When constant disruption becomes part of the job, how do you build a supply chain that can withstand the pressure?
In this episode, Kyle Price, Vice President of Procurement at Caterpillar, joins Jan, Terry, and James to talk about building a resilient, flexible supply chain in a world that doesn't slow down. With more than 20 years at Caterpillar, Kyle offers valuable insights that acknowledge the complexity of supply chain management, but don't get stuck in it, either.
Supply chains have gone from regional and predictable to global and deeply complex. And the risks? They're not just more frequent; they're evolving.
So how do you lead through that? Kyle says don't wait for the perfect solution. You build flexibility into the design from the start. That means dual sourcing, holding strategic inventory, and using AI to spot risk early.
These ideas aren't new, but Kyle explains how to make them work. Dual sourcing, for example, doesn't have to mean doubling your cost. You can move quickly when needed by identifying backup suppliers early and setting up agreements in advance, without spending heavily up front.
Kyle brings up the importance of prioritization. With massive amounts of supplier data, it's easy to get lost. He explains how Caterpillar uses internal tools, including AI, to focus on what matters most to the business. For them, managing risk is not a side task. It's part of how procurement works day to day.
He also talks about the impact of new regulations. Kyle doesn't see this as something to push back on. For him, it's about being prepared and building the capability to respond. Resiliency, in his view, isn't just about avoiding disruption. It also affects cost, quality, safety, and how competitive you can be.
Jan asks Kyle what he'd tell supply chain leaders who feel too busy or too stretched to think about risk strategy. His advice? Start small. Don't wait for perfection. Focus on the pain points you already know, and build from there. Whether you do it in-house or partner up, just start.
Toward the end, Kyle talks about how he stays connected to the industry outside Caterpillar through his work on the AIAG board and with students at BYU's supply chain program. His goal isn't just to manage risk today but to help build better supply chain leaders for the future.
Themes discussed in this episode:
- Why flexibility needs to be designed into the supply chain from the start
- How AI and data tools are reshaping procurement risk strategies
- How to lead a supply chain team when the pressure never stops
- How risk planning must be embedded into everyday procurement processes
- The growing compliance pressure to trace materials across global supply chains
- How supply chain resiliency drives cost, quality, and safety improvements
- The importance of industry engagement in building the next generation of supply chain leaders
Featured on this episode:
Name: Kyle Price
Title: Vice President of Procurement at Caterpillar
About: Kyle is the Vice President of Procurement at Caterpillar, overseeing the Supply Resiliency organization. In this role, he leads a global procurement team that supports all four Caterpillar verticals and is responsible for developing enterprise strategies and processes that promote operational excellence within the supply network.
Over his 24 years with Caterpillar, Kyle has worked in various areas of the business, taking on...
