For years, supply chains were engineered to be lean. Reducing cost was the primary objective, and most operational decisions—from sourcing to fulfillment—reflected that mindset. But today’s global environment is more unstable than it was a decade ago. Lean models alone are no longer sufficient. Recent years have brought a series of disruptions that exposed vulnerabilities in how supply chains are designed. Trade tensions have led to abrupt tariff hikes. Political instability has disrupted transportation corridors. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed dependencies that hadn’t been properly accounted for. More recently, fluctuating trade policies have emerged as a persistent challenge, especially for firms with global footprints. These conditions aren’t rare anomalies—they’re becoming the norm. (....)