A new model for supply chain collaboration
Abstract
Bringing a new supply chain innovation to market is a collaborative effort, and any discord between partners can doom the product months or years before it reaches the market. Our industry needs a map for how internal and external collaborations can work together to ensure harmony throughout development and increase their technology’s chance of success. This paper offers a potential collaborative innovation model supply chain professionals could follow to improve their approach to these partnerships. It looks specifically at the roles played by two groups: innovators — any party within a supply chain-focused or adjacent organisation responsible for uncovering new efficiencies for their own operations or those of their customers; and partners — any party looking for, or proposing a solution to, a pressing supply chain challenge. The paper provides a roadmap for these groups to achieve alignment before the project begins, remain focused during development, and apply the lessons learned throughout the process to future innovations. Finally, it offers an example of the proposed model in action. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.
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Author's Biography
Kristi Montgomery is a dynamic explorer of strategic innovation who drives transformational change. She is the executive leader of Kenco Innovation Labs, a dedicated team focused on industry digital transformation and innovation, identifying over US$50m in cost-saving opportunities in the previous five years. With 30+ years’ logistics and supply chain experience, Kristi practises applied innovation, partnering with entrepreneurs, start-ups and emerging technology companies to pilot solutions and deliver business value for the 200+ customers that Kenco serves in North America. Kristi holds a BS in organisational management from Covenant College and is a Certified Specialist in Design Thinking and Innovation as awarded by the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia. Kristi is an accomplished facilitator of ideation and design workshops utilising Strategyzer, Design Thinking, Lean Startup and a variety of innovation techniques to focus on step-level change. She serves the industry as a speaker, participating as a panellist and publishing articles promoting supply chain innovation. Kristi actively supports WERC, Chattanooga Technology Council and STEM initiatives and serves in various non-profit organisations in her community.
Citation
Montgomery, Kristi (2025, June 1). A new model for supply chain collaboration. In the Journal of Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Procurement, Volume 7, Issue 4. https://doi.org/10.69554/TYEH7427.
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