Title

AWS re:Invent 2023 - Accelerating end-to-end supply chain transparency with AI/ML (SUS203)

Summary

Lawrence, a senior data scientist at AWS, shares his journey from Lego robotics to AI/ML and how it relates to building supply chain solutions.
He emphasizes the importance of end-to-end supply chain transparency and the challenges companies face in achieving it, particularly beyond the first level of suppliers (L1).
Key challenges include cost, data centralization, and the risk of disintermediation.
Lawrence discusses the need for transparency due to consumer demand, compliance, sustainability, and risk management.
He presents industry solutions like traceability maps, data providers, and NGO partnerships to overcome transparency challenges.
AWS's approach involves a "system of systems" data mesh, combining internal data with partner data and using machine learning for data extraction and collation.
Lawrence shares a case study of PVH (owner of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger) and how AWS helped them build a sustainability platform for supply chain transparency.
The talk concludes with future possibilities, including product recommendations based on environmental impact, optimizing sourcing decisions, and the creation of a product passport.

The increasing consumer demand for transparency in the supply chain is driving companies to invest in AI/ML technologies to provide detailed product information.
The complexity of supply chains, with multiple levels of suppliers, creates a significant challenge for companies to maintain visibility and control.
AWS's system of systems approach leverages a combination of AWS services, machine learning, and partnerships with NGOs and data providers to create a comprehensive data mesh for supply chain transparency.
The case study of PVH illustrates the practical application of AWS's solution, showing the potential for scalability and the ability to generate actionable insights for businesses.
The concept of a product passport, which would provide consumers with detailed information about the sourcing and sustainability of products, is becoming more feasible with advancements in AI/ML and data integration.
AWS's role in facilitating supply chain transparency demonstrates the potential for cloud services and AI/ML to address complex global challenges and contribute to more sustainable business practices.