Podcast Summary: How Supply Chain Leaders Are Finding Calm & Clarity Amidst the Chaos

Supply Chain Now | September 3, 2025
Host: Scott Lewton
Guests: Sandeep Chatterjee (Infolab), Jorge Morales (ISCEA)

Episode Overview

This episode explores how top supply chain leaders navigate constant volatility, disruption, and transformation to find calm and clarity. Host Scott Lewton is joined by Sandeep Chatterjee, Growth Leader at Infolab, and Jorge Morales, Global COO at the International Supply Chain Education Alliance (ISCEA). Together, they discuss resilience, decision-making, technology, and the evolution of supply chain leadership. The episode also promotes the upcoming SC Tech 2025 event and highlights takeaways from Sandeep's book, "The Consulting Way."

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Human Side of Supply Chain Leaders

• Personal Introductions (03:12–07:16)
  • Sandeep shares how trekking Mount Everest changed his life and offered lessons from the Sherpa community: resourcefulness and happiness with few resources.

    “The way you manage your supply chain with all the resources, bigger resources and how you plan it, I think that’s a playbook. If I say in supply chain, oh.” — Sandeep Chatterjee [03:51]

  • Jorge lightheartedly compares raising four kids to managing logistics—balancing activities, managing schedules, and enjoying the journey.

    “It’s really fun to watch them, but you have to take them to the guitar lessons and go over their presentations... It’s what you work for.” — Jorge Morales [05:36]

2. Digital Transformation & Outcomes Focus

• About Infolab (07:47–09:30)

  • Sandeep describes Infolab’s focus on outcome-based digital supply chain and sustainability consulting, emphasizing implementation and tangible results over reports.

    “If you do this, your transportation cost will reduce by 10%... Otherwise just doing a study, doing a recommendation doesn’t help if it is not implementable.” — Sandeep Chatterjee [09:00]

• About ISCEA (10:02–12:14)

  • Jorge outlines ISCEA’s pioneering work in certifying supply chain professionals and promoting process orientation across the supply chain.

    “Not focusing only on production or logistics or procurement... mostly process oriented... key to providing value to customers.” — Jorge Morales [10:23]

3. Demand for Up-to-Date Skills

• Staying Current (13:12–14:35)
  • Sandeep notes the shift from finance/marketing to supply chain as the “glamorous” discipline.

    “It’s ever dynamic, it has got a seat on the board... every day is new. So that’s why you have to be updated.” — Sandeep Chatterjee [13:12]

  • Emphasizes the importance of ground-level experience, not just theory or frameworks.

4. Turning Chaos into Clarity: The Consulting Way

• About Sandeep’s Book (16:06–18:40)
  • Sandeep wrote "The Consulting Way" to demystify consulting for practitioners through real, hard-earned lessons.

    “[The book] is trying to demystify some of the things like chaos, this will be there, but how you actually take something out of it, how you can give it some order.” — Sandeep Chatterjee [16:06]

  • Jorge highlights learning from mistakes as invaluable.

    “Most of the times we learn a lot more from our mistakes and when things go wrong than when things go right.” — Jorge Morales [18:13]

Finding Calm and Clarity in Supply Chain Chaos

1. Build for Recovery, Not Just Perfection

Sandeep’s Top Observations (20:00–28:14):

• Plan for Failure

  • Processes will fail; resilience is about having a system to recover quickly, not assuming autopilot.

    “We assume... it will never fail. But supply chains are bound to fail... do I have a process in place that I can get up soon and make it right?” — Sandeep Chatterjee [20:00]

• Inventory Realism

  • Zero inventory is a myth; need the right kind of inventory and buffers matched to real demand and customer expectations.

    “Zero inventory is a myth... we have more of the bad inventory and less of the good inventory because you still need to have your inventory, how much, where, what type...” — Sandeep Chatterjee [21:25]

  • Inventory rollercoaster especially evident in FMCG and quick commerce sectors.

• Rethink Transportation

  • Don’t assume historical methods are best; challenge modal assumptions, consider multimodal and new technologies, supported by simulations and data.

    “Just because it has been done in this way doesn’t mean it is the best way.” — Sandeep Chatterjee [27:01]

2. Decision-Making Imperatives

• Jorge’s Reflections (23:05–30:54):
  • Need new sourcing networks and more robust procurement as supply chains reconfigure globally.
  • Constant knowledge gathering, networking, and challenging assumptions (Titanic analogy).

    “Those who are looking for this kind of knowledge and questioning... those are the supply chain professionals that are going to thrive...” — Jorge Morales [23:05]

  • Leverage technology for decision support and reduce decision workloads, not just for IT but for business users as well.

