Strategic Partnerships for Supply Chain Resilience with Andreas Andrea at Manifest 2024

eCom Logistics Podcast

Andreas Andrea is a seasoned supply chain and logistics professional with extensive experience in the industry. He began his career at McMaster-Carr Supply Company, an industrial supply company known for its efficient operations and same-day delivery capabilities. Andreas then worked at Vans, where he gained valuable experience in warehouse management and global supply chain operations. He later joined FabFitFun, an e-commerce company, where he played a crucial role in navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and implementing strategies to ensure smooth logistics operations. Currently, Andreas works at Murad, a skincare company in the Unilever Prestige group, where he oversees the logistics, warehousing, inventory, and order management teams.

SHOW SUMMARY

In this episode of eCom Logistics Podcast, Andreas Andrea shares his journey in the supply chain and logistics industry, highlighting his experiences at various companies and the lessons he learned along the way. He discusses the importance of understanding the end-to-end supply chain and the role of technology in optimizing operations. Andreas also emphasizes the need for resilience and contingency planning in the face of carrier failures and the challenges posed by seasonal e-commerce shipping. He provides insights into his role at FabFitFun during the COVID-19 pandemic and the strategies implemented to diversify carriers and ensure successful peak season operations. Andreas concludes by discussing the significance of effective communication and collaboration between brands and 3PL partners.

HIGHLIGHTS

[00:00:00] Introduction to the podcast and guest, Andreas Andrea
[00:08:33] Taking a risk on a small regional carrier that ultimately failed
[00:10:19] Starting the direct import program at FabFitFun
[00:13:25] Delays in delivery during winter 2020 due to carrier issues
[00:15:41] Developed reporting to track carrier performance and hub backups
[00:17:09] Successfully managed carrier failures during peak season
[00:20:18] Bala Bangles experienced a surge in demand during COVID
[00:32:04] Importance of assessing logistics partners in light of their failures

QUOTES

[00:00:26] "Logistics partners will always fail. That is a fact of life. Your carrier, your three tier. Any other partner that you're working with will always fail."
[00:30:09] "Your carrier, your 3PL, and any other partner they are working with will always fail. Your job is to judge them and assess them in light of that failure."?
[00:34:47] "You have to really manage and let them know that failure happens and they have to be comfortable with the fact that there will be a failure."

Find out more about Andreas Andrea in the link below:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreasandrea/