supply and Demand 00:24:35.818 Unforeseen Impacts: How Disruptions Ripple Through the Chain 00:30:00.944 Supply Chain Managers: Victims of their own Success 00:32:40.419 Insights on Outsourcing and Offshoring in China 00:33:34.670 China's Rise as a Manufacturing Powerhouse 00:38:56.587 Mysterious Fibers Replacing Materials in Airplanes 00:39:11.269 China's Dominance in Bonding Agents and Rare Earth Materials 00:40:52.177 The Unpleasant Choices in Balancing Priorities 00:43:40.989 Outsourcing, Offshoring, and the Complexity of Supply Chains 00:51:38.755 The Complex and Efficient Manufacturing of Cheap T-Shirts 00:53:42.528 Conspicuous Consumption and Food Waste in the United States

Yossi Sheffi - The Magic Conveyor Belt Part 1

Today’s guest is Dr. Yossi Sheffi, Professor of Engineering Systems and Director of the Center for Transportation and Logistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is also the author of ‘The Magic Conveyor Belt: Supply Chains, AI and the Future of Work.’ In conversation with Emerj Senior Editor Matthew DeMello, Dr. Sheffi analyzes the different challenges facing logistics and manufacturing leaders when it comes to ascendent AI technologies like autonomous freight. Later their discussion offers insight on where human judgment is still very necessary to build trust into workflows.

Solving Logistics Challenges with AI - with Dr. Yossi Sheffi of MIT

Dr. Yossi Sheffi and Joe Lynch discuss AI and the future of supply chain, which is the central theme of Yossi's latest book, The Magic Conveyor Belt: Supply Chains, A.I., and the Future of Work. Yossi is the Elisha Gray II professor of Engineering Systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he serves as Director of the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics (CTL). About Dr. Yossi Sheffi Dr. Yossi Sheffi is the Elisha Gray II professor of Engineering Systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he serves as Director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics (CTL). He is an expert in systems optimization, risk and resilience, and supply chain management, topics he researches and teaches at MIT and other leading business and engineering schools. Professor Sheffi is the author of a 1985 textbook on transportation networks and eight management books, dealing with supply chain resilience, sustainability, industrial clustering, and other business management issues. His latest books include The New (Ab)Normal: Reshaping Business and Supply Chain Strategy Beyond Covid-19 (2020) and A Shot in the Arm: How Science, Engineering, and Supply Chains Converged to Vaccinate the World (2021). His latest book, The Magic Conveyor Belt: Supply Chains, A.I., and The Future of Work, was released in April 2023. Under his leadership, MIT CTL has launched many educational, research, and industry/government outreach programs, including the MIT Master of Engineering in Logistics program in 1998, the MIT Master of Applied Sciences in Supply Chain Management, and the MIT on-line offering, MITx MicroMasters program in supply chain management. Launched in 2016, the program had its one millionth registrant at the end of 2022. Outside academia, Professor Sheffi has consulted with numerous government agencies as well as leading manufacturing, retail, and transportation enterprises all over the world. He is also an active entrepreneur, having founded five successful companies, all acquired by larger enterprises, and a sought-after speaker at corporate and professional events. About The Magic Conveyor Belt (Yossi's new book) The societal and economic spasms of the early 2020s highlighted the crucial role of world-spanning supply chains in the modern global economy, as well as the growing role of digital technology, including A.I. and automation, in the future economy. In The Magic Conveyor Belt, MIT Professor Yossi Sheffi explains what supply chains are, how they operate, and how the integration of advanced technology with people and processes will be the hallmark of future supply chain management. Professor Sheffi lays the foundation for understanding supply chains and the characteristics that make them complex. In Part 1 of the book, "The Global Dance," he delves into the often-hidden intrinsic structure of supply chains to ground the reader in the challenges of managing the mammoth networks involved. Part 2, "Further Complexity and Challenges," shows how the last 50 years have added even more complexity to supply chains. This part covers the rising demand for goods, as well as the increasing consumer expectations for fast, perfect delivery services. The capabilities and future roles of automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence are changing and augmenting the jobs held by workers—covered in Parts 3 and 4. Elements of the book trace the implications of multiple trends in the operating environment for tomorrow's global supply chains, as they change and augment the jobs held by workers. While many of the new skills require technical knowhow, it is social skills, ironically, that may be a key for future human employment in an economy dominated by technology. About MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics (CTL) The MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics has been a global leader in supply chain management innovation, education, and research for fifty years. It has educated practitioners worldwide and has helped numerous companies gain a competitive advantage from its cutting-edge research. Key Takeaways: AI and the Future of Supply Chain  Dr. Yossi Sheffi is the Elisha Gray II professor of Engineering Systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he serves as Director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics (CTL). In the podcast interview, Yossi and Joe discuss AI and the future of supply chain, which is the central theme of Yossi's latest book, The Magic Conveyor Belt: Supply Chains, A.I., and the Future of Work The topics below were touched on in the podcast and covered in much more depth in Yossi's book, The Magic Conveyor Belt: Demystifying the murky depths, twists, and turns of supply chains. A.I. - job killer or job creator? The 5th Industrial Revolution: Why human and A.I. collaboration is the future. Exploring the complex production systems of consumer goods, from Grape-Nuts to diapers. The March of the Machines: fears of job-stealing tech across time. Following the journey of the t-shirt from factory to retailer. How critical components can flip a supply chain from plenty to shortages. The impact of digital technology on supply chain management. Technology is not enough – the drawbacks of automated systems. The challenge of entry-level employment for future generations. Five skills to retain employment in a world with growing levels of automation. Future trends in world supply chains and economies. Six areas humans surpass computers in supply chain operations. Environmental sustainability and the impact of climate change on supply chains. Why supply chains actually worked well during the pandemic. How technology is the key to sustainability.   Learn More About  AI and the Future of Supply Chain Dr. Yossi Sheffi on LinkedIn  The MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics on LinkedIn MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics The Magic Conveyor Belt: Supply Chains, A.I., and the Future of Work  MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics with Chris Caplice  Episode Sponsor: Port X Logistics  Is Drayage Just Drayage with Brian Kempisty Episode Sponsor: Lean Solutions Group  Outsourced Sales and Marketing with Ryan Mann                  The Logistics of Logistics Podcast  If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google, Apple, Castbox, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Tunein, Podbean, Owltail, Libsyn, Overcast Check out The Logistics of Logistics on Youtube

