Tackling AI, Data Science and Inventory Management Challenges with Ieke Le Blanc

Guest Spotlight: Ieke Le Blanc Visits Supply Chain College Welcome
back to another insightful episode of Supply Chain College! In this
week’s episode, we were thrilled to have Ieke Le Blanc, a partner
at EyeOn and a program director at the Eindhoven AI and Systems
Institute, joining us. The conversation delved into practical and
detailed aspects of supply chain management, artificial
intelligence (AI), and professional growth.
________________________________________ The Shapers vs. Makers
Concept A significant portion of the discussion revolved around the
‘Shapers vs. Makers’ concept. Ieke illustrated the idea of
"Shapers" as companies that innovate by combining existing
components to create new functionalities. On the other hand,
"Makers" develop AI models specific to their operations, requiring
considerable investment and generally finding relevance in
industries like government or defence. Ieke suggested that
companies employ a balanced strategy - adopting existing
technologies for efficiency or innovating for strategic
differentiation, depending on their unique contexts. Challenges for
SMEs in AI Martin mentioned the disparities in AI adoption between
large multinationals and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). While
the big players have been heavily investing in data science for
years, SMEs often don’t have the same resources. Ieke added that
larger ERP/APS vendors are still catching up with the innovative
functionalities offered by smaller, more agile companies, though
stability remains a priority for the big vendors. Inventory
Management and Resilience On the topic of inventory management,
Ieke offered valuable insights. He emphasized understanding the
composition of inventory in terms of form and function rather than
narrowly focusing on safety stock calculations. The conversation
also explored the necessity of resilient inventory as a broader
strategy, one that requires managerial decisions to maintain
strategic purposes and prevent obsolescence. Effective AI
Communication Ieke highlighted an essential but often overlooked
aspect: effective communication of technological capabilities. He
observed that some companies excel more in this area, creating a
perceived value among executives that might not always translate to
novel solutions. As supply chain professionals, the ability to
communicate and demonstrate the value of AI and technological
initiatives is crucial for driving adoption and support. People
Management and Data Science This episode also tackled the
intersection of data science and people management. Martin raised
concerns about stereotypes in data science roles conflicting with
traditional people management. Ieke suggested that new talents in
the field should ideally blend skills in both areas, fostering an
environment where technical expertise and people skills coexist.
Democratizing Data Science A future-oriented discussion pointed to
the democratization of data science. Ieke noted that the level of
mathematical expertise required in data science is diminishing
thanks to open-source resources and more intuitive tools. This
trend allows those with strong business acumen to leverage data
science for transformational insights. Practical Programming for
Business Innovation Programming emerged as a thread connecting many
topics. Ieke advocated for learning programming not just for its
own sake but as a means to foster innovation within businesses.
Platforms like low-code environments and tools like GPT can assist
business professionals in paving the way for pioneering
applications and driving forward competitive edges. Link to Iekes
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iekeleblanc/ DEINE
LIEFERKETTE ICEBREAKER KARTENDECK:
https://store.deine-lieferkette.de Die Bücher zum Kanal gibt es
hier: Business-Roman (April 2022):
https://deine-lieferkette.de/unplanbar_buchseite/ Sachbuch (2021):
https://deine-lieferkette.de/deine-lieferkette/ Kanalhomepage:
https://deine-lieferkette.de #supplychainfit