Distribution on the Cusp of Metamorphosis

In this eighth episode, Howard Coleman, Principal of MCA Associates, provides an update to the insights, provided in the Episode 1, which focused on Collaborative Robotics – and re-enforces why now, over a year later, events continue to make it the most significant advance in distribution warehousing. The ongoing labor shortage has literally hit every industry. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 25 percent of the workforce is age 55 or older. Thousands of workers are retiring every day, some early. Others just moving on to something “better” - somewhere else. Younger workers who themselves are seeking specific workplace values are simply not replacing them quickly enough. So, you may also want to listen to Episode 7 also, it explains this “Great Resignation” phenomena in more detail - as well as the reasons why. Going forward, the underlying demographic impacts will not change anytime soon. It will make it even more difficult to have a reliable and trained distribution operations workforce. So it seems that everyone is hastily looking to bridge this worker shortage. Surely automation will have a key role, and it’s probably by moving people from repetitive tasks that they really don’t want to do - into more needed roles – a reskilling of the workforce – leaving much of the repetitive tasks and traveling to warehouse robotics. So I present to you the “4 success factors to human-robot collaboration”. Note: For this episode and for all future episodes, we have a special offer for our most engaged podcast listeners! For the first two (2) listeners who correctly answer a “learning question” that I pose at the end of each podcast, you’ll receive one of our brand new “Distribution on the Cusp of Metamorphosis” - Coffee Mugs - Free! And it’s a beauty! All you have to do is email me your answer to the question, your name and mailing address. Our email address is in the “show notes”. Also, at the end of this episode, there is a free additional resource offer to optimize your overall episode 8 - take-away. Podcast Creator & Host: Howard W. Coleman, Principal of MCA Associates Contact: hcoleman@mcaassociates.com Telephone: 203-906-7268 And thanks to these great sponsors for their support: 6 River Systems – https://www.6river.com The Wholesaler Magazine – https://www.phcppros.com Unified Payments Group:https://www.gounified.com/p21IntegratedDemo/ TeamEngine – https://get.teamengine.io/partner/mca

In business, it’s always interesting to ask; “what comes next”? What’s new? What’s emerging? But, maybe, the biggest surprise of all will be – not what will come - but those who have come before. Let me explain… Now, everybody knows about what’s going on in the workforce today – it’s shrinking, right before our eyes. And companies are desperate for workers of all types, particularly, and as you might expect, those with relevant experience – possessing some business and/or mechanical acumen. And as we’ve all heard, by this time, it’s called the “Great Resignation” phenomena or the “Big Quit”. In the past several months, approximately 20M people have left their jobs – millions each month – apparently reassessing what they want to do - and it’s not just limited to younger people. Plus, it’s been said that by 2050, one in four persons living in North America and Europe could be 65 years of age or over. In this podcast episode, we ask: Have you considered – what may be - “The Era of the Comeback Kids”? In this 7th episode, Howard Coleman, Principal of MCA Associates, offers the argument that the COVID impact, demographic and technology forces are driving a desire for current or potential employees to become more entrepreneurial and for a variety of reasons seem to be saying; “I’m just fed up”. Its people feeling stifled - looking for a new work- flexibility, different workplace values - and who have now acquired new technology behaviors. This appears to be creating a massive new pool of different types of workers. And it’s bound to impact you! So, take heed of the “Comeback Kids”! Podcast Creator & Host: Howard W. Coleman, Principal of MCA Associates Contact: hcoleman@mcaassociates.com or call 203-906-7268 And thanks to our great sponsors for their support: 6 River Systems – https://www.6river.com The Wholesaler Magazine – https://www.phcppros.com Unified Payments Group: https://www.gounified.com/p21IntegratedDemo/

Please Read Before Listening GET READY TO DIG IN! Your own company’s distribution network is the focus of this episode and we have a content upgrade for you! In this 6th episode, Howard Coleman, Principal of MCA Associates, offers a “listen and read” approach while offering a different view of “inventory and supply chain planning, management, and optimization”. The objective? – develop insights that can drive positive action - and a way to counter demand uncertainty. During these periods of “short supply”, all it takes is a willingness to think differently about the challenge – and a willingness to re-learn the importance of your “inventory drivers”. So, we’re going to depart, somewhat, from our usual podcast format - by using the free resource we routinely provide in every episode - to enhance your podcast listening experience. So, take note of the 3-steps below. It’s the only thing I’ll ask of you. First: For this episode, just click on: Articles / White Papers - MCA ASSOCIATES. Second: Print out the white paper - in its entirety. Give it a quick read for its “flavor” and general thought content…then: Third: If you are now open to “digging in”, there are some very revealing graphics in this white paper! Suggestion: Use the graphics as your guide through-out this podcast. We’ll explain each one! Host: Howard W. Coleman, Principal of MCA Associates To contact podcast host; email hcoleman@mcaassociates.com or call 203-732-0603. And thanks to our great sponsors: 6 River Systems – https://www.6river.com MindHarbor – https://www.mindharbor.com The Wholesaler Magazine – https://www.phcppros.com Cost Analysts – https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/chuckmoyer Unified Payments Group- https://www.gounified.com/p21IntegratedDemo/