AI and the Future of Supply Chain with Yossi Sheffi

Yossi Sheffi is Elisha Gray II Professor of Engineering Systems at MIT and Director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics. He has worked with leading manufacturers and logistics service providers around the world on supply chain issues and is an active entrepreneur, having founded or cofounded five companies since 1987. He is the author of The Resilient Enterprise: Overcoming Vulnerability for Competitive Advantage (MIT Press) and Urban Transportation Networks.

EPISODE 48 (DEC. '12): Yossi Sheffi

What’s involved in getting products to the shelf or to your home? What does the journey from mined materials to toys available for purchase look like? What exactly are supply chains and just how complex are they? How much advanced technology is involved? How will robots and AI impact jobs as their use grows? This book offers explanations to all theses questions and much more, with historical perspectives and modern examples. It covers contemporary issues of outsourcing and reshoring, sustainability, resilience, regulations and the social, managerial, and policy issues resulting from technological innovations. EXPERTS ARE TALKING ABOUT THE MAGIC CONVEYOR BELT "Professor Sheffi brilliantly explains the arcane and vital supply chains that make the world work in this highly useful book for the average person and logistics professionals alike." — Frederick W. Smith, Founder and Executive Chairman, FedEx Corporation "The pandemic has brought to everyone’s attention the importance of supply chains. Professor Sheffi’s tour-de-force explains how these massive networks operate in a complex, ever-changing world. The book sheds lights on the use of modern technology in running these networks, and the cooperative roles of both people and technology in the future. A must-read." — Hamid Moghadam, CEO, Prologis Inc. "Professor Sheffi explains in clear language the complexities of global supply chains and their future in a technology-infused world. It is an essential read for anybody who wants to understand how just about everything we use reaches us, and how it will happen in the future. His explanation of the role of A.I. is illuminating – he explains why rather than replacing jobs, it will augment, change, and create new jobs in supply chains and elsewhere." — Vincent Clerc, CEO, A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S

