As 2023 draws to a close, it has become increasingly apparent that there is no ‘normal’ for Operations leaders. Join hosts Christian Johnson and Daphne Luchtenberg as they take a look back at the year gone by through the lens of McKinsey Talks Operations. In this episode they revisit some highlight moments of their conversations with McKinsey experts and industry guests, covering topics from generative AI to price volatility, supply chain resilience to sustainability, and the role of...

Generative AI is continuing to dominate C-suite conversations across sectors. Organizations are starting to understand its transformative potential across the operations value chain, but just what will it take to get started? McKinsey’s Nicolai Muller and Marie El Hoyek, a Cologne-based senior partner and London-based associate partner, talk to McKinsey Talks Operations host Christian Johnson about the game changing potential of generative AI. From automating complex processes to...

Join us in this episode of "McKinsey Talks Operations" as host Daphne Luchtenberg sits down with senior partners at McKinsey & Company, Daniel Swan and Axel Karlsson, to explore the ever-evolving global landscape impacting companies. Discover how organizations are adapting to unprecedented challenges, from inflation to sustainability, and why operations and supply chain are taking center stage in the boardroom. Gain valuable insights on optimizing operations for success in 2024, as we...

The manufacturing sector and associated operations have the power to drive an economy forwards. This episode of McKinsey Talks Operations looks at the critical role of production in Africa's growth and development: with Africa's population set to double by 2050, the need for sustainable job creation is paramount. Host Daphne Luchtenberg is joined by Dr. Amy Jadesimi, Managing Director of LADOL, and David Meredith and Kannan Lakmeeharan from McKinsey & Company, about how the Manufacturing...

Zero-basing could be said to have an image problem, with a perceived sole focus on cost-cutting. This episode of McKinsey Talks Operations dispels some of the myths about this approach and looks at how it can become a dynamic philosophy that transcends traditional cost-cutting, offering leaders newfound visibility into their operations, investments, and resources. Join host Daphne Luchtenberg with experts Carey Mignerey, Denis Fomin, and Steve Frazier as they discuss the transformative...

In this episode of McKinsey Talks Operations, recorded at McKinsey’s recent CFO forum in partnership with Inside the Strategy Room, host Daphne Luchtenberg talks to Matt Jochim and Martin Rosendahl, partners in McKinsey's London office, along with Samdruk Thomas, an associate partner based in Zurich. Together, they delve into the challenges and opportunities faced by Sales, General & Administrative (SG&A) functions in today's fast-moving economy.Discover how courageous leadership by...

Join host Daphne Luchtenberg in a robust discussion with industry leaders Chris Smith and Richard Cawston, along with McKinsey senior expert Alan Davies, as they delve into the intricacies of the labor environment and share best practices for establishing thriving warehousing operations. Explore the challenges faced by the industry, from labor disruptions to changing demand profiles, and draw from valuable insights on how McLane & Company and GXO Logistics have adapted and excelled in a...

Join Radu Palamariu and Knut Alicke on McKinsey Talks Operations as they share anecdotes from the writing of their new book. In this episode, the authors of From Source to Sold: Stories of Leadership in Supply Chain, talk about the idea that sparked the book, and the advice every supply chain professional can follow to accelerate their career growth. Don’t miss this engaging discussion hosted by Daphne Luchtenberg. McKinsey Talks Operations has much more content to offer on the Operations...

What is operational excellence? And how can a renewed focus on this approach contribute to success in today’s business landscape? This episode of McKinsey Talks Operations explores the concept of operational excellence and its significance in organizations that use this approach of augmenting production and process systems. Our experts share insights on how companies can successfully adopt technology and nurture a sense of purpose among employees. We also delve into the benefits of...

We’re exploring the concept of ‘skinny design’ and its potential benefits for consumers, retailers, and the environment. Join our McKinsey experts as they delve into the cost savings, sustainability, and commercial advantages of reducing the size of product packaging, and discuss innovative solutions such as nesting products and honeycomb packing formats to reduce stock outs and improve sustainability and customer experience. Additionally, we highlight the importance of cross-functional...

It’s been a year since the McKinsey Talks Operations podcast launched, and during that time there’s been plenty to talk about. Join hosts Daphne Luchtenberg and Christian Johnson as they take a look back at some of the year’s highlights. Discussions about inflation, building operational resilience, managing supply chains, decarbonizing operations, and the role of digital twins have all featured highly against a complex and volatile backdrop. Listen in to what McKinsey experts and guests have...

