Spinnaker SCA's Joel Garcia was featured in the October 2023 issue of Business View
In a time when volatility in the labor market meets unprecedented advances in warehouse and logistics technology, few firms are better positioned to guide companies through the crossroads than Spinnaker SCA. That’s why Business View Magazine chose to spotlight the firm in its October 2023 issue, in a detailed feature interview with Joel Garcia, Senior Vice President of Supply Chain Execution.
The article offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Spinnaker SCA is helping clients navigate the “perfect storm” of labor constraints, rising customer expectations, and automation opportunities. Below, we explore some of the key themes from the article—and why they matter to your supply chain.
Rethinking labor in a post-pandemic world
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated an already-growing crisis in labor availability, especially within distribution centers. According to Garcia, this wasn’t just a temporary disruption—it was a structural shift. “We found that labor was not coming back,” he explains. “Labor variability has become one of the most important things to manage.”
In response, we helped companies retool their labor strategies, adopt remote work models where feasible and introduce more flexible, gig-style scheduling supported by smarter labor management systems. Their approach goes beyond headcount—it focuses on labor utilization, training, and orchestration.
Key takeaway: The future of labor is flexible, tech-enabled, and multi-skilled. And successful supply chains will be those that reimagine labor as a strategic asset—not a fixed cost.
Automation with purpose, not for hype
While many companies are investing in automation, few know how to scale it effectively across facilities or justify ROI in labor-constrained environments. We help clients do both.
Our expertise spans every phase of the automation lifecycle—from order profile analysis and technology selection to facility design, vendor integration, and post-launch optimization. Whether deploying AMRs, goods-to-person systems, or AI-powered orchestration platforms, we make sure that each component aligns to both the operational and financial realities of the business.
Key takeaway: Automation must be purpose-built, not trend-driven. ROI depends on tailored strategy, not technology alone.
The 5 Lenses Framework: A holistic transformation approach
At the heart of Spinnaker SCA’s supply chain management world view is our proprietary Five Lenses Framework—a multi-dimensional approach that considers:
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People: Skills, availability, and cultural fit
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Process: Standardization, efficiency, and flexibility
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Technology: Systems selection, integration, and orchestration
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Policies: Business rules, governance, and compliance
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Metrics – KPIs, dashboards, and performance benchmarks
This framework ensures that transformation isn’t siloed. For example, implementing a warehouse automation system without rethinking labor policies or change management often leads to suboptimal adoption. With the 5 Lenses model, Spinnaker SCA avoids that pitfall—guiding clients through end-to-end change.
Key takeaway: Transformation requires more than technology—holistic change across people, process, and policy is essential.
Warehouse Orchestration and AI: The next frontier
The most forward-thinking companies are now moving beyond WMS and WCS to implement warehouse orchestration platforms—AI-driven systems that determine, in real-time, the optimal allocation of people and machines to meet service level targets.
Garcia emphasizes this shift: “We now have systems that can make intelligent decisions about whether a machine or a human should perform a task, and which task to prioritize to best meet outbound requirements.”
We also see a growing demand for AI and ML applications that encapsulate “tribal knowledge”—preserving institutional wisdom amid workforce turnover. This allows for more consistent performance even as labor dynamics fluctuate.
AI is an enabler, not a substitute. The best outcomes occur when human expertise and machine intelligence collaborate—creating decision environments that are both data-driven and operationally grounded.
Key takeaway: Warehouse orchestration powered by AI is no longer future state—it’s here. And Spinnaker SCA is helping companies take full advantage. AI enhances—but does not replace—human judgment. Success lies in augmentation, not substitution.
Partnering for outcomes, not platforms
While Spinnaker SCA partners with technology leaders like Blue Yonder, Manhattan Associates, AutoStore, and Locus Robotics, the firm maintains a technology-agnostic stance. We do not accept commissions from vendors and remain laser-focused on recommending what’s best for the client. Our allegiance is to client value—not commissions or product sales. So we maintain a vendor-neutral stance in all engagements, ensuring that solution recommendations are driven solely by strategic fit and performance potential.
This objectivity—combined with deep implementation experience—make us a trusted advisor for companies undergoing complex digital and operational transformations.
Key takeaway: Strategic partnerships should be outcome-focused, not product-driven. Choose advisors who put your business objectives first. With no vendor bias, Spinnaker SCA’s recommendations are aligned with what drives value for you—not what drives margin for them.
What’s next for supply chain leaders?
As Garcia concludes, the supply chain of the future will be powered by flexibility, orchestration, and real-time decision-making. Companies that fail to invest in workforce agility and automation will find themselves falling behind in cost, speed, and customer satisfaction.
“The future of supply chain execution,” Garcia concludes, “belongs to those who can manage change—not just withstand it.”
Whether you're managing a greenfield distribution center, navigating the complexity of a multi-region rollout, or simply trying to make labor planning work in a gig economy, Spinnaker SCA offers the depth and discipline to help you succeed.
Want the full story?
Download the full Business View Magazine article. Joel Garcia’s expert take on labor and automation trends reshaping the supply chain starts on page 168.
