How to Scale Supply Chain Wargames for Small, Mid-Size, and Global Brands
Supply chain stress tests aren’t just for Fortune 500s. Whether you’re running a $50M brand or coordinating global operations, scenario workshops—what we call wargames—reveal the blind spots that SOPs can’t.
But one-size-fits-all doesn’t work. The right workshop depends on your size, risk profile, and decision complexity.
Why One-Size-Fits-All Doesn’t Work
A fast-growing DTC brand doesn’t need the same playbook as a multinational manufacturer. The right wargame isn’t about how big your company is—it’s about how fast you’re moving, how connected your systems are, and how much chaos your team can absorb before things start to break.
We’ve seen three broad tiers that require different approaches:
For Small and Mid-Size Brands ($50M–$200M)
Keep it simple. A lean, half-day annual workshop is often enough.
Focus on:
- Peak season stress: How does your network handle a demand spike, carrier cap, or supplier delay?
- Critical dependencies: What happens if your top 3PL or co-packer goes down for a week?
- Decision ownership: Who has the authority to reroute inventory, approve overtime, or shift allocations?
Keep the invite list tight—ops, finance, supply planning, and customer experience. One good session can align your playbook for the year ahead.
For Larger Brands ($500M–$1B+)
Scale the scope and the stakes. Run multiple wargames by business unit, region, or product line.
Add depth by introducing red-team exercises—designated participants whose job is to “break” the system and challenge assumptions.
This builds muscle memory for your team’s real decision-making dynamics: how they escalate, communicate, and course-correct under pressure.
Run workshops quarterly or bi-annually to stress-test new distribution models, product launches, or M&A integrations.
For Global Operators
When your operations span continents, a single workshop won’t cut it. You need parallel wargames across geographies to test how coordination actually works.
Example:
- A disruption in Southeast Asia triggers a supplier delay.
- The U.S. and EMEA teams run simultaneous response exercises.
- Afterward, you compare decision timelines, data visibility, and communication flow.
Global wargames surface the systemic gaps between regions that dashboards can’t show—especially around autonomy, escalation, and shared visibility.
Lessons from Baggu’s Logistics Makeover
When Baggu restructured its logistics network, the shift wasn’t just physical—it was operational. The brand identified systemic blind spots that were limiting its flexibility and speed, and rebuilt its network for resilience.
That’s exactly what good scenario workshops do: they expose the fault lines before they become failures.
Wargames Build Resilience You Can Measure
The best wargames aren’t “fire drills.” They’re calm, structured rehearsals that test how your system behaves when reality doesn’t go to plan.
Start small, scale deliberately, and document what you learn. Over time, you’ll build not just a supply chain—but a system that knows how to adapt.
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