to the top of its corporate agenda. Soaring oil prices in the 2005-2008 period fueled the flames.

In 2009, Walmart announced plans for its supplier sustainability index, a major milestone in the industry. It may be a lot more about cost savings than a true commitment to sustainability in many cases, but what does that matter? The horse is way out of the barn, and is now one of the major drivers of supply chain practice.

Omni-Channel and the Amazon Factor: E-commerce was big news in the late 1990s, now clearly seen as before its time. By 2003, e-commerce was reviving, but slowly.

But it took off not long after that, as the notion of "omni-channel" took hold, generally meaning "buy anywhere, fulfill anywhere," or something along those lines.

E-commerce growth, dependingjoined in the early 80s and attended my first conference in St. Louis in 1985. It was there that I heard Prof. LaLonde speak for the first time and I am still using one of his quotes! I also met Roger Kallock for the first time and it was good to see and hear him on the video. I now also realise that others who I worked with were immensely influential in the sector. Eric Baum in the field of engineered labor standards was just one. History gives perspective - it also shows us the complexity of real life that a great deal has to come together for new work and innovation to be successful and sustainable.

Just one case study for the archives: I was brought up in