In this fifth episode, Howard Coleman, Principal of MCA Associates, offers his perspective on the “supply chain disruption” that is being experienced by wholesale distributors and manufacturing companies (who just may be your suppliers)! There appear to be plenty of reasons to raise questions about the merits and drawbacks of global supply chains. Surely, there has been a lot of question-raising news coverage from the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Forbes, Bloomberg News, Atlantic Monthly and many others; Questions raised about “Just-in-Time” and the overall “Lean Thinking” inventory philosophy. Even the general public is now paying close attention. Why? Because it seems that almost every stage of the international and domestic ‘assembly line’ has broken down in its own unique way. Definition of “Perfect Storm”: a critical or disastrous situation created by a powerful concurrence of factors. Is it a “perfect storm”? Is this really becoming the “everything shortage” as some have called it; causing disruptions of a diverse assortment of products and materials? Well, here I am - adding my own 2 cents. There is something in this podcast for everyone to consider, whether you be a manufacturer/supplier, wholesale distributor - or a parent who will need to explain this to your kids come the holiday season! As usual, there are also some additional free resources available that you can obtain to optimize this podcast’s take-away. So, listen on and we’ll tell you how to get it. Host: Howard W. Coleman, Principal of MCA Associates To contact podcast host; email hcoleman@mcaassociates.com or call 203-732-0603. Thanks to our great sponsors: 6 River Systems – 6river.com MindHarbor – mindharbor.com The Wholesaler Magazine – phcppros.com Cost Analysts – LinkedIn.com/in/chuckmoyer Unified Payments Group: https://www.gounified.com/p21IntegratedDemo/

SHOW NOTES “Sustainable” is not just about being “green”…or sustainable supply chains. Ask most managers, ‘What is your key challenge?’ Among the many different responses, you’ll likely hear this with regular frequency: “staying relevant…staying afloat”. The fast-moving roller coaster economy we live in today makes this task increasingly difficult. Just as we handle one crisis, another looms around the corner. How can we sustain – and even thrive? Response? We are in a world of “long cycles” that need to be transformed to “short cycles”. We must consistently remake who we are, what we offer, and how we deliver our offerings to our marketplace. Put simply, we must proactively reinvent. It’s not some one-time project or mobilization – and we’re done! In this fourth episode, Howard Coleman, Principal of MCA Associates, offers the ‘10 Commandments’ of reinventing today’s sustainable company. In fact, he even suggests that we must reinvent every three years! At the end of the podcast, there is also a helpful no-cost resource available to optimize the podcast take-away. Ask for it; it could be your first step to Reinvention. Host: Howard W. Coleman, Principal of MCA Associates To contact podcast host: email hcoleman@mcaassociates.com or call 203-732-0603

In this third episode, Howard Coleman, Principal of MCA Associates, unravels the plethora of terms, often conflated, that describe what distribution related companies are being asked to achieve when faced with a “need to innovate” across their entire value-stream. He provides a quite different perspective that anticipates the future, but honors the successes of the past. At the end of the podcast, there is also a helpful offer to optimize your podcast take-away. Host: Howard W. Coleman, Principal of MCA Associates Learn more about MCA Associates http://www.mcaassociates.com To contact podcast host, Howard Coleman, email hcoleman@mcaassociates.com

In this second episode, Howard Coleman, Principal of MCA Associates, capsulizes what distribution related companies should always be looking for to improve operational efficiency of the their distribution/warehouse facilities. Whether you conduct an operational assessment and process review on your own or reach-out to an outside resource, a “distribution operations facility assessment “ is step #1 – to ...“Be Nimble...Be Quick”. At the end of the podcast, there is a helpful offer to optimize your take-aways. Host: Howard W. Coleman, Principal of MCA Associates To contact podcast host, Howard Coleman, email hcoleman@mcaassociates.com MCA Associates, a management consulting firm since 1986, works with wholesale distribution and manufacturing companies that are seeking and are committed to operational excellence. Howard and his team of Senior Consultants provide business consulting in specific areas of core-competency: Operational excellence thought leadership and business process re-engineering Distribution Center and warehouse design and resource integration Inventory and supply chain management ERP and WMS systems technology assessment Organizational assessment and development Sales development and revenue generation Competitive Advantage Assessments

In this first episode of ‘Distribution on the Cusp of Metamorphosis’ , a podcast series from MCA Talk, Howard Coleman, Principal of MCA Associates, provides insights into Collaborative Robotics – what may be the most significant advance in distribution warehousing today; what it’s all about, how you can re-tool and future-proof your warehouse/DC operations, how they may fit-in regardless of the size of your operations, the critical success factors, and the bottom line ROI potential - versus the “value-of-time” equation. At the end of the podcast, there is a helpful offer to optimize your take-aways This episode is sponsored by: #1 - 6 River Systems a leading fulfillment solution provider, and part of global commerce company Shopify, provides a collaborative mobile robot – Chuck – and operates in more than 80 facilities in the U.S., Canada and Europe. Contact them at www.6River.com #2 – MindHarbor: celebrating 21 years of developing award-winning custom business software, ERP system enhancements, ERP API integrations, and business intelligence solutions for leading manufacturers and wholesale distributors. Please visit www.mindharbor.com#3 – The Wholesaler magazine: the number one choice for the news in the plumbing, heating, cooling and piping wholesale distribution industry. Always at the forefront, visit www.phcppros.com About MCA Associates: MCA Associates, a management consulting firm since 1986, works with wholesale distribution and manufacturing companies that are seeking and are committed to operational excellence. Howard and his team of Senior Consultants provide business consulting in specific areas of core-competency: Operational excellence thought leadership and business process re-engineeringDistribution Center and warehouse design and resource integrationInventory and supply chain managementERP and WMS systems technology assessment Organizational assessment and developmentSales development and revenue generationCompetitive Advantage AssessmentsTo contact podcast host, Howard Coleman, email hcoleman@mcaassociates.com