T.J. Schaefer, Ph.D.

 Apple | Digital Supply Chain, Transportation and Logistics, Digitalization/Technology, Supply Management

San Francisco Bay Area

About

Global executive at tip of the spear for digital supply chain and digitalization with expertise in supply chain technology and transportation visibility, platform technology (network effects), supply chain management, transportation and logistics, and supply management. I work at the intersection of technology and logistics/supply chain. Using this wide experience range, I help companies with their digital supply chain and logistics transformation as well as reducing supply chain and transportation costs, and improving operations and processes. Current Board Member at the San Fransisco Roundtable and previous Board Member for the Chicago, Central Florida, and St. Louis Roundtables of the Council of Supply Chain Management (CSCMP) and a contributor for the Institute of Supply Management (ISM) certification study material. Keywords: Analysis, Analytics, Consulting, Contracts, Cost Take Out, Customer Service, Demand Planning, Digital Marketing, Digital Supply Chain, Digitalization, Electronic Logging Device (ELD), High Performing Teams, Implementation, Import / Export, Incoterms® rules, International Trade, Inventory Management, Key Performance Indicator (KPI), Leadership, Lean Six Sigma, Logistics, Marketing, Materials Management, Mixed Methods, Negotiation, Network Effects, Organizational Design, Packaging, Platform Technology, Professional Speaking, Project Management (PMO), Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), Scheduling, Sourcing, Start-Up, Strategic Sourcing, Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Network Design, Supply Planning, Technology, Telematic, Thought Leadership, Trade Compliance, Trade Terms, Training, Transportation, Transportation Management System (TMS), Transportation Visibility, Qualitative, Quantitative, Visibility, Warehouse Management. Languages: • English – Native speaker • Mandarin Chinese – Basic-to-intermediate listening and speaking ability

Experience

  • Apple ()
    • Worldwide Supply Chain Business Process Re-Engineering (BPR)
      Apr 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 4 mos

    • Worldwide Logistics Business Process Re-Engineering (BPR)
      Jun 2020 - Apr 2023 · 2 yrs 11 mos

  • project44 ()
    • Vice President, Carrier Strategy and Operations
      Jul 2019 - Jun 2020 · 1 yr

      project44 is a fast-paced technology start-up and platform that focuses on supply chain and transportation visibility operating in N. America, Europe & other regions. Voted #2 two years in a row on FreightWaves FreightTech list, behind Amazon both years. Global responsibilities include supply chain operations (US & EU), process improvement, and strategic partnerships. • Drove exponential operational improvements and global carrier network coverage • Managed high performing, global team of Directors and Managers with most coming from top consulting firms (Accenture, Deloitte, EY, and PwC). 13 languages supported. • Positioned project44 as supply chain, logistics, and transportation industry thought leader

    • Vice President of Global Carrier and Network Partnerships
      Mar 2019 - Jun 2019 · 4 mos

      Sourced, negotiated, and maintained strategic supply chain network supplier partnerships. • Grew global network partnership coverage • Forged strategic data relationships with key carriers, sourced data connections, and drove quality assurance (QA)

    • Head of Strategic Programs
      Apr 2018 - Mar 2019 · 1 yr

      Developed and executed strategies to build global supply chain network and implemented PMO. • Scoped and scaled global supply chain network to facilitate exponential company growth. • Negotiated partnership with GateHouse Logistics opening up Europe region to project44, and in parallel facilitated acquisition discussions that closed in December 2018. • Program management (PMO), implementation, and customer success for complex customers.

  • ABB (5 yrs 7 mos)
    • Assistant Vice President, Transport Management System
      Dec 2016 - Mar 2018 · 1 yr 4 mos

      ABB Inc. operates in more than 100 countries, employs around 136,000 people, and had 2016 annual revenue of $35.5 billion USD . Globally coordinating the roll-out and further enhancement of ABB’s Transportation Management System (TMS). • Implemented global TMS for 10 transportation centers in 20 major spend countries • Integrated seven global freight forwarders to TMS and sourced, negotiated, and implemented carrier application programming interface (API) provider, project44 • Developed and implemented global logistics key performance indicator (KPI) reporting • Identified and developed training, Developed processes, Identified, specified and negotiated TMS development items, Release and upgrade management • Developed & implemented artificial intelligence (AI) tool for Incoterms® rules application • Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt training and project

    • Network Design Excellence Lead, Americas
      Jun 2015 - Dec 2016 · 1 yr 7 mos

      Head of Americas region Supply Chain Network Design function supporting all ABB Inc. divisions. • Crafted the supply chain network design function within Americas region • Project Management Office (PMO) for the implementation of two transportation management systems (TMS) : JDA and Eyefreight • Using Llamasoft Supply Chain Guru, identified $1.4 million savings for South America electrical components distribution (CPG business) • Global subject matter expert (SME) and trainer for Incoterms® 2010 rules • Applying industry best practice for internal logistics consulting projects

    • Commodity Manager - Transportation & Logistics
      Sep 2012 - Jun 2015 · 2 yrs 10 mos

      Developed logistics strategies focused on aggressive cost take out across North America Power Products Transformers factories (6 United States, 2 Canada, & 1 Mexico). Responsible for transportation, trade compliance, and packaging ($80 million USD spend). • Exceeded cost take out targets 2012 ($7.68M), 2013 ($8.7M) & 2014 ($9.4M) • Led 3 commodity teams to drive strategy across region and sites • Executed China ocean freight consolidation program (warehousing, ocean freight, LTL, FTL, final mile) for all ABB U.S. locations resulting in $2.1 million annual savings • Implemented Center of Excellence (CoE) for heavy lift and project cargo and developed supplier qualification process and standardized frame agreements • ABB Supply Chain Excellence Program (SEP) graduate

  • MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. / SunEdison ()
    • Global Supply Chain Manager
      Jun 2012 - Sep 2012 · 4 mos

      Led global strategic supply chain planning for Solar Energy division

    • Global Logistics Manager
      Jan 2012 - Jun 2012 · 6 mos

      Led Solar Energy division logistics organization (Solar Materials and SunEdison divisions merged in January 2012) •Built matrix logistics organization that supports four business units •Driving results through accountability, processes, and review cadence •Establishing KPI’s, scorecards, and governance structure •Executed contract targeted at biggest spend - $3.2 million annual savings •Supply chain subject matter export (SME) for ERP implementation

    • Logistics Lead / S&OP Analyst
      Mar 2011 - Jan 2012 · 11 mos

      Led Solar Materials division Logistics ($50 million annual spend) and driving S&OP process improvements •Reduced logistics spend significantly (< half) in Q3 and Q4 2011 •Executed numerous rate reductions and led many logistics improvements •Asia warehousing -65% and China/Taiwan trucking – 40% •Led many high profile logistics improvements •Implemented multiple S&OP enhancements

  • Global Supply Chain Manager at Zoltek
    Jul 2010 - Mar 2011 · 9 mos

    Developed and led the Global Supply Chain organization •Managed and coordinated conversion, export/import compliance, logistics, procurement, and sourcing •Identified and reduced global logistics costs •Developed purchasing strategy for major raw material spend, Acrylonitrile