What do customers really want from their contact centers? A number of myths about areas including speed of answer and channel preference are shaping contact center and service strategy, leading to dissatisfied consumers and employees. This episode of McKinsey Talks Operations blows apart customer service myths, and suggests how data and analytics can be used to shape future strategy.  Join the conversation with Julian Raabe, a partner in our Munich office; and Vinay Gupta, a Senior Knowledge...

As economies move towards more sustainable transport options, more electric vehicles are rolling off production lines than ever before. These vehicles need to be powered by lithium batteries, built in specialist facilities called gigafactories. With more than 30 planned in Europe alone, companies are working fast to develop the construction and operating playbook for these highly technical sites. Join the conversation with Stefano Piscitelli, Vice President of Group Construction at...

Members of the Global Lighthouse Network have become a source of inspiration. With more than 100 sites worldwide, they are beacons of light showing the potential of digital transformation to positively impact people and the planet.  This episode of McKinsey Talks Operations explores the growth of the Network from the first 16 sites to a community of the world’s leading production networks, and the examines benefits for companies that join with better workforce engagement, improved...

The imperative to transition to a low-carbon economy must be taken into account when planning, designing, building, and operating construction projects.

A digital approach to design and product development can provide new opportunities to solve complex problems. Getting the implementation right requires a thoughtful approach to translate big ideas to ‘boots on the ground.

It is important to think about the application of digital twins in the context of your overall digital strategy. A competitive edge in the market can be achieved by understanding where they fit in and the conditions required to capture the full value avail

Most businesses around the world are being impacted by inflation today. As they have navigated turbulence over the last two years, the decades-old model of how goods are made, sourced, and delivered has been severely disrupted. With that backdrop reactive fire-fighting has become part of the norm for procurement functions and this is set to continue. But there is a way to get ahead of turbulence and develop a resilient way of working. Join the conversation with Craig Reed, former Vice...

Most businesses around the world are being impacted by inflation today. As they have navigated turbulence over the last two years, the decades-old model of how goods are made, sourced, and delivered has been severely disrupted. With that backdrop reactive fire-fighting has become part of the norm for procurement functions and this is set to continue. But there is a way to get ahead of turbulence and develop a resilient way of working. Join the conversation with Craig Reed, former Vice...

Following on from our discussion of voice analytics trends and technology and its potential in contact centers in our previous episode, in this episode we learn more about its implementation and how to effectively capture the available value: How can voice data analytics add value throughout your whole organization?
 Join the conversation with Paul Humphrey, CEO and founder of Call Journey; Eric Buesing, a partner in McKinsey & Company and a leader in our customer care offering; and host...

High-quality, tailored interactions promote positive consumer experiences. And so in a digital age that can be lacking in emotional connection, human voice engagements can become a point of difference for contact centers.
 In this episode, we discuss the wider trends related to voice interactions in customer care and the technologies that are available. Join the conversation with Paul Humphrey, CEO and founder of Call Journey; Eric Buesing, a partner in McKinsey & Company and a leader in...

When people began working from home, many executives feared that productivity would be lost. Instead, the reverse has proved true: for many employees, it has increased, thanks in part to the accelerated pace of digitization. As companies move to the next normal, they are looking for ways to maintain those gains through new hybrid working models enabled by digital technologies. There are decisions to be made about real-estate foot-prints and arrangements, shared service centers, organizational...

Capital projects could receive around $130 trillion dollars over the next five years. Most of the investment will go to renew and decarbonize critical infrastructure. In this episode of The McKinsey Podcast, hear McKinsey senior partners Steffen Fuchs and Christoph Schmitz speak with executive editor, Roberta Fusaro about how executives and organizations will need to adapt their current spending strategies to take advantage of this unique funding moment. After, hear senior partner Dymfke...

It's increasingly clear that there is a labor mismatch across industries and sectors. There is also a marked gap in the digital talent available in key frontline sectors such as truck drivers and line operators - only 1 percent of supply chain leaders report having sufficient talent in-house to support their increased digitization, that’s down from 10 percent in 2020. The pioneers of the Fourth Industrial Revolution have learned that human capabilities are critical when organizations wish to...