Trade, tariffs and global logistics are often treated as fixed constraints — factors supply chain leaders are forced to react to rather than shape. In episode 22 of The Chain podcast, Mike Bunge, vice president of global supply chain operations at Hamilton Beach Brands, challenges that mindset head-on. Bunge makes the case that supply chain leaders have far more influence over trade outcomes than they may realize. But they must be willing to rethink ownership; align cross-functionally; and use the right diagnostic tools, such as supply chain risk assessments.
What is a supply chain risk assessment?
A supply chain risk assessment is a process used to identify and evaluate potential disruptions across the supply chain. The key goals are to mitigate disruptions and protect supply chain performance and operations. The Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model is the foundational framework developed by ASCM to standardize end-to-end operational performance. By unifying process names, performance metrics and required skills into a cross-industry language, it provides a universal baseline for benchmarking. Using this framework as a backbone, ASCM offers tools and supply chain assessments that evaluate an organization’s current state against these global standards. ASCM supply chain assessments include:
- ASCM Supply Chain Maturity Assessment
- ASCM Supply Chain Organizational Skills Assessment
- ASCM Sustainability Maturity Assessment
Supply chain tools and benchmarks
In the podcast episode, Bunge shared the importance of complementing supply chain assessments with proven benchmarking tools. For instance, Hamilton Beach used its ASCM corporate membership to access SCORmark, which taps into the power of SCOR to help discover opportunities and weaknesses within supply chain operations. Based on historical data of more than 1,500 companies, SCORmark clearly shows how organizations compare to industry peers.
Risk management begins with supply chain leaders
Bunge outlines five areas that supply chain organizations can actively manage: supply network design, inventory and capacity, trade management, supply risk, and collaboration. These levers enable agility — not by eliminating risk, but by creating options when conditions change.
Trade is a supply chain responsibility
Bunge also advocates for supply chain leaders to take their seat at the strategy table when it comes to trade risk management. He argues that supply chain is best positioned for this responsibility because of its focus on visibility across product, information and cash flows. When trade is viewed through a value-stream lens rather than a functional silo, new opportunities for influence emerge.
Just-in-time thinking has limits in a volatile world
While lean operations remain important, recent disruptions have revealed where just-in-time approaches break down. Bunge emphasizes the importance of placing safety stock strategically, informed by lead times and shared demand data, rather than reacting with broad inventory buffers.
SCOR tools and assessments help organizations focus where it matters most
Bunge’s insights point to a consistent truth: Trade volatility, inventory strategy and supply risk are not isolated problems; they are interconnected decisions that demand shared visibility and alignment. By using SCORmark and supporting industry-leading supply chain assessments, organizations gain a common language to evaluate performance across processes and prioritize the improvements that matter most.
Hamilton Beach’s experience also demonstrates the value in uniting finance, IT and legal around data-driven insights in order to move beyond reacting to truly shaping outcomes. For leaders navigating today’s complex trade environment, SCOR assessments turn influence into action — providing a structured path to resilience, agility and measurable business impact.
Learn how you can use SCOR to transform your supply chain.
Supply chain assessments FAQs
What is ASCM Supply Chain Maturity Assessment?
ASCM’s Supply Chain Maturity Assessment maps business activities to SCOR processes to uncover critical vulnerabilities and replace anecdotal evidence with standardized, actionable data.
What is ASCM Supply Chain Organizational Skills Assessment?
ASCM Supply Chain Organizational Skills Assessment identifies performance and skill gaps — the tool enables leadership to prioritize strategic improvements and talent development roadmaps that directly affect the bottom line.
What is ASCM Sustainability Maturity Assessment?
The ASCM Sustainability Maturity Assessment evaluates environmental, social and governance (ESG) effectiveness, allowing organizations to benchmark their status, ensure compliance and unlock long-term value. This data-driven approach fosters a resilient culture of upskilling and organizational growth.
What are supply chain risk assessment methods?
Supply chain risk assessment methods include identifying and prioritizing operational disruptions, then applying frameworks to benchmark global supply chain standards.
