By A. J. Kaufman, Managing Editor
Should ETSU and the region wish to produce the next generation of supply chain and logistics leaders, hands-on, practical experience is essential.
The campus therefore hosted the fourth annual Appalachian Highlands Supply Chain and Digital Technology Summit on Oct. 16 inside the James and Nellie Brinkley Center.
A standout group of executives, business leaders, supply chain professionals and industry experts led presentations, followed by interactive workshops and networking. Presenters hailed from organizations across healthcare, global technology, manufacturing, industrial distribution and supply chain operations, including Ballad Health, Elo Touch Solutions/Zebra, B&B Filters, Becker Global, Fastenal, Nouryon, the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services and ETSU.
Throughout five hours, attendees shared experiences and perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing organizations today.
“Don’t ever sell short the human mind; it’s a wonderful thing,” Ken York, chief supply chain officer for Ballad Health, stated in his opening remarks. “AI is great. I am excited about what it brings. I just want to be cautious about it. I know a lot of kids coming out of school say all the jobs will be gone because of AI. I still feel strongly that people are what got us here, and people are developing AI. You still have to have people.”
York also claimed that the country has made more gains in this kind of innovative technology during the last five or 10 years than the previous 100.
Other speakers discussed their companies’ genesis, ongoing work, artificial intelligence, data centers and how businesses are mitigating ongoing tariffs and the disruption caused by them over the last few years.
Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management Matthew Jenkins spearheaded the event once again. Also the coordinator of ETSU’s Supply Chain Management Program, he called it a hallmark event.
“During this year’s summit, participants shared real-world challenges and opportunities, critical operational and market knowledge, strategies for technology implementation and best practices in supply chain management,” Jenkins told the Business Journal. “The knowledge shared during this event is absolutely critical, especially in today’s dynamic landscape, where AI is changing the fabric of how business is conducted and supply chain disruptions seem to be around every corner. It is a challenging time, but also a time of great opportunity, especially in the Appalachian Highlands, which is a special place.”
Jenkins says the region has tremendous opportunities in manufacturing, healthcare, logistics and emerging technologies, among other industries.
“It is truly a growth region,” he explained. “To reach our potential, I think it is important to help create a supportive infrastructure, where regional stakeholders can meet, discuss their challenges, share best practices, develop common goals and integrate our efforts. The Supply Chain Summit at ETSU is an important piece of the puzzle for supporting continued economic development of the Appalachian Highlands region.”
Another consensus was that AI can help drive success for Tri-Cities-area companies that choose to take advantage of the cost savings and enhanced customer satisfaction afforded by the technology.
