In Episode 7 of Supply Chain Unfiltered, I had the pleasure of welcoming Chris Nimietz, Supply Chain Director at MSI Express, for a behind-the-scenes look into managing the supply chain operations of a global leader in contract manufacturing.
Running operations in a leading contract manufacturing company requires seamless coordination between suppliers, production teams, and clients to ensure the timely and efficient delivery of a product that’s exactly what the consumer ordered. If there’s anyone who has seen it all, it’s Chris Nimietz, Supply Chain Director at MSI Express: a co-packer that primarily works with Fortune 500 consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies from around the world.
In Episode 7 of Supply Chain Unfiltered, we explored the unique opportunities and challenges within the space, as well as successful approaches to customer and supplier collaboration. We also unpacked the power of purpose-built solutions and the competitive advantages they deliver. Let’s dive right in.
Technology’s Role in Contract Manufacturing
To kick off the conversation, Chris and I looked into the unique opportunities and challenges within the contract manufacturing space, as well as what it takes to be a preferred vendor. I hit Chris with the age-old question, “What keeps you up at night when it comes to your career?” His answer was one I’m sure many of you will identify with.
“The primary thing [that keeps me up at night] would be that the right tools and resources are in front of our people to be successful… and continuing to stay in lockstep with our customers so that we have a line of sight that a lot of co-manufacturers don’t have,” Chris explained.
Chris believes that, as one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S., MSI Express has achieved and maintained a trajectory of growth by implementing technologies that enable them to have a finger on the pulse on vital aspects of their operations. He added, “We’re always looking to be where the puck is going, not where it’s been.”
The Value of Enhancing Customer Collaboration
A collaborative mindset is also essential for driving success in today’s fast-paced contract manufacturing landscape.
To help illustrate this, I shared a statistic from Lora Cecere of Supply Chain Insights: Contract manufacturing production averages 32% of a brand owner’s total production. And that percentage is only expected to grow over the next several years. What does that mean for co-packers and their external supply chain partners? How do they capitalize on that opportunity for growth?
Chris stressed that the best way to capitalize on that opportunity is to prioritize collaboration with their customers in other verticals. The ability to provide solutions from the planning and procurement side all the way through to the distribution side is an innovative value-add that’s unbeatable from both the perspective of an emerging brand or a CPG.
“85% of new products typically fail in the first two to three years, and so that’s where we can provide a lot of value,” he said. “We have the ability to be test centers for those new products and items.”
Chris added that MSI Express does a really good job of strengthening customer and supplier relationships, with a focus on the people behind an organization. Rowing in the same direction helps drive mutual growth and efficiency. The industry demands the ability and agility to be customer-centric and that’s just what they strive to do.
Embracing Digitization, AI, and ML
If you’ve been a regular listener of the show, you know that I believe technology is a critical enabler for supply chain success. Generally speaking, however, it is vital to first establish the right processes and people. Once those are in place, you secure the right tools so that your people can most effectively and easily run the processes. I was curious to hear Chris’s insights, as a leader in the contract manufacturing space, into the role that technology plays at MSI in terms of strategy and success.
For Chris, it is key for companies in the industry to leverage purpose-built solutions and incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to power performance and stay ahead of market dynamics.
“Our organization is heavily data driven, and the data helps drive continuous improvement efforts such as custom customer reporting,” he said. One of the essential tools in MSI Express’ toolkit? Nulogy and its purpose-built resources such as the Production Scheduling module. “Nulogy’s our shop floor; it’s our core.”
“Nulogy’s our shop floor; it’s our core.”
Chris Nimietz, MSI Express
For more tips, tricks and insights into managing one of the most complex supply chain operations in the world, I recommend watching the full episode on-demand now. And don’t forget to connect with Chris on LinkedIn! Thank you, Chris, for joining Supply Chain Unfiltered and offering a candid look into the challenges and opportunities that supply chain professionals face.
Don’t forget to keep an eye out for future episodes of Supply Chain Unfiltered on the Nulogy website. See you next time!
