The supply chain industry, particularly within the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) sector, is an intricate network encompassing procurement, planning, manufacturing, and logistics. Professionals in this field are tasked with seamlessly integrating these diverse functions to ensure the efficient movement of goods from suppliers to end consumers. As the industry evolves, adopting automation and digital transformation becomes increasingly vital to maintain competitiveness and enhance operational efficiency. Strong relationships with third-party logistics providers, carriers, and customers are essential, as these partnerships significantly impact the supply chain’s effectiveness.

Deirdre Elter, Vice President of Customer Supply Chain and Logistics at Conagra Brands, has dedicated nearly thirty decades to mastering the complexities of the supply chain within the CPG industry. She has significant experience in all key areas of supply chain management and is a champion of driving supply chain innovation and fostering an inclusive corporate culture.

Let’s explore how Deirdre is revolutionizing the supply chain in the consumer-packaged goods industry through her innovative strategies:

Navigating a Career in Supply Chain

Throughout her career, Deirdre has worked in every functional area of the supply chain, including procurement, planning, manufacturing, logistics, and more. At one point in her professional journey, she took a brief pivot to marketing, which gave her a broader perspective on how businesses are led and managed.

“Early on in my career, I had the opportunity to take on an operations leadership role and experience the manufacturing side of the business,” Deirdre tells CIO Women Leaders. “This position was very impactful from a professional development standpoint and emphasized the importance of putting myself in uncomfortable positions. I relied on mentors, many women, whose advice and counsel helped guide me into my current role.”

Promoting Diversity in Corporate Culture

As a leader at Conagra, Deirdre strives to promote an inclusive culture for all team members. After joining the company, she co-founded a Women in Supply Chain Employee Resource Group to support females throughout the supply chain organization. The group has over 250 members and continues growing across its corporate offices and manufacturing sites.

Balancing Tradition with Innovation

Through Conagra’s Logistics Network, the company prioritizes building and maintaining strong relationships with its 3PLs, carriers, and customers. “The importance of relationships cannot be understated,” says Deirdre. “These partnerships can make or break the effectiveness and efficiency of a supply chain and should never be taken for granted.”

From an innovation standpoint, Conagra, like many others in the industry, is focused on automating its operations. To remain at the forefront of the industry, the company is increasing the number of fully automated sites across its portfolio and taking advantage of new technologies in the logistics space.

Prioritizing Consumer Safety in the Food Industry

A unique challenge that those in the food industry face is product shelf life. “While some of our products have substantial shelf lives, such as canned and frozen offerings, others are much shorter,” Deirdre explains. “Ensuring control of products throughout the supply chain to ensure that customers receive food within that specific window is vital from both a quality and safety perspective. Our highest priority is making safe, delicious, and nutritious foods for our consumers.”

Maintaining Ethical Standards in Supplier Relationships

• Conagra actively incorporates sustainability principles into its supply chain strategies.
• Conagra is committed to managing energy use and efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which is fundamental to how they produce their products.
• They are focused on sustainable packaging to reduce the environmental impact and minimize waste generation in their facilities and landfills.
• Conagra supports sustainable agricultural practices, which is paramount for them as they work with the farmers who grow the ingredients used in their products.
• Good water stewardship is also highly important, as the company aims to appropriately use its water resources within its operations and across the value chain.
• Finally, Conagra maintains collaborative relationships with suppliers, expecting them to uphold the same standards of integrity and ethical behavior as they do.

Breaking Silos for Effective Product Delivery

From Deirdre’s perspective, relationships start internally. “Achieving our goals without substantial collaboration across the entire end-to-end supply chain is nearly impossible. Operating in silos while still delivering the end products just isn’t possible.”

Externally, the value of relationships with Conagra Brands’ 3PLs, carriers, customers, and other partners is significant, as all parties work together to deliver for their consumers.

Leveraging Data for Proactive Risk Management

Conagra uses data and analytics internally to understand everything physically happening in its supply chain. This helps the company be as focused and proactive as possible. “If data and analytics indicate a risk of an issue at any point in our supply chain, we can address what we need to before the problem occurs,” Deirdre explains.

Outside of the company, Conagra can analyze customer data to gain the best visibility possible into the customer supply chain. As with internal data, they can leverage this information to be proactive rather than reactive.

Tailoring Strategies for Brands of All Sizes

When working with Conagra’s iconic brands, many of which have a large volume like Birds Eye, Healthy Choice, and Marie Callender’s, Conagra must manage them in a way that appropriately handles their scale. The company may consider alternative go-to-market strategies to meet their specific needs when working with their more niche brands.

“Iconic and emerging brands can’t necessarily flow to the market the same way, and we can’t treat them as such,” said Deirdre. “We make it a priority to address their strategies for each of their brands uniquely.”

Leadership and the Art of Supporting Teams

Nearly 30 years into her career, Deirdre has been fortunate enough to have had mentors who have sponsored, developed, and supported her.

She tells CIO Women Leaders, “I’m now at a place in my career where I have the privilege and responsibility of doing the same for others, and I make sure to dedicate a significant part of my time and energy to doing so.”

Additionally, Deirdre and her team organize monthly meetings specifically for supply chain leaders and town halls for the full team to ensure alignment of goals and recognize culture captains within their organization.

“Across the company, Conagra is committed to building a culture where everyone feels welcome and included,” Deirdre emphasizes. “As leaders, we have a unique view of the organization. It’s on us to ensure our team members feel supported.”

Digitization and the Future of Supply Chain Management

“It’s no secret that digitization will guide the future of supply chain management across all industries,” Deirdre remarks. “At Conagra, we are implementing a digitally connected supply chain and continuously investing in technology to make this happen.”

Connected Shop Floor, an innovative program that digitizes and standardizes each of its manufacturing sites, is a major driver of this strategy.

Beginning with a focus on online connectivity, their connected shop floor-enabled facilities have sensors installed on every piece of equipment. These sensors feed real-time data that can be accessed by the supply chain team to create insights and take action to improve performance. The Connected Shop Floor also allows their team to identify potential sources of material waste accurately and quickly, allowing them to effectively resolve any potential issues.

“In today’s highly competitive market, remaining innovative and agile has never been more important,” says Deirdre. “Delivering great-tasting food across our entire portfolio of iconic and emerging brands will always be our goal, and we will continue to evolve and grow well into the future.”