Managing Cost & Supply Risk in a Volatile World

Global supply chains are more unpredictable than ever. Even the smallest components can cause major setbacks when costs spike, deliveries slip, or inventory dries up. This session brings together supply chain leaders, manufacturers, and sourcing experts to share practical strategies for controlling cost and securing supply in today’s volatile environment.

Whether you are scaling production, preparing for commercialization, or trying to stabilize your BOM, this discussion will give you concrete tools to reduce risk and avoid surprises.

What You Will Learn

Practical guidance you can apply immediately, including:

• How to identify the high volume components that silently drive most of your supply chain risk
• Proven approaches for reducing cost without compromising quality or compliance
• How global disruptions are affecting sourcing strategies and what to expect in 2025
• Inventory and buffer strategies that help prevent delays
• Contract, legal, and supplier relationship considerations that reduce long term exposure
• Real world examples of how manufacturers and supply chain teams are building resilience

Who Should Attend

• Hardware and hardtech founders
• Startup and growth stage operations leaders
• Supply chain, sourcing, and manufacturing managers
• Product development and engineering teams
• Anyone responsible for cost control and supply assurance

Featuring Expert Speakers

• Scott Longley - FORGE

Scott brings more than 28 years of international operations experience to his role as a Manufacturing Expert in Residence at FORGE. Drawing on deep expertise in process engineering, production, and global supply chain management—including leadership roles at Apple, HP, and Sun Microsystems—he helps startups navigate growth and scale. Scott is the former Co-Founder and COO of a Net Zero BIPV manufacturing startup, a past FORGE Advisory Board Member, and an advisor to several venture capital firms. He holds an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, speaks fluent Mandarin, and volunteers with UConn’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Disabled Veterans.

• Jurgen Frasch - New Page Associates

Jurgen helps manufacturers and hardware startups turn supply chain volatility into a manageable, measurable process. As Founder and Managing Director of New Page Associates, he leads a Boston-based team specializing in supply chain, engineering, and manufacturing support focused on de-risking scale-up, securing supply, and managing cost. With more than 25 years of leadership experience at companies including Mercedes-Benz, Tyco Electronics, Autoliv, and ClearMotion, Jurgen also co-founded the supply chain technology startup Skiprs and is a frequent panelist on resilience, trade disruptions, and tariffs. He was recognized as an Emerging Leader by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s SBA T.H.R.I.V.E program in 2024.

• Walter Esker - Plastics Manufacturing Resources

Walter began his career as a Mechanical Engineer in the diagnostics industry, designing, developing, and sourcing plastic and metal components for capital equipment and consumables, from one-off prototypes to mid-volume production runs. For the past three years, he has worked as a manufacturer’s representative specializing in custom plastics manufacturing, supporting OEMs ranging from early-stage startups to established companies. Driven by a lifelong fascination with how things are made, he is passionate about helping teams move from concept to physical part and navigating the technical and manufacturing challenges along the way.

• Jay Queenin - Specialty Bolt & Screw

Jay is President and Owner of Specialty Bolt & Screw (SBS), a global provider of c-commodity inventory management solutions headquartered in Agawam, Massachusetts. SBS designs and implements just-in-time kanban systems for manufacturers, as of last year, having delivered more than one billion components, and offers expertise in supplier auditing, low