#138 - Supply Chains as Complex Systems and their Organisational Implications - with Federico Marchesi

About this episode

Federico Marchesi discusses the complexities of supply chains as adaptive systems and their implications for organizational design.

Federico Marchesi, supply chain strategist and author of the Hacking Supply Chains newsletter, joins us to explore how disruptions, variability, and global constraints are not anomalies, but structural conditions that organisations must design their supply chains for. Drawing on his experience across global companies like Haier, Federico reflects on a key shift in how we should understand supply networks today: “In reality, we don’t operate a chain, but a complex adaptive system.” In this conversation, we unpack why adaptability requires more than operational improvements: how modular product architectures can help, and how organisations can become capable of responding dynamically to uncertainty. From Demand-Driven MRP to the growing role of AI agents in forecasting and logistics, the discussion highlights how supply chains increasingly rely on distributed intelligence and continuous adaptation. For leaders, strategists, and organisational designers, Federico offers a valuable perspective on why supply chains can no longer be treated as a back-end function. Instead, they are becoming a central lever in building complex-aware, resilient organisations. He speaks on the ideas of…

People in this episode

Guest: Federico Marchesi

Topics covered

• supply chains
• complex systems
• adaptability
• organisational design
• AI in logistics
• strategic design

Keywords

• supply chain
• disruptions
• variability
• modular product architectures
• Demand-Driven MRP
• AI agents
• forecasting
• logistics

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Hacking Supply Chains, Haier

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