The Magic Conveyor Belt

This book presents a strategic decision-making process (i.e., scenario planning) to help managers build supply chain infrastructures that can adapt to uncertain shifts in the business environment. The authors detail the process for developing and applying scenarios for strategic planning in organizations playing three different roles in supply chains. Using three cases in which the process was applied in association with the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics, this primer also explains how companies can monitor their business environments to decide when to take the necessary steps to adapt their supply chain strategies and assets. The lessons learned are applicable globally: in first-world free-market economies, emerging countries and poorer nations, as well as the states where the government plays a strong role in the economic activity. For companies looking to assess the numerous drivers shaping their supply chains and use that information to makeliving strategic plans, this book will teach you how to build adaptable and agile supply chains. It will explain how to approach long-term investments in your organization.

Strategic Planning for Dynamic Supply Chains

In A Shot in the Arm, MIT Professor Yossi Sheffi recounts the extraordinary journey to deliver Covid-19 vaccines: from scientific advancements to candidate vaccines and mass vaccination. It is a story of bold innovation, risk-taking, and teamwork as scientists, engineers, supply chain experts, manufacturers, and governments collaborated on the greatest product launch in history. The book also highlights the breathtaking potential of revolutionary mRNA technology and the vital lessons for combating other global challenges, including climate change.

A Shot in the Arm

Much has been written about Covid-19 victims, how scientists raced to understand and treat the disease, and how governments did (or did not) protect their citizens. Less has been written about the pandemic’s impact on the global economy and how companies coped as the competitive environment was upended. In his new book, "The New (Ab)Normal", MIT Professor Yossi Sheffi maps how the Covid-19 pandemic impacted business, supply chains, and society. He exposes the critical role supply chains play in helping people, governments, and companies to manage the crisis. The book draws on executive interviews, pandemic media coverage, and historical analyses. Sheffi also builds on themes from his books "The Resilient Enterprise" (2005) and "The Power of Resilience" (2015) to enrich the narrative. The author paints a compelling picture of how the Covid-19 virus is changing many facets of human life and what our post-pandemic world might look like. This must-read book helps companies to redefine their business models and adjust to a fast-evolving economic landscape. The stage is set In Part 1 of the book, “What Happened,” the author looks at how companies fought to mend the global economic fabric even as the virus ripped more holes in it. Part 2, “Living with Uncertainty,” views the crisis through a supply chain risk management lens derived from Yossi Sheffi’s previous books. This perspective shows how companies create corporate immune systems to quickly recognize and manage large-scale disruptions. The ongoing pandemic is creating a new normal in life, work, and education—covered in Part 3, “Adjustment Required.” Consumer fears about the contagion as well as government mandates require businesses in industries such as retail, hospitality, entertainment, sports, and education to create “safe zones” for workers and customers. Many elements of the book – especially in Part 4, “Supply Chains for the Future” – show how the virus accelerated preexisting trends in technology adoption. China was the epicenter of the pandemic; it also was the first nation to be disrupted and recover. Part 5 of the book, “Of Politics and Pandemics,” explains why reports that companies are abandoning China in favor of other offshore manufacturing centers do not reflect reality. Fundamentally, The New (Ab)Normal is about businesses trying to create a better future in a time of extreme uncertainty – a point emphasized in Part 6, “The Next Opportunities.” The outlook is not necessarily gloomy. The advance of technology is accelerating, a trend that can level the playing field between small and large companies. Nimble small businesses are using a growing array of off-the-shelf cloud computing and mobile apps to deploy sophisticated technologies in their supply chains and customer interfaces. The New (Ab)Normal Another new normal is working from home. Remote working enables individuals to live anywhere and companies to recruit talent from anywhere. Education, especially higher education, faces a major disruption (and major opportunity) that is likely to shake the high-cost model of in-person education in favor of online or hybrid education. Regrettably, the book recognizes one trend accentuated by Covid-19--the growing inequality, and anticipates that the new normal will be more stratified.

