GT Nexus: Chief supply chain officer a rare species

Fewer than one quarter of manufacturers operate with someone designated as a chief supply chain officer, according to new research from the supply chain e-commerce platform provider GT Nexus.    Fewer than one quarter of manufacturers operate with someone designated as a chief supply chain officer, according to new research from the supply chain e-commerce platform provider GT Nexus. 
   The research is based on feedback from 250 supply chain executives polled in December. Of the 76 percent who said their companies don’t have this role, 41 percent said there are no plans to add such a role.
    In the report summarizing the research “State of the Global Supply Chain: A Research Report on the Top Issues Facing Industry Executives,” GT Nexus also found that the top supply chain goals this year were reducing costs (41 percent) and boosting operational efficiency (28 percent).
   In terms of supply chain disruptions, 24 percent said they faced a disruption over the last 12 months based on external events and 19 percent based on internal issues. The most commonly cited  supply chain issues were keeping up changing customer demands (27 percent) and high risk levels in global markets (11 percent).
   Technology usage was also measured in the survey, and nearly two-thirds said they use some form of technology for inventory management, compared to 34 percent for transportation management, 24 percent for supply collaboration, and 9 percent for supply chain finance.