Why Automation Is NOT the Goal with Stephen T. Hopper of Inviscid Consulting

Episode notes

In this episode, we’re joined by Stephen T. Hopper , Founder and Principal at Inviscid Consulting . Stephen brings decades of experience in supply-chain operations and shares valuable insights on optimizing processes before introducing automation. He explores the importance of being requirements-driven rather than solutions-driven and highlights the need to extract the maximum potential from existing resources before considering automation. Stephen also emphasizes the role of on-the-ground workers in generating the best ideas for process improvements and draws attention to how businesses can benefit from their insights. Key Takeaways: (01:51) Inviscid Consulting’s unique name origin explained. (05:09) Two buckets of supply chain, planning vs. execution. (08:54) Automation should be a tool, not a goal. (12:45) Shipping and fulfillment is the least automated area. (24:14) Engage the workforce to uncover hidden efficiencies. (25:23) The plank parable — environment matters in performance. (33:39) Focus on small, incremental improvements. Resources Mentioned: Stephen T.