Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1389320
JULY 2021 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 23 Just-in-Time or Just-in-Case As the global landscape continues to change, the future remains the most pre- cious commodity. Charles F. Kettering, a famed American inventor, and the founder of Delco of General Motors, conveyed it well: "My interest is in the future, because I am going to spend the rest of my life there." Looking at the future, the manufacturing infrastructure is becoming more intricate; the swi and timely delivery of products to end- users (customers) is paramount to a viable business. Going forward, under the dynamic global- macro factors and the burgeoning digi- tal manufacturing platforms, the construct that is solely based on just-in-time inventory management as a stand-alone practice could be proven inadequate. Considering both just- in-time and just-in-case appear to be a prag- matic model to operate in the digitized enter- prise; perhaps it is a "comforting" approach as well. It is hoped that this article will spark deeper and wider thoughts and actions about the future supply chain enterprise and its role to business viability, competitiveness, and ulti- mately the prosperity. SMT007 Reference 1. "Rethinking Manufacturing—Bracing and Embrac- ing Post-Pandemic Decade," by Dr. Jennie S. Hwang, SMT007 Magazine, pp. 10–16, July 2020. Dr. Jennie S. Hwang—an inter- national businesswoman and speaker and a business and technology advisor—is a pioneer and long-standing leader to SMT manufacturing since its inception as well as to the development and implementation of lead-free electronics tech- nology. Among her many awards and honors, she was inducted to the International Hall of Fame– Women in Technology, elected to the National Academy of Engineering, named an R&D Star to Watch, and received a YWCA Achievement Award. Having held senior executive positions with Lock- heed Martin Corp., Sherwin Williams Co., and SCM Corp., she was the CEO of International Electronic Materials Corp. and is currently CEO of H-Technologies Group, providing business, tech- nology, and manufacturing solutions. She has served on the board of Fortune-500 NYSE companies and civic and university boards; the Commerce Department's Export Council; the National Materials and Manufacturing Board; the NIST Assessment Board; as the chairman of the Assessment Board of DoD Army Research Labo- ratory and the chairman of the Assessment Board of Army Engineering Centers; and various national panels/committees and international leadership positions. She is the author of 600+ publications and several books and is a speaker and author on trade, business, education, and social issues. Her formal education includes four academic degrees, as well as the Harvard Business School Executive Program and Columbia University Corporate Governance Program. For more information, visit JennieHwang.com. To read past columns or contact Hwang, click here.