3. Technology’s Role

• Interoperability & Automation (25:50–32:32):
  • New technologies allow digital twins, faster and more accurate decision-making, even automated decisions with proper rules.

    “We should be able to make decisions faster and correct decision. In fact, some things can also be done automatically if you configure the rules...” — Sandeep Chatterjee [25:50]

  • Humans remain reluctant to adopt even when benefits are clear; old habits and lack of trust persist.

4. Trust Across the Ecosystem

• The Billion Dollar Word (33:35)
  • Trust—more than processes or tech—enables supply chain success. Invest in relationship building with all partners.

    “I think supply chains are built on trust and... things failed because there was a lack of trust among the supply chain partners.” — Sandeep Chatterjee [32:32]

Technology Examples & Case Studies

Upcoming SC Tech 2025 Event (34:34–37:13)

• Premier industry gathering, virtual and in-person, September 22–25, 2025.
• Features speakers from major tech firms (Google, Microsoft, Cisco, EssilorLuxottica) and practitioners sharing real-world tech implementation stories.

  “It’s a fantastic opportunity... you can join virtually and also watch the recordings after that. Our community is global.” — Jorge Morales [36:54]

Sandeep’s Examples (38:20)

• Personalization Postponement: Asian Paints moved from batch-mixing colors in months to on-demand, in-store color blending via tech, giving customers individualization while maintaining economies of scale.
• 3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing: Game-changing for industries needing unique, seldom-made parts (airlines, medical)—cuts lead times, eliminates need for molds/dies, and enables impossible personalization.

  “3D manufacturing has opened up a lot and particularly in the medical world... talking about artificial kidneys, artificial heart using 3D printing...” — Sandeep Chatterjee [38:20]

SC Tech 2025 – Preview of Sandeep’s Keynote

• Topic: The Economics of Quick Commerce (41:31)
  • Examines the rise of ultra-fast delivery and the complex planning required—years in advance—to make 10-minute delivery promises a reality.

    “Everybody is getting into a 10 minute delivery, 8 minute delivery. But there’s an economics behind that... you have to plan three, four years in advance.” — Sandeep Chatterjee [41:31]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We assume... it will never fail. But supply chains are bound to fail.” — Sandeep Chatterjee [20:00]
• “Zero inventory is a myth.” — Sandeep Chatterjee [21:25]
• “Those who are looking for this kind of knowledge and questioning... those are the supply chain professionals that are going to thrive...” — Jorge Morales [23:05]
• “Supply chains are built on trust... today, people have choices, people can go anywhere. But if you are true to your partners, your supply chains will work very well.” — Sandeep Chatterjee [32:32]
• “Technology has also evolved at an amazing pace... supply chains have evolved, the perception of the business environment has changed.” — Jorge Morales [43:29]

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |------------|-------| | 03:51 | Sandeep’s Everest lesson and Sherpa analogy | | 07:47 | What Infolab does and Sandeep’s consulting focus | | 10:02 | ISCEA’s mission and Jorge’s RFID/technology roots| | 13:12 | Importance of skill upgrade in supply chain | | 16:06 | Sandeep introduces his book, “The Consulting Way” | | 20:00 | Process failures and resilience mindset | | 21:25 | Inventory management myth-busting | | 23:05 | Jorge: sourcing, decision-making, and learning from others | | 25:50 | Tech-enabled decision making and digital twins | | 27:01 | Transportation assumptions and multimodal strategies | | 32:32 | Trust as a foundation for supply chain effectiveness | | 34:34 | Preview of SC Tech 2025, value of industry events | | 38:20 | Sandeep shares Asian Paints & 3D printing examples | | 41:31 | Keynote preview: The complexity of quick commerce | | 43:29 | Jorge reflects on 10 years of SC Tech evolution |

Connect & Further Learning

• Sandeep Chatterjee: Connect via LinkedIn for consulting, insights, and more on “The Consulting Way.”
• Jorge Morales: Reach out via LinkedIn or email (jorge.m@iscea.com) and check out ISCEA’s certifications and the SC Tech Show (sctechshow.com).
• SC Tech 2025: September 22–25, 2025 | Virtual & In-person | sctechshow.com

Conclusion

Through personal stories, deep expertise, and practical examples, this episode reinforces that calm and clarity in supply chain come from embracing uncertainty, focusing on outcomes, leveraging technology, challenging assumptions, and—most of all—building trust across the entire supply chain network. The constantly evolving landscape demands a mindset of continuous learning, bold experimentation, and authentic collaboration.

“It’s all about deeds, not words. That’s how we’re going to keep transforming, rewiring, reinvigorating how global supply chain happens. Leaving no one behind.” — Scott Lewton [final words]