Did the Grinch Use Supply Chain Technologies?

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This past weekend I was trying to get into the holiday spirit and caught the original animated 1966 version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” on television. While watching the show I am annually impressed how his heart grows double in size with the joy that the people from Whoville felt in the morning. On the other hand, how did he pull off the logistical journey of a complete town pickup and delivery in a single evening faster than a superhero or an amazon experience.

Don’t get me wrong but Max the dog in the show is really no match to all the reindeers that Santa has in his arsenal. There must have been some sophisticated supply chain technologies at work here for planning and execution under the hood of that sleigh. For example, scheduling the individual houses for the pick-up of all the presents and food takes careful planning and sequencing for load balancing and sled efficiency. Never mind the amount of dog biscuits Max needed for fuel to get everything up and down the mountain. How does Grinch know how much there is to pick up at each location without a digital supply network sending shipment booking requests or knowledge of the supply and demand requirements for all the Roast Beasts and Colossal Jingtangler Cakes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then think of the status tracking requirements for estimated time of arrival, resource needs, or even risk management concerns of a supply chain disruption. The wooden antler on Max must have had some type of IoT device to send GPS signals back to the control tower at Grinch central atop Mount Crumpit.

From a pick-up perspective, as the Grinch tosses trees and the Zoozit and Kazay game presents up and out the chimney for Max to load on the sleigh, Max had to login the pick-up times as milestone tracking while they continue to fall on his head.

Okay, I get it. He somehow completes the mission of pick-up and makes it back up to the top of Mount Crumpit with all the food, trees, lights, and presents leaving not enough food for even a mouse. But wait, during the total chaos of pick-up he gets stopped by none other than our hero, Cindy Lou Who. Caught red-handed with her tree half-way up the chimney with a broken light, he remarks to her that he needs to fix it. Somehow he has the ability to repair the light through a maintenance work order system tied to inventory for light bulbs and achieve the ultimate degree of customer service.

 

 

 

 

 

Feeling quite proud of himself while Max takes a well needed nap back at home after bringing the loaded sled up the mountain, he feels he has stolen Christmas from the town of Whoville. But no, alas he hears singing and rejoicing in the morning. Even without their who-pudding and schlott knot breads, their games, and even trees. He understands that Christmas is more that that and his heart starts to double in size.

He decides to bring all the goodies back to town and return all the items and food to the respective houses. This must be a challenge. He obtains from the Digital Supply Network the forward and backward traceability of the items and sequence of deliveries now for each home to be most efficient. To help Max a little on the descent, the sled leverages the new electric rechargeable braking system that was recently installed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The problem he encounters after picking up all the food now is will the food still be any good on its return. Is it safe for the town folks of Whoville to eat? Granted Mount Crumpit is covered in snow and is in essence a cold storage facility. The Grinch therefore loads each satchel with a cold chain sensor and refrigeration packs to make sure the food is still fresh for consumption.

After a long day of pick-ups and deliveries he finds the meaning of Christmas and joins the festivities. Mayor Ned McDodd welcomes him into their hearts probably after a hefty fine for breaking and entering and they celebrate at no other than our heroine’s home, Cindy Lou Who. She is so appreciative that she got her light fixed on the tree that she makes the Grinch carve the roast beast.

 

 

 

 

 

Max enjoys plenty of leftovers under the table. All is saved and there is joy at Christmas in Whoville thanks to supply chain technologies. Happy holiday to everyone and have a blessed New year.