Consumer Packaged Goods, Bulk Products, and What to Expect from a 3PL

How should consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies and bulk product manufacturers adapt when tariffs shift, retailers pivot, and consumer demand becomes unpredictable?

In this episode of Supply Chain  - Unfiltered, presented by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), host Melanie Stern sits down with Jesse Jones, Vice President of Operations at WSI, a national third‑party logistics (3PL) provider operating across 30 facilities in 10 U.S. states.

Drawing on nearly two decades of experience—including leadership roles at Kimberly‑Clark and extensive work across CPG logistics, bulk materials, paper, chemicals, and industrial supply chains—Jesse offers a candid look at what’s really happening inside today’s logistics networks.

This conversation goes beyond theory to explore real‑world supply chain challenges facing small‑to‑mid‑sized businesses, including:

• How CPG companies are responding to tariffs, inventory volatility, and retailer demands
• Why demand forecasting and inventory visibility remain difficult—especially for growing brands
• The role of data warehouses, WMS platforms, and analytics in modern 3PL operations
• Where AI fits today in logistics—and why people still matter most
• How to build flexibility into 3PL contracts as volume, channels, and product mixes change
• What to ask during a 3PL RFP process, beyond price and capacity
• Why leadership, standard work, and continuous improvement drive warehouse performance

Jesse also breaks down what “continuous improvement” actually means inside a 3PL, moving past buzzwords like Lean and Six Sigma to practical execution on the warehouse floor.

Whether you manage consumer packaged goods distribution, evaluate third‑party logistics providers, or navigate U.S. supply chain disruptions, this episode delivers practical insights you can apply immediately.

Supply Chain - Unfiltered brings you real stories from global business leaders—unfiltered conversations about logistics, procurement, and operations.