The New (Ab)Normal

An expert on business strategy offers a pragmatic take on how businesses of all sizes balance the competing demands of profitability and employment with sustainability. The demands and stresses on companies only grow as executives face a multitude of competing business goals. Their stakeholders are interested in corporate profits, jobs, business growth, and environmental sustainability. In this book, business strategy expert Yossi Sheffi offers a pragmatic take on how businesses of all sizes—from Coca Cola and Siemens to Dr. Bronner's Magical Soaps and Patagonia—navigate these competing goals. Drawing on extensive interviews with more than 250 executives, Sheffi examines the challenges, solutions, and implications of balancing traditional business goals with sustainability. Sheffi, author of the widely read The Resilient Enterprise, argues that business executives' personal opinions on environmental sustainability are irrelevant. The business merits of environmental sustainability are based on the fact that even the most ardent climate change skeptics in the C-suite face natural resource costs, public relations problems, regulatory burdens, and a green consumer segment. Sheffi presents three basic business rationales for corporate sustainability efforts: cutting costs, reducing risk, and achieving growth. For companies, sustainability is not a simple case of “profits versus planet” but is instead a more subtle issue of (some) people versus (other) people—those looking for jobs and inexpensive goods versus others who seek a pristine environment. This book aims to help companies satisfy these conflicting motivations for both economic growth and environmental sustainability.

Balancing Green

How the best companies prepare for and manage modern vulnerabilities—from cybersecurity risks to climate change: new tools, processes and organizations for developing corporate resilience. A catastrophic earthquake is followed by a tsunami that inundates the coastline, and around the globe manufacturing comes to a standstill. State-of-the-art passenger jets are grounded because of a malfunctioning part. A strike halts shipments through a major port. A new digital device decimates the sales of other brands and sends established firms to the brink of bankruptcy. The interconnectedness of the global economy today means that unexpected events in one corner of the globe can ripple through the world's supply chain and affect customers everywhere. In this book, Yossi Sheffi shows why modern vulnerabilities call for innovative processes and tools for creating and embedding corporate resilience and risk management. Sheffi offers fascinating case studies that illustrate how companies have prepared for, coped with, and come out stronger following disruption—from the actions of Intel after the 2011 Japanese tsunami to the disruption in the “money supply chain” caused by the 2008 financial crisis. Sheffi, author of the widely read The Resilient Enterprise, focuses here on deep tier risks as well as corporate responsibility, cybersecurity, long-term disruptions, business continuity planning, emergency operations centers, detection, and systemic disruptions. Supply chain risk management, Sheffi shows, is a balancing act between taking on the risks involved in new products, new markets, and new processes—all crucial for growth—and the resilience created by advanced risk management.

The Power of Resilience

How logistics clusters can create jobs while providing companies with competitive advantage. Why is Memphis home to hundreds of motor carrier terminals and distribution centers? Why does the tiny island-nation of Singapore handle a fifth of the world's maritime containers and half the world's annual supply of crude oil? Which jobs can replace lost manufacturing jobs in advanced economies? Some of the answers to these questions are rooted in the phenomenon of logistics clusters—geographically concentrated sets of logistics-related business activities. In this book, supply chain management expert Yossi Sheffi explains why Memphis, Singapore, Chicago, Rotterdam, Los Angeles, and scores of other locations have been successful in developing such clusters while others have not. Sheffi outlines the characteristic “positive feedback loop” of logistics clusters development and what differentiates them from other industrial clusters; how logistics clusters “add value” by generating other industrial activities; why firms should locate their distribution and value-added activities in logistics clusters; and the proper role of government support, in the form of investment, regulation, and trade policy. Sheffi also argues for the most important advantage offered by logistics clusters in today's recession-plagued economy: jobs, many of them open to low-skilled workers, that are concentrated locally and not “offshorable.” These logistics clusters offer what is rare in today's economy: authentic success stories. For this reason, numerous regional and central governments as well as scores of real estate developers are investing in the development of such clusters. View a trailer for the book at: http://techtv.mit.edu/videos/22284-logistics-clusters-yossi-sheffi

