President's Messages

OCTOBER 2025 - MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Cybersecurity Meets MPS: Managing Digital Supply Chains Like Production Lines

This month’s message stems from one of those unexpected yet thought-provoking moments. A short elevator conversation that stuck with me long after the doors opened. I met a cybersecurity expert who, as it turns out, also holds the APICS Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM) credential. What began as small talk about our roles and how we intersect quickly turned into a fascinating exchange about how supply chain planning principles can be applied to managing cybersecurity risks. 

While we often talk about physical disruptions like port delays, weather events, or tariff changes, we don’t always spend enough time discussing digital disruptions. Yet, in today’s environment, a cyberattack or system failure can be just as damaging as a container ship stuck at sea.

We both agreed: the digital world has become as intricate, and vulnerable, as any physical supply chain. From firmware updates and vendor APIs to IoT sensors and data exchanges, today’s operations depend as much on software integrity as they do on material flow. Yet, while we meticulously plan every production run, many organizations still deploy software updates reactively, without the same discipline or visibility that we bring to manufacturing.

That conversation sparked this thought: what if we managed digital supply chains with the same rigor, we use for Master Production Scheduling (MPS)?

Applying MPS Discipline to Cybersecurity: MPS has long helped us plan what to produce, when, and in what sequence. When applied to digital ecosystems, those same principles can help organizations structure, verify, and control the movement of code. Just like how we manage parts, assemblies, and finished goods.

• Structured Scheduling: Just as MPS coordinates material releases, a disciplined software release schedule ensures updates are verified, tested, and approved before deployment. Minimizing the risk of hidden vulnerabilities.
• Bills of Materials (BOMs → SBOMs): In production, we track every component through the BOM. In digital supply chains, the Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) tracks all open-source libraries and dependencies, enabling rapid response when a vulnerability surfaces.
• Forecasting and Capacity Planning: We plan material and labor capacity. Why not do the same for patching and security testing? Forecasting software updates allows teams to allocate resources efficiently and reduce exposure time.
• Time-Phased Rollouts: MPS sequences production to manage flow and stability. Likewise, staged software deployments, pilots, validation, then enterprise-wide rollout can limit the impact of potential defects or malicious code.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Just as Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) synchronizes functions, a “Cyber S&OP” mindset aligns IT, procurement, and operations to jointly manage supplier risk and digital resilience.

By using MPS as a mental model, we move cybersecurity from reactive defense to proactive orchestration. Transforming the way we manage risk across interconnected systems.

From Factory Floor to Firmware: The parallels are striking.
In manufacturing, we depend on validated parts, qualified suppliers, and controlled release schedules. In cybersecurity, we need validated software components, trusted digital partners, and structured update processes.

Both systems rely on visibility, accountability, and flow control. And both can fail spectacularly when discipline is lost.

As recent incidents like MOVEit  (ransom ware) and Ripple20 (decades old vulnerabilities discovered in 2020) have shown, a single compromised software component can ripple through global operations proving that digital vulnerabilities are the new bottlenecks in our supply chain. By applying MPS logic to software and firmware management, we can build structured protection into the heart of our operations.

Leading the Way in Houston’s Digital-Industrial Future: Here in Houston and along the Gulf Coast, where energy, logistics, and manufacturing intersect, our region sits at the crossroads of digital transformation. As leaders in supply chain management, we have the opportunity,  and more important the responsibility, to extend our operational excellence into the digital realm.

Let’s bring the same rigor, planning, and continuous improvement mindset that we use on the production floor to the code that powers it.

Because in today’s world, cybersecurity is supply chain security!  Resilience is built one verified update, one trusted connection, and one disciplined schedule at a time. 

At ASCM Houston, we’ll continue to highlight where cybersecurity and supply chain management intersect and how our best practices in planning, scheduling, and risk management can help address emerging digital threats.

Stay secure, stay curious, and keep building resilient supply chains, both physical and digital.

What about you? How is your organization preparing for digital disruptions? Share your thoughts, we’d love to hear how different industries are tackling this challenge.

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Board Member Spotlight

This month I want to introduce our Vice President of Technology, Sang Hyun Park, MBA, MM-SCM. Sang truly understands the intersection between technology and supply chain management. Our ASCM Houston chapter is stronger because of it.

Sang Hyun Park brings a strong background in global supply chain management, digital transformation, and data-driven operations to his role as Vice President of Technology for the ASCM Houston Chapter. With more than a decade of experience spanning supply chain strategy, systems integration, and process optimization, Sang Hyun has a passion for leveraging technology to drive efficiency, visibility, and resilience across complex networks.

He holds dual Master’s degrees in Business Administration and Supply Chain Management and has earned multiple ASCM professional designations; Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD), Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM), and Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP). His combination of academic excellence and applied expertise positions him as a leader in bridging technology with operational performance.

At ASCM Houston, Sang Hyun leads initiatives to modernize the chapter’s digital platforms, enhance member engagement through technology, and promote innovation across the Gulf Coast supply chain community. Check out his enhancements to our chapter website! His commitment to continuous improvement and digital excellence reflects the chapter’s mission to empower supply chain professionals through education, innovation, and collaboration.

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Warm regards, 

Tammy Giesler-Hagans
President, ASCM Houston Chapter