A conversation with Richard Herrin, forecasting and planning manager-NAFTA region, for Syngenta, a global agribusiness based in Basel, Switzerland.

A conversation with Hector Granda, director of global procurement policies and learning and development within the Integrated Supply Chain at IBM, Armonk, N.Y.

Over the past five years Best Buy Co. has developed a world-class supply chain that supports the company's position as one of the nation's top retailers, while saving millions of dollars in costs.

Preaching the gospel of Six Sigma, the company takes a global approach to the coordination of after-market parts planning, inventories and distribution.