Optimizing supply chain operations to cost less and be more effective has long been a top priority for businesses. Now, companies must consider new sustainability measures such as carbon. Identifying, tracking and managing supply chain emissions is quickly becoming essential to optimization efforts, with the primary goal of detecting inefficiencies in fuel, electricity and water consumption and then correcting those inefficiencies to help eliminate waste and reduce costs. But improving one benchmark in an optimization effort may adversely impact another. It's rare that everything aligns perfectly.

For McCormick & Company, the ubiquitous producer of spices and flavorings, 2011 was one tough year. I'm not talking about financials; McCormick's net sales for the year were up 10.8 percent over 2010, to $3.7bn, while net income rose 5 percent, to $374.2m - not a bad performance in a sluggish economy. I'm referring to the anti-trifecta of disasters and disruptions that severely challenged the company's ability to service its customers.