Logistics Clusters

Stories from Nokia, Dell, UPS, Toyota, and other companies show how firms can reduce their vulnerability to high-impact distributions, from earthquakes to strikes, from SARS to terrorism, and use them for competitive advantage. What happens when fire strikes the manufacturing plant of the sole supplier for the brake pressure valve used in every Toyota? When a hurricane shuts down production at a Unilever plant? When Dell and Apple chip manufacturers in Taiwan take weeks to recover from an earthquake? When the U.S. Pacific ports are shut down during the Christmas rush? When terrorists strike? In The Resilient Enterprise, Yossi Sheffi shows that companies' fortunes in the face of such business shocks depend more on choices made before the disruption than they do on actions taken in the midst of it—and that resilience benefits firms every day, disaster or no disaster. He shows how companies can build in flexibility throughout their supply chains, based on proven design principles and the right culture—balancing security, redundancy, and short-term profits. And he shows how investments in resilience and flexibility not only reduce risk but create a competitive advantage in the increasingly volatile marketplace. Sheffi describes the way companies can increase security—reducing the likelihood of a disruption—with layered defenses, the tracking and analysis of “near-misses,” fast detection, and close collaboration with government agencies, trading partners, and even competitors. But the focus of the book is on resilience—the ability to bounce back from disruptions and disasters—by building in redundancy and flexibility. For example, standardization, modular design, and collaborative relationships with suppliers (and other stakeholders) can help create a robust supply chain. And a corporate culture of flexibility—with distributed decision making and communications at all levels—can create a resilient enterprise. Sheffi provides tools for companies to reduce the vulnerability of the supply chain they live in. And along the way he tells the stories of dozens of enterprises, large and small, including Toyota, Nokia, General Motors, Zara, Land Rover, Chiquita, Aisin Seiki, Southwest Airlines, UPS, Johnson and Johnson, Intel, Amazon.com, the U.S. Navy, and others, from across the globe. Their successes, failures, preparations, and methods provide a rich set of lessons in preparing for and managing disruptions.

The Resilient Enterprise

Urban Transportation Networks

Dr. Yossi Sheffi is a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he serves as Director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics (MIT CTL). He is an expert in systems optimization, risk analysis, and supply chain management, which are the subjects he teaches and researches at MIT. He is the author of many scientific publications and nine books.

Under his leadership, MIT CTL launched many new educational, research, and industry/government outreach programs, leading to substantial growth. He founded the MITx MicroMasters in Supply Chain Management. He is the founder and the Director of MIT's Master of Supply Chain Management degree. He also led the international expansion of MIT CTL by launching the Supply Chain and Logistics Excellence (SCALE) global network of academic centers of education and research. The network includes centers modeled after MIT CTL in Zaragoza, Spain; Bogota, Colombia; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

From 2007 to 2011 he served as the Director of the MIT Engineering Systems Division, where he set a strategy, revamped the PhD program, and set the division for future growth.

Outside the university Professor Sheffi has consulted with governments and leading manufacturing, retail and transportation enterprises all over the world. He is also an active entrepreneur, having founded and co-founded five successful companies:

• Princeton Transportation Consulting Group Inc.
• LogiCorp Inc.
• e-Chemicals Inc.
• Syncra Inc.
• Logistics.com Inc.

Dr. Sheffi was recognized in numerous ways in academic and industry forums and was on the cover of Purchasing Magazine and Transportation and Distribution Magazine. In 1997 he won the most prestigious recognition given by the Council of Logistics Management—the Distinguished Service Award. In 2006 he won the Aragón International Prize. In 2010 he became an honorary Doctor (Doctor Honoris Causa) of the University of Zaragoza in Spain and in 2011 he was awarded the Salzberg Medal and Award for "outstanding leadership and innovations in Supply Chain management" by the University of Syracuse. He is also a life fellow of Cambridge University's Clare Hall College. View a complete list of awards here.

He obtained his B.Sc. from the Technion in Israel in 1975, his S.M. from MIT in 1977, and Ph.D. from MIT in 1978. He now resides in Boston, Massachusetts.

Systems Optimization

Supply Chain Management

Risk Analysis

English

MIT CTL Profile

Personal Website

Chain Reaction Newsletter

Google Scholar

Wikipedia

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The Logistics of Logistics is a podcast hosted by industry expert Joe Lynch. Joe interviews founders, executives, and innovators who are shaping the future of logistics and supply chain. Topics include transportation, logistics, warehousing, technology, supply chain, and ecommerce. The Logistics of Logistics audience expects an inside perspective of what's next in logistics and supply chain delivered via podcasts, videos, and articles. Topics include: Transportation Topics Small package, Small parcel, Air Cargo, Ocean Shipping, Ocean freight, Bulk carriers, Cargo ships, Container ships, Tankers (ocean tankers), Refrigerated ships (reefers), Roll-on/roll-off ships, Multi-purpose ship, General cargo ship, Break bulk cargo, General cargo, Less Than Truckload, LTL, Tractor, Trailers, Tractor-trailers, 48-foot trailer, 53-foot trailer, Truck lift-gate, Truck terminals, Truckload (TL), Full Truckload (FTL), Freight, Palleted freight, Pallets, Fleet acquisition, Equipment, Drivers, Truck Drivers, Driver leasing, Driver training, Driver safety, Hours of Service (HOS), Electronic Logging Device (ELD), Driver outsourcing, Dedicated Contract Carriage (DCC) Carrier contract, Spot rates, Contract rates, Pickup and delivery, Carrier Instructions, Freight characteristics, Dock management, Intermodal, Containerization, Containers, Final mile, Last mile, Rail transportation Warehousing Topics Warehouse storage, manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, Pick and Pack, Sub-assembly, Site Location, Distribution Center Management, Inbound shipping, Outbound shipping, Receiving, Putaway, Put-away, Order processing, Replenishment, Pulling, Restocking, Picking, Validation, Sorting, Distribution Center Management System (DCMS), Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), Supply, Demand, Inventory, Inventory Management, Cross-docking, Cross-dock, Ecommerce fulfillment, Fulfillment, Packaging Logistics Topics 3rd party logistics, 3PL, 4th party logistics, 4PL, Just-in-Time (JIT), Payment auditing, Freight auditing, Payment Processing, Freight brokerage, Freight broker, Digital freight brokerage, Digital freight broker, Transparency, Visibility Special Topics Direct to Home, Direct to Store, Sustainability, Green Logistics, Reverse Logistics, Product Lifecycle Management, Supply Chain Security Analysis, Contingency planning, Crisis Planning, Global Expansion, Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ), Logistics Consulting, Transportation Consulting, Import / Export, Customs, Labor Management, Marketing Services, Customer Service Technology Topics Supply chain technology, Freighttech, Freight tech, Freight technology, EDI, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Predictive Analytics, Technology Services, Web Services, Global Trade Management (GTM), Transportation Management System (TMS), Warehouse Management System (WMS), Supplier Management, Customer Management, Cloud Based Solutions, Wireless

The Logistics of Logistics

Interviews with authors of MIT Press books.

The MIT Press Podcast

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The AI in Business Podcast

A Global weekly show interviewing authors to inspire, educate and inform the business world and the curious. Presented by the author of "Undisruptable", this Global show speaks of something greater beyond innovation, disruption and technology. It speaks to the human need to learn: how to adapt to and love a changing world. It embraces the spirit of constant change, of staying receptive, of always learning.

The Innovation Show

Director, MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics | Director, MIT Supply Chain Management Program | Elisha Gray II Professor of Engineering Systems, MIT

In today's new episode of Supply Chain Now, hosts Scott Luton and Sofia Rivas Herrera welcome Dr. Yossi Sheffi, Director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics, to the show.

