Supply chain is about people

Amid all the media frenzy about robots and AI, and the prospect of them taking over warehouses, cars, and of course factories etc. etc., Bunnie Huang, a hardware guy gave a much needed sober assessment on the key to success on supply chain in his blog post, which is to recognize that supply chain is more about WORKING with people.

In the end, building hardware is a fundamentally social exercise. Generally, most interesting and unique processes aren’t automated, and as such, you have to work with other people to develop bespoke processes and products. Furthermore, physical things are inevitably owned or operated upon by other people, and understanding how to motivate and compel them will make a difference in not only your bottom line, but also in your schedule, quality, and service level. Until we can all have Tony Stark’s JARVIS robot to intelligently and automatically handle hardware fabrication, any person contemplating manufacturing hardware at scale needs to understand not only circuits and mechanics, but also how to inspire and effectively command a network of suppliers and laborers.