MHI’s New Docuseries Introduces Viewers to the Supply Chain Jobs of Tomorrow

As part of MHI’s mission, we are working to develop new tools to increase awareness and to provide education about the supply chain and material handling industries. To that end, the MHI has developed the “Jobs of Tomorrow” docuseries comprised of 12, 22-minute episodes featuring interviews from industry leaders, as well as from academics, educators, current college students and others working in the field. They provide their insights on the future of supply chain jobs and the technology that will support them.

Through the insights of these individuals, each episode showcases the latest technologies in action, and includes footage from multiple warehousing and distribution center facilities. Individual episodes cover different aspects of the industry and the impact on the economy and society: From e-commerce to cold chain handling and the innovations and evolving technologies that address today’s challenges. They highlight the broad range of current and future career opportunities offered in this industry

In addition to raising awareness of the industry and its innovative technologies, the docuseries is designed to inspire greater interest in supply chain careers. “What’s truly unique about the ‘Jobs of Tomorrow’ docuseries is its focus on what happens inside supply chain facilities, a behind the scenes view,” says Joh Paxton, CEO of MHI. “Most people have never seen the inside of a distribution center, so they often associate them with the low-tech warehouses of the past. This series shows, in action, how the technology has advanced these operations have become and what the future holds for careers in the supply chain.”

Four MHI members committed as sponsors of four of the 12 episodes. All cited the prospect of introducing the latest developments in supply chain and material handling industry and the benefit of reaching a new audience as being a primary motivator for their participation.

The “Jobs of Tomorrow” docuseries can now be seen on MHIView. Below are the topics of each episode.

Episode 1: The Extraordinary World of Home Delivery examines the Amazon effect and other challenges faced by the transportation and supply chain industry. It presents solutions like driverless vehicles and collaborative programs. Experts discuss how COVID-19 became the tipping point for e-commerce retailers. The episode concludes with insights from a current supply chain student and thought leaders about the future possibilities for jobs in the field.

Episode 2: Technology in Supply Chain; Testing to Investing discusses how emerging technology is quickly transforming supply chains. Equipment that previously provided a competitive advantage has now become a requirement simply to stay in the game. Industry insiders share suggestions for figuring out which solutions will address both the process challenges and deliver an adequate return on investment (ROI).

Episode 3: Cultivating an Innovation Mindset explores how innovation has shaped the way we live, work, and play. Without creative problem-solving, most industries will eventually grind to a halt. To stay ahead, employers must foster a culture of innovation. This episode includes tips from experts on how companies can encourage out-of-the-box thinking while mitigating business risks.

Episode 4: Collaborative Automation: Your Future Coworkers in an E-Commerce World, sponsored by Kindred, considers how increased adoption of robotic solutions has been fueled by the explosive growth of e-commerce. Through solutions such as collaborative robots, the human-robot work dynamic addresses multiple supply chain challenges, including the tsunami of online shopping. A discussion about how robotics might change the future job market and workplace concludes the episode.

Episode 5: How Big Data Drives Big Decisions in Supply Chain details how data’s predictive power is at the core of its value. With access to enough data from the right sources, virtually anything can be predicted: from which breakfast cereal mascot will catch a child’s eye to when a robot in a factory will break down. Experts explore how supply chain operators are extracting data from multiple untapped sources, making intelligent predictions, and why data analytics is transforming jobs in the field. 

Episode 6: Remote Work and the Supply Chain dives into how new advances allow more people to work remotely today and tomorrow. And remote work isn’t just for the desk jockeys in the home office; it’s now becoming possible to transition jobs that have historically been mostly hands-on to off-site and virtually controlled. This episode features input from thought leaders, current workers, and supply chain students on the new world of work. 

Episode 7: How to Win Culture and Influence People. Thought leaders from companies with strong cultures showcase their practices, explaining the hard work behind making the workplace fun and why developing a winning culture requires continuous monitoring and ongoing improvements. Plus, a recent college graduate shares the importance of culture in the age of remote work from a young employee perspective.  

Episode 8: The Calm and the Storm: Building Resilient Supply Chains details why resilience is the name of the game when it comes to keeping our everyday goods plentiful, affordable, and on time. Structuring supply chains that can successfully withstand any disruption is one of the most exciting and meaningful projects that industry professionals are working on today. This episode examines why the decisions they make will have a massive impact on the jobs of tomorrow.

Episode 9: Head in the Cloud: Using Supply Chain Data explains how cloud computing and storage are already used in our everyday lives. Quickly becoming an integral part of many industries, this technology is poised to connect the world’s supply chains more than ever before. Industry insiders offer a deep dive into how cloud computing is currently used, and why this technology will shape the future of work. 

Episode 10: Combating the Supply Chain Labor Shortage, sponsored by Locus Robotics, tackles the current scarcity of available workers. To solve this problem of epic proportions, leading companies are implementing today’s innovations to create tomorrow’s jobs. From producers and manufacturers to transport and warehousing, employers are supporting and strengthening the capabilities of the workforce that forms the backbone of our society. As a result the world of work is changing. 

Episode 11: Adjusting to the New Normal of Two Times the Output in One-Half the Time, sponsored by Fives Intralogistics Corp., explores how customer expectations are evolving. When it comes to order fulfillment, shoppers anticipate one-day—or even same-hour—delivery. This episode discusses how changing economic and social trends are driving these expectations, and how supply chain operators are adjusting to this new normal. 

Episode 12: How the Supply Chain is Keeping it Cool, sponsored by SSI Schaefer, discusses why supply chains that deliver temperature-controlled products have become more crucial than ever, thanks to the pandemic. Yet, due to the extreme temperatures associated with keeping ice cream frozen and produce fresh, jobs in this critical sector have historically been less than ideal. Now, thanks to innovative, automated solutions, handling processes are changing and jobs in cold chain have never looked cooler.

View the Jobs of Tomorrow docuseries.

Plans are underway for the next season of “Jobs of Tomorrow.” For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Chelsea Fairweather.

About MHI
MHI is an international trade association that has represented the material handling, logistics and supply chain industry since 1945. MHI members include material handling and logistics equipment and systems manufacturers, integrators, consultants, publishers and third-party logistics providers. MHI offers education, networking and solution sourcing for their members, their customers and the industry as a whole through programming and events. The association sponsors the ProMat and MODEX expos to showcase the products and services of its member companies and to educate manufacturing and supply chain professionals. WERC is a division of MHI.

Contact: For more information on MHI activities and programming contact Carol Miller at 704-676-1190.