David Warrick is a thought leader and industry expert in the field of Global Supply Chain and is currently the Executive Vice President, Enterprise at Overhaul. In his current role, he is responsible for the strategy and growth of the Enterprise business, as well as being a key member of the Executive Team. Overhaul, is a software-based, supply-chain visibility, integrity, safety and security solution for the world’s leading brands
Prior to Overhaul, David spent 23 years with Microsoft Corporation serving as General Manager Global Supply Chain and Supply Chain Technology Officer. During his time with Microsoft, his efforts were focused on implementing the latest in supply chain technologies, playing key roles in the release of every product since Windows 2000, including the rollout for the first Xbox gaming systems and the latest Surface laptops. Prior to this role, he held positions with Andersen Consulting and was a Project Engineer in the construction of the Hong Kong Airport. Warrick is a member of the Visibility Council as well as serving in an Advisory Board capacity for several other new supply chain technology companies.
Listen to the full discussion here:
Connect with the Guest:
David Warrick: LinkedIn
Some of the highlights from the podcast:
- David’s supply chain journey- joining Microsoft, the rollout of the first Xbox gaming systems, and joining Overhaul
- Case studies on addressing supply chain challenges and building partnerships
- What makes Overhaul different and partnership with Microsoft
- A quick dive into the tech space in supply chain – how Amara’s Law is affecting the industry
- The supply chain challenge is that you’re kind of judged on your last failure and not on your last success
- Advice to startups and up-and-coming supply chain executives
Show notes:
- [00:36] Guide us through the big highlights of your career and how you ended up your current position with Overhaul.
- [02:58] “I was responsible for the setup of Xbox infrastructure for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, which meant we were building Xboxes and setting up distribution centers, and it was the first time we were shipping directly to retail for a consumer product.”
- [04:38] “I spent a lot of time on that Nokia acquisition and then integration into the Microsoft supply chain.”
- [06:15] “First problem, supply chain visibility. We need to have end-to-end visibility of our logistics network. So we partnered with C. H. Robinson and their division TMC and built a product called Navisphere Vision- which is still one of the leading visibility products in the market today.”
- [08:36] “During my last couple of years, Microsoft gave me a title. They called me Supply Chain Technology Officer because I was not only deploying the technologies, but I was looking ahead in the industry, trying to figure out what the next gap was.”
- [10:15] What attracted you to Overhaul? What’s the current role? And what’s your focus in the coming couple of years or months? How do you see everything?
- [11:42] “Overhaul is not just about a dot on a map, it is track and trace but there are different levels. So when a truck does deviate, it’s an alert system and then a monad service which kicks in so that as a shipper, like Microsoft, could sleep safely at night, knowing that the latest Xboxes were under the watchful eye of Overhaul.”
- [15:09] “We’ve devised an academy, which is really trying to fill that gap for up-and-coming supply chain professionals…”
- [18:14] What gives you hope and excitement when you look across the tech space in supply chain?
- [20:33] “If we stop thinking about trying to solve all of supply chain problems as one project and start thinking about picking off the pieces by using the latest and greatest software as a service application, we can move quickly, cleverly, and cost-effectively. “
- [23:11] “The supply chain challenge is that you’re kind of judged on your last failure and not on your last success.”
- [24:46] “Amara’s Law states that we tend to overestimate the impact of technology in the short term and underestimate the impact of technology in the long term.”
- [25:49] What are some of the most promising seeds or starting ideas that you’ve seen in generative AI in supply chain?
- [28:07] “Supply chain has been designed to sense and respond. But that’s no longer good enough, it now needs to be able to anticipate and to act.”
- [31:21] What do you think will happen in the next 18 months? What are the global trends, economically speaking? What should the companies expect and do?
- [36:26] If you were to give a piece of advice, both for startups that are trying to make it in supply chain and for supply chain professionals that are trying to be executives in successful companies, what would you say to both types of groups?
- [38:04] “Don’t be afraid because you think you’re not ready, or you think you’re not skilled, or you think you’re not there. Because the absolute worst thing that could happen is somebody would say no. And that’s perfectly okay.”
- [40:02] “It’s just not good enough for us to stay static. We can’t stay static in an ever-moving environment.”
Quotes from the Episode:
About the Host:
The host, Andrei Palamariu is the founder of Supplify where he and his team works on building a platform to connect the supply chain tech ecosystem. His most interesting discussions with the clients are focused on implementing the best technology, digital transformation, company growth and expansion, turnarounds, and product and business development.
Alcott Global connects and upgrades the supply chain ecosystem by finding the right talent through executive search, developing talent through learning solutions, and meeting supply chain technology needs through a comprehensive crunch base marketplace.
The supply chain executive search has been our focus since the very beginning, offering recruitment services for top-tier supply chain roles at every level of the end-to-end supply chain: plan, source / procure, make, and deliver. Our consultants have years of experience in placing top talent, in North America, LATAM, Europe, the Middle East & Africa, and APAC, and besides speed, one of our biggest strengths is our network within the supply chain industry, and we capitalize on it to find the best solutions.
Through the years, we have grown as an organization and our offerings with it. One of our initiatives, the learning solutions- training and supply chain academy, is focused on transforming leadership- self-leadership, executive presence, influence capital, and business acumen. Through Supplify, we aim to match corporations with the top technology companies to solve their supply chain and logistics challenges with a focus on innovation and digital transformation.
We are in constant touch with the leaders in supply chain, inviting them to inspire the supply chain professionals in thought-provoking podcast episodes and events, and showcasing what is possible at the yearly Leaders in Supply Chain Awards.
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