Project Description

Goal/Topic: Conduct a meaningful research project on a significant, relevant, current supply chain topic. The topic will be decided at the start of the project. Potential topics include but not limited to:

• Supply Chain Applications of AI Foundation models–research the potential applications of AI Foundation Models (e.g., GPT-3, BERT, PaLM, Flamingo) for supply chain use cases. Discover the use cases that leading supply chain innovators are brainstorming, considering, or planning.
• ‘Derisking’ of Supply Chains–How are companies responding to the risks created or exposed by the pandemic and the ongoing changes in China (e.g. the Xi era ).Are they reshoring or near-shoring? Are they increasing inventory buffers? Are they diversifying product lines?
• Evolution of Transportation and Logistics–How logistics is evolving due to factors such as the continuing rise in ecommerce and home delivery, urbanization, lasting impact of the pandemic, climate regulations, etc.
• ESG/Supply Chain Risk Solutions Market–This market is growing due to ESG investing and new regulations—e.g., SEC and EU ESG/climate reporting requirements, UFLPA, DSCSA (and other pharma traceability regulations), etc. Solutions may address supply chain risk including financial/market, operational, geographic, CSR/ESG, and regulatory/economic risks. Research and characterize available solutions.
• China’s Evolving Impact on Supply Chains–How did we get to the current dominance of China in manufacturing, and how is that changing? Sector-specific analysis, in industries such as rare earth minerals, apparel, high tech, etc.
• Enduring Impacts of the Pandemic on Supply Chains

1 to 3 students: Seeking students studying supply chain disciplines such as logistics/transportation, distribution, sourcing and procurement, supply chain planning and optimization, demand management, supply chain risk, and sustainability.

Envisioned activities: Define project, develop hypotheses, conduct secondary research, find and interview expert supply chain practitioners, summarize results

Problems to Solve: Develop hypotheses. Finding and recruiting the right supply chain practitioners to interview.

Desired Outcome: Publish (in ChainLink Brief – https://clresearch.com/brief/) an article or report that provides a well-researched viewpoint and accurate predictions, adding something of value to the body of knowledge about supply chain .

Point of contact: Bill McBeath, Owner ChainLink Research