Listen in to a discussion covering a range of topics including the evolving skillsets required for supply chain professionals, the impact of AI on the industry, and the importance of understanding supply chain dynamics for all managers. Dr. Sheffi emphasized the need for risk-taking in business, the practical challenges of sustainability, and the critical role of supply chain knowledge in maintaining competitiveness. The conversation also touched on the future of tariffs and trade policies under the current administration, highlighting the complexities and potential impacts on global supply chains.

Join us for this must-listen episode, suited for anyone looking to stay ahead in the ever-evolving field of supply chain management.

Additional Links & Resources:
Connect with Dr. Sheffi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yossi-sheffi-b38b731/
Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
WEBINAR- The Rise of the Decision Makers: https://bit.ly/42z5GYU
WEBINAR- AI Insights for Smarter Shipping Strategies: https://bit.ly/40wwSWD
WEBINAR- Embracing Agility for better TMS ROI: https://bit.ly/40CrwIa

This episode is hosted by Scott Luton and Sofia Rivas Herrera, and produced by Joshua Miranda. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/candid-supply-chain-conversation-1384

A Candid Supply Chain Conversation with Dr. Yossi Sheffi

Dr. Yossi Sheffi is an academic, author, entrepreneur and thought leader in engineering systems. He is the Director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics (CTL) and the Elisha Gray II Professor, where he focuses on systems optimization, risk management, and supply chain operations. Dr. Sheffi has authored influential books on management, including "The New (Ab)Normal" and "A Shot in the Arm." His new book, "The Magic Conveyor Belt," explores the future of supply chains and automation.

Dr Yossi Sheffi Interview Questions

1. Could you please start by telling us a little bit about your backgrounds?
2. Could you share with us about your earlier career paths and your motivations or inspiration?
3. What inspired you to write the book "The Magic Conveyor Belt: Supply Chains, A.I., and the Future of Work"?
4. According to the book, what are the cooperative roles of both people and technology in shaping the future of supply chains?
5. How do you  address the misconceptions surrounding the impact of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) on jobs in supply chains and other sectors?
6. How does the book explore the interplay between people, processes, and A.I. in the context of supply chains?
7. What unique perspective do you bring to the discussion of supply chains, considering his extensive experience and expertise in the field?
8. How do advancements in technology, such as artificial intelligence and automation, impact the future of supply chains and global economies?
9. How does technology play a pivotal role in achieving sustainability goals and addressing environmental challenges?
10. In what ways does technology shape the landscape of entry-level employment and how does it influence the opportunities open to future generations?

Dr Yossi Sheffi Biography

Dr. Yossi Sheffi is an esteemed academic and thought leader in the field of engineering systems. He holds the prestigious Elisha Gray II Professorship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and serves as the Director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics (CTL). With a focus on systems optimization, risk management, and supply chain operations, Dr. Sheffi conducts groundbreaking research and imparts his knowledge to students at MIT and other leading institutions worldwide.

An accomplished author, Dr. Sheffi has written numerous influential books on management, including notable works such as "The New (Ab)Normal: Reshaping Business and Supply Chain Strategy Beyond Covid-19" (2020) and "A Shot in the Arm: How Science, Engineering, and Supply Chains Converged to Vaccinate the World" (2021). His forthcoming book, "The Magic Conveyor Belt: Supply Chains, A.I., and The Future of Work," released in April 2023, offer fresh insights into the evolving landscape of supply chains and automation.

Under Dr. Sheffi's guidance, the MIT CTL has achieved remarkable milestones, launching groundbreaking programs and initiatives. These include the MIT Master of Engineering in Logistics program, established in 1998, and the widely acclaimed MITx MicroMasters program in supply chain management, which has attracted over a million registrants since its inception in 2016. Dr. Sheffi's leadership and dedication to advancing education and industry collaboration have cemented the MIT CTL's reputation as a global hub for supply chain excellence.

Dr. Sheffi's influence extends beyond academia through his consulting work with government agencies and prominent global enterprises in the manufacturing, retail, and transportation sectors. Additionally, he is a serial entrepreneur, having successfully founded and led five companies, including LogiCorp; PTCG; e-Chemicals; Logistics.com; and Syncra Systems. All of them were later acquired by larger organizations. His expertise and captivating speaking style have made him a sought-after speaker at corporate and professional events worldwide.

Dr. Sheffi's academic journey includes earning a B.Sc. from the Technion in Israel (1975), an S.M. from MIT (1977), and a Ph.D. from MIT (1978). Currently residing in Boston, Massachusetts, Dr. Sheffi continues to inspire and shape the field of engineering systems through his remarkable contributions to research, education, and industry innovation.

Learn more about Dr. Yossi Sheffi on https://openbusinesscouncil.org/wiki/yossi-sheffi

Links & Resources

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yossi-sheffi-b38b731/
https://professional.mit.edu/programs/faculty-profiles/yossi-sheffi
https://twitter.com/YossiSheff

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Yossi Sheffi, Author of The Magic Conveyer Belt: Supply Chains, A.I. and the Future of Work

Dr. Yossi Sheffi is a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he serves as Director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics. He is an expert in systems optimization, risk analysis, and supply chain management, which are the subjects he teaches and researches at MIT.  He founded the MITx MicroMasters in Supply Chain Management. He is also the founder and the Director of MIT's Master of Supply Chain Management degree. 

Discover more details here (https://www.alcottglobal.com/2018/06/21/17-dr-yossi-sheffi-director-of-the-mit-center-for-transportation-and-logistics/) .

Some of the highlights of the episode:

  •  Extensive interviews with more than 100 executives on sustainability in business
  •  “Profits versus planet” or is it instead of a more subtle issue of (some) people versus (other) people
  •  Younger people are more environmentally aware
  •  Price premium is related to a brand that symbolizes quality – Forbes has valued the Coca-Cola brand at over $50 billion
  •  How is sustainability impacting supply chains?
  •  How will 3PLs be impacted by huge e-commerce companies?
  •  Top 3 attributes that a Chief Supply Chain Officer needs to have?

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#17: Dr. Yossi Sheffi Director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics

During this episode, Santosh is joined by supply chain expert and Professor of Engineering Systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Yossi Sheffi. Santosh and Yossi discuss the evolving landscape of global supply chains amid trade wars, policy uncertainty, and rapid technological change. Key topics include the challenges of unpredictability for supply chain leaders, the importance of resilience as a hedge against uncertainty, and the growing influence of AI and digital transformation on the workforce. Yossi also addresses the limitations of current sustainability efforts, advocating for nuclear power as a scalable solution, and emphasizes the need for cultural and policy shifts to ensure long-term resilience. Listeners will gain practical insights on navigating volatility, fostering adaptability, and preparing for the future of supply chains.

Highlights from their conversation include:
Yossi’s Journey into Supply Chain (1:15)
Trade Wars and Tariff Unpredictability (2:39)
The Real Problem: Uncertainty and Volatility (3:31)
Managing Supply Chains Amid Uncertainty (6:13)
Retail Margins and Political Implications (8:08)
Resilience as a Hedge, Not a Bet (9:50)
Resilience vs. Insurance (11:31)
Global Examples of Resilient Cultures (13:55)
Trade-Offs in Reshoring and Environmental Policy (16:17)
Sustainability: Real Impact vs. Virtue Signaling (20:14)
Nuclear Power as a Solution (21:47)
Global Energy Demand and Equity (23:51)
AI and the Future of Work (25:10)
Job Market Evolution and Adaptation (26:19)
Education and Skills for the Future (29:49)
Limits of AI and Robotics (30:39)
Rapid Fire Segment to Close (32:26)
Final Thoughts and Takeaways Conclusion and Farewell (34:03)

Dynamo is a VC firm led by supply chain and mobility specialists that focus on seed-stage, enterprise startups.

Find out more at: https://www.dynamo.vc/.

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