RRD Leaders Discuss Flexibility as the New Supply Chain Advantage

8/15/2025 Matthew Tilley

In a market where change is constant, how can businesses position their supply chains for resilience, responsiveness, and long-term growth? That’s the big question posed to two of RRD’s top supply chain leaders — Brendan Killeen, Vice President of Global Supply Chain Engineering and Client Solutions, and Tom Paese, Senior Director of Global Business Development — on the latest episode of RRD’s Produced + Delivered podcast.

From inflationary pressures and rapidly shifting tariffs to the adoption of AI, today’s supply chain is less a static system and more a living organism that needs to adapt in real-time. According to Killeen and Paese, the organizations that will thrive in this landscape aren’t necessarily the biggest or most advanced — but the most adaptable.

Uncertainty is the norm — not the exception

Killeen and Paese both note that global supply chains have become increasingly complex and interconnected. This complexity creates fragility, especially when sudden changes, like tariff updates or geopolitical disruptions, send shockwaves through sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution.

While inflation, labor shortages, and energy cost fluctuations are familiar challenges, the pace and breadth of change are what make today’s environment uniquely difficult. “It’s not just about one tariff or one supplier anymore,” said Killeen. “You’re often dealing with multiple layers of impact across continents.”

Flexibility over forecasting

Many companies are still trying to find certainty through better forecasting — but the real opportunity, say the experts, lies in becoming more nimble. That means building systems, processes, and supplier networks that expect change rather than react to it.

“You can’t treat disruptions like one-time events,” Paese emphasized. “They’re part of the operating environment now. Flexibility has to be engineered into your systems, people, and partners.”

Redesigning the supply chain (and the product)

Killeen points out that flexibility isn’t just a supply chain issue — it starts with product design. The structure of the supply chain is deeply influenced by how products are configured, packaged, and delivered. Cross-functional collaboration, he says, is key to unlocking more adaptable business models.

“We’ve got to bring together engineering, sourcing, and operations to build flexibility into both the product and the process,” said Killeen.

Paese adds that smarter supply chain strategies often revolve around postponement or delaying the final product conversion until it’s closer to the point of consumption. This helps businesses better match demand at the SKU level while minimizing risk and waste. “Having the flexibility to tailor the supply chain to the product needs — and not try to employ a one-size-fits-all approach — is absolutely critical,” he says.

Smarter partners, smarter networks

In response to the fragmentation caused by COVID-era disruption, many companies are seeking to consolidate and streamline their supplier base. However, that doesn’t mean going back to single-source solutions. Instead, RRD advises clients to work with fewer suppliers that have broader, more flexible capabilities across multiple regions.

“The ability to shift between models, like completing goods overseas versus finalizing them in-market, is invaluable,” said Paese. “That’s what enables real operational agility.”

Want to hear the full conversation? Listen to the full episode of Produced + Delivered by RRD: Supply Chains Fit to Flex with Brendan Killeen & Tom Paese.

Matthew Tilley is the Host of the Produced + Delivered podcast and RRD’s Vice President of Growth Marketing