Domain: Supply Chain
Question:
In today's business environment, the supply chain begins with the customer's initial demand or purchase request, flows through sourcing, production, and distribution, and extends to final delivery and post-sale activities such as returns, recycling, and customer support. Along the way, businesses collect vast amounts of data, including inventory, production, quality, and customer related information. This raises two critical questions: How is this data being managed, and how is it being safeguarded?

Expected points in a correct answer:
Identify the source report as W. W. Grainger, Inc. (2021). Supply chain and inventory management trends 2020-2021: A Grainger report.
State that the pandemic is transforming how supply chain information is used to run operations.
State that the report describes supply chain digitization as making more parts of the supply chain digitized.
State that the report describes supply chain digitization as making more parts of the supply chain interconnected.
State that emerging technology is transforming how supply chain information is used to run operations.
State that shifting consumer demand is transforming how supply chain information is used to run operations.
State that legacy systems are a main barrier to moving quickly with IoT.
State that pandemic-driven sourcing challenges led to ad hoc supply chains.
State that supply chain data is increasingly managed through real-time information flows.
State that supply chain data is increasingly managed through digitization.
State that ad hoc supply chains later highlighted the inability to verify counterfeit materials.
State that the report highlights a shift toward real-time data.
State that the report highlights evolving technologies as leading digital transformation.
State that ad hoc supply chains later highlighted quality control problems.
State that the report highlights integrity risks exposed during disruption.
State that the report provides examples of execution visibility enabled by real-time data.
State that many companies are moving more quickly on connectivity via the Internet of Things (IoT).
State that many companies are moving more quickly on systems integration via the Internet of Things (IoT).
State that supply chain operations are "both global and local at once."
State that supply chains are still "very pen-and-paper-based" in many places.
State that modern supply chains depend on large volumes of information.
State that modern supply chains generate large volumes of information.
State that secure handling of digital information is discussed in the context of digital-twin-like records.
State that digital-twin-like records provide traceability across a part's lifecycle.
State that secure handling of digital information is discussed in the context of digital assets.
State that integrity risks include quality control challenges.
State that real-time information flows are enabled by GPS tracking.
State that real-time information flows are enabled by analytics.
State that integrity risks include counterfeit verification challenges.
State that the report describes secure handling of digital information.
State that digital twins provide a record of every touch to a part.
State that real-time information flows are enabled by IoT.
State that real-time information flows are enabled by sensors.
State that real-time information flows are enabled by RFID.
State that digital twins provide a record of everything that ever happened to a part.
State that sharing digital assets involves sharing intellectual property securely.
State that blockchain technology enables the creation of optionality through digital assets.
State that digital assets help create a digital twin of the physical supply chain.
State that the report discusses digital twins in the context of safeguarding information.
State that digital twins are created securely and in real time.
State that digitization involves shifting away from manual, pen-and-paper processes.
State that digitization involves shifting toward system-tied execution visibility.
State that these technologies are used to drive intelligent decision making in supply chains.
State that real-time data makes it easier to have clear visibility into inventory across all channels.
State that more customer touch points create more data to manage.
State that the expanding Internet of Things makes it more important to have clear visibility into inventory across all channels.
State that the report describes ways businesses think about safeguarding supply chain integrity while digitizing.
State that RFID can inventory product the moment it hits the dock.
State that the report discusses digital assets in the context of safeguarding information.
State that the report describes ways businesses think about safeguarding sensitive information while digitizing.
State that ad hoc supply chains initially appeared as a "saving grace."
State that secure handling of digital information is discussed in the context of blockchain-enabled approaches.
Cite automation as an example of an evolving technology.
Cite blockchain as an example of an evolving technology.
State that managers must monitor global trends.
State that managers must zoom in regionally as needed.
Cite IoT as an example of an evolving technology.
State that supply chain information spans customer-related demand signals.
State that supply chain information spans workflow execution.
State that supply chain information spans logistics movement.
State that supply chain information spans inventory status.
State that digitization spans warehouses.
State that digitization spans cargo ships.
State that digitization spans containers.
State that digitization spans production sites.
Cite robotics as an example of an evolving technology.
State that IoT-enabled digitization includes sensors.
State that the report describes the use of metrics tied to the system.
State that metrics are shared from leaders to customers.
State that IoT-enabled digitization includes RFID.
State that metrics are shared from team members to leaders.
State that the report describes the use of visual scorecards.
State that the report describes the use of informational boards.
State that the alternative is associates manually scanning items.
State that RFID inventorying uses a scanner.
State that the alternative includes associates manually updating the warehouse management system.
State that IoT-enabled digitization includes GPS tracking.
State that real-time operational decision-making includes staffing decisions.
State that aggregating digital twin records enables predictive models.
State that aggregating digital twin records enables prescriptive models.
State that the report does not present a comprehensive cybersecurity control framework.
State that before applying AI, companies need to start capturing the right data.
State that the first phase toward automation is digitizing internal processes.
State that real-time visibility supports staffing decisions.
State that knowing in real time what product is arriving enables managers to plan staffing in real time.
State that execution visibility improves workflow efficiency.
State that real-time staffing planning prevents people from sitting idle.
State that execution visibility improves real-time operational decision-making.
State that execution visibility improves inventory tracing.
State that execution visibility improves inventory tracking.