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Most-Read ASCI Posts of 2025: Big Conversations in Supply Chain
- Rosita Johnson
- 8 minutes ago
- 4 min read
By Rosita Johnson
As 2025 comes to a close, we’re highlighting the three most visited blogs on our site this year. Each one was published earlier but struck a chord in 2025 for good reason. They cover three critical areas that shaped this year’s supply chain conversations: staging materials effectively, selecting the right transportation modes, and managing production risks with confidence. These were not just popular topics. They were key strategies used by teams across industries to stay ahead.
1 - Staging Materials: The Hidden Hero of Project Success
This post broke down why staging materials isn’t just prep work. It’s a key step in keeping projects on time. From organizing inventory to using tools like ASCI SmartStager, it gave teams a plan to reduce downtime and avoid delays.
Why it mattered in 2025
In 2025, projects faced tighter calendars and fewer on-site people than in past years. When staging is done right, crews have the materials they need before they need them. When it is done poorly, workers spend time searching for pieces, equipment gets in the way, and deliveries sit in the wrong spots. Poor staging can slow progress, increase safety risks, and drive up costs long before anyone realizes it. Industry reporting shows that jobsite staging problems are still a common cause of delays and unplanned expenses because they disrupt workflow and block access for crews and equipment.
Example
On a major road construction project reported in 2025, planners updated how materials were staged before installation. By aligning deliveries with the sequence of work and keeping staging areas clear and organized, the team reduced congestion, cut idle time for equipment, and kept crews productive throughout the day. Traffic control and machinery moved more efficiently because materials were placed with purpose instead of waiting until the last minute.
2 - Five Modes of Transportation: The Backbone of Modern Supply Chains
In “Five Modes of Transportation,” we broke down the major carriers of commerce: road, rail, air, water, and pipeline. Each mode has its strengths (speed, cost efficiency, capacity) and limitations. Modern supply chains rarely use just one mode: multimodal strategies combine options to balance cost, speed, and reliability.
Why this matters in 2025:
In 2025, transportation decisions had a direct impact on both the bottom line and a company’s ability to stay on schedule. Ongoing port congestion, shifting trade routes, fuel price volatility, and stricter emissions rules forced logistics teams to get more strategic. Relying on a single mode of transport became too risky and the companies embraced multimodal solutions. By blending ocean, rail, road, and air, they were able to pivot quickly when disruptions hit. They also gained better control over costs and improved delivery accuracy while meeting sustainability goals.
Example:
According to a 2025 review by 3SC Supply Chain, companies that combined long-haul ocean freight with rail for inland transport and trucks for final delivery saw improvements in both speed and emissions performance. This multimodal approach reduced bottlenecks, offered route flexibility, and cut fuel usage. It became a preferred model for companies balancing cost pressures with ESG commitments
3 - Risk Management in Production Planning: Securing the Heart of Operations
This blog explained how risk management is part of every good production plan. Planning what to produce, when to produce it, and what resources are needed only works if you think about what might go wrong. From labor shortages and material issues to quality problems and equipment failures, risks can stop production cold. Identifying and analyzing these risks early, prioritizing them based on likelihood and impact, and planning responses helps companies stay on track and keep customer commitments. Tools like risk matrices and real time monitoring help teams spot trouble before it becomes a crisis.
Why this matters in 2025:
In 2025 supply chains stayed unpredictable. Delays in raw materials, sudden shifts in demand, staffing gaps, and machine breakdowns could quickly throw a production schedule off balance. Companies that built risk identification and mitigation into their planning processes were better able to keep operations flowing. Instead of reacting when something went wrong, they had plans ready to reduce disruption, protect delivery dates, and manage costs. Many manufacturers adopted structured risk reviews and regular plan updates to build resilience into their production systems.
Example:
In the Pacific Northwest manufacturing industry, surveys in 2025 showed that a majority of companies reported supply chain disruptions, rising material costs, and workforce challenges as top threats to their operations. Many of these manufacturers responded by strengthening cross‑department communication and redesigning production schedules to account for longer lead times and staffing variability. For example, one mid‑size wood products manufacturer in Oregon shifted part of its production planning to build in additional buffer time for raw lumber deliveries and cross‑train workers so operations could continue even with fluctuating crew availability. This allowed them to meet many of their delivery commitments despite ongoing supply challenges and helped them reduce costly last‑minute schedule changes.
Bottom Line: What 2025 Taught Us
Preparation wins: Staging materials in advance reduces chaos and supports predictable outcomes.
Movement matters: Transportation strategy is a critical lever for cost, speed, and sustainability.
Risks aren’t going away: Uncertainty is baked into the supply chain, but proactive risk management keeps operations resilient
This year proved that strong supply chains are built on more than just tools and systems. They rely on proactive thinking, practical planning, and a willingness to adapt when the unexpected hits. The most successful companies in 2025 were the ones that treated supply chain management as a strategic function, not just a series of tasks.
As we head into 2026, these lessons are more than just takeaways from a blog. They are blueprints for what it takes to stay resilient, efficient, and ready for whatever comes next. At ASCI, we’re proud to support teams doing just that every day.
ASCI specializes in helping businesses to address supply chain management challenges. Visit our website to learn more and to arrange for a free consultation.
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