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Transforming Supply Chain Management in the Age of AI

In a rapidly evolving landscape shaped by COVID-19, geopolitical risks, climate change, and the swift progression of AI technology, supply chain management (SCM) has transitioned from a straightforward problem-solving discipline to a complex system governed by interactions. On July 15, 2026, a seminar titled "AI-Driven Supply Chain Management: Continuous Value Creation" will be held, featuring Ryohei Sasakawa, the Senior Managing Director of Fortience Consulting. This seminar will explore how traditional SCM frameworks can be adapted to embrace the complexities of contemporary business environments.

Seminar Details

• - Date & Time: July 15, 2026 (Wednesday), 1 PM - 3 PM (JST)
• - Venue: SSK Seminar Room, 2-6-2 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 4th Floor Zaimax Building
• - Format: In-person attendance, live Zoom webinar, and archived recordings available for two weeks.

Objectives of the Seminar

Participants will gain insights into rethinking traditional SCM approaches to focus on value generation amidst complexities heightened by today’s global landscape. The seminar will tackle structural challenges, including:

1. Limits of Traditional SCM: Understanding why the focus on efficiency, cost reduction, and inventory minimization has become insufficient in a volatile environment.

2. Barriers to AI Utilization: Analyzing the reasons behind the stagnation in applying AI for demand forecasting, inventory management, and planning—not as technical flaws, but as issues rooted in organizational structures and decision-making processes.

3. Understanding SCM 6.0/Generative SCM: Redefining SCM not merely as operational management but as a management function capable of generating continuous value while adapting to change.

4. Visualizing SCM Challenges through Five Lenses: Reevaluating traditional SCM premises through the lenses of learning & growth, strategy & tactics, operations & AI, people & organization, and purpose & relationships.

5. Principles for Advancing New SCM: Exploring collaborative frameworks that leverage Appreciative Inquiry, Autonomous Innovation, Augmented Intelligence, Adaptive Innovation, and Action Inquiry to guide the implementation of AI-enhanced SCM.

6. Practical Applications: Discussing advancements in Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), delegating authority to field operations, utilizing AI agents, fostering intercompany data sharing, and promoting collaborative supply chains.

7. Q&A and Networking Opportunities: An interactive segment for attendees to ask questions and exchange business cards to foster networking).

This seminar promises to equip businesses with the knowledge and strategies necessary to thrive amid uncertainties. By identifying the limitations of the traditional SCM approach and rethinking its application in the AI era, participants will be better prepared to navigate the complexities of modern supply chains. For more information about the seminar and to register, please visit SSK’s official website.

About SSK

The New Society System Research Institute (SSK) was established on December 6, 1996, and has hosted around 500 business seminars annually for over 28 years. SSK focuses on providing high-level business strategic information, marketing insights, and technology updates to create new business opportunities. SSK is committed to delivering cutting-edge information and remains a strategic partner for its clients' business success.