I think an interesting area might be something like 'what are the implications for lean supply chains bearing in my the recent disruptions caused by COVID-19'
How to increase supply chain efficiency by eliminating empty loading units and/or transport means? (empty container logistics, sharing economy, digitalisation, ...)
Some of the challenges I experience that my clients struggling with are these:
1. How do we transform our planning from S&OP to IBP, i.e. from volume balancing to value optimization linking further up and into to the strategic planning , including key Finance processes like Budgetting, enable true scenario planning / simulation. Sub-RQ could be targeting functional silo-breakdown, Finance integration, data availability, leveraging AI etc.
2. How do we as a B2B company tranform from being a product delivery and spare part service company to become a true sustainable & 'as a Service' business from a supply chain point of view. This will imply new and more realtime data collection at the point of usage, having more solid products that do not break, a preventive maintenance setup, service technicians in near proximity to customer installations, circular economy setup from cradle to grave including ongoingly reinstalling better performing products at the customers to help on their sustainability journey, etc.
3. Following the sustainability track: How can a FMCG company (or any other businesses) make intelligent moves on scope 3, and especially upstream towards suppliers, to move to net zero by 2030? Some companies, e.g. Novo Nordisk, have claimed net zero for all suppliers by 2030 or they will be replaced - sounds nice, but how to make it work in practice regarding contracts, SRM, raw materials and product design, transport, etc.?