As global supply chains face unprecedented challenges—from port congestion and material shortages to labor deficits—businesses struggle to maintain stability. Management consulting firm Kearney, having long anticipated these disruptions, has been actively engaged in strategic discussions about supply chain resilience. However, like many of its clients, Kearney's own supply chain research data remained siloed across different business units, limiting the speed of insight generation. This is about to change.
Kearney Supply Chain Institute: Born from Necessity, Focused on Resilience
To better equip businesses in building resilient supply chains, Kearney has formally established the Supply Chain Institute. Led by supply chain expert Rupal Deshmukh, the institute will consolidate Kearney's extensive supply chain expertise, including operational experience, research findings, and industry-leading assessments such as the Annual Excellence in Procurement (AEP) evaluation, Global Factory of the Year awards, Reshoring Index reports, and State of Logistics reports. This launch marks a new phase in Kearney's commitment to supply chain solutions, promising more comprehensive, in-depth, and efficient services for clients.
Core Value Proposition: Integration, Empowerment, Innovation
The Kearney Supply Chain Institute represents more than mere resource consolidation. Through systematic organization and optimization, it transforms internal knowledge, experience, and data into actionable, replicable solutions that deliver greater client value. The institute's core value manifests in three dimensions:
- Resource Integration Breaking Down Silos: The institute will unify supply chain research across Kearney's departments, eliminating information barriers to create synergistic solutions. A centralized data platform and knowledge repository will enable faster response to client needs with more holistic recommendations.
- Client Empowerment for Resilience: Focused on helping clients withstand supply chain shocks, the institute will provide risk assessments, early-warning mechanisms, and contingency planning services to establish robust risk management frameworks ensuring operational continuity.
- Innovation Leadership: The institute will pioneer exploration of emerging technologies, models, and concepts in supply chain management. Through collaborations with academia, industry, and governments, it will produce forward-looking, practical research to advance the field.
Key Functions: Research, Advisory, Training, Collaboration
The institute will deliver comprehensive support through four primary functions:
- Trend Research: Publishing high-quality reports and white papers analyzing global supply chain dynamics, challenges, and strategic directions across procurement, operations, logistics, and risk management.
- Custom Advisory: Kearney's expert consultants will leverage institute research to provide tailored solutions optimizing supply chain structures, improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing competitiveness.
- Capability Development: Training programs will elevate supply chain professionals' skills through courses covering theoretical frameworks, practical case studies, and methodological tools.
- Industry Dialogue: Regular forums will convene corporate leaders, experts, scholars, and policymakers to exchange insights on critical issues and best practices.
Flagship Initiatives: Evolving Legacy Programs
The institute will enhance Kearney's established programs with methodological improvements and expanded scope:
- Annual Excellence in Procurement (AEP): The refined assessment will offer more scientific, objective evaluation of procurement performance to drive efficiency gains.
- Global Factory of the Year: Recognizing operational excellence worldwide, the expanded program will incorporate additional evaluation criteria for greater industry impact.
- Reshoring Index Report: Enhanced data sources will improve the accuracy and timeliness of this manufacturing investment analysis.
- State of Logistics Report: Broader coverage will deliver more comprehensive insights for logistics strategy formulation.
Deepening Supply Chain Expertise for Client Success
With decades of experience serving global enterprises, Kearney's institute launch signifies both an organizational milestone and an industry advancement toward more professionalized, systematic supply chain management. Guided by principles of client-centricity, innovation, and collaboration, the institute aims to support businesses worldwide in achieving supply chain transformation and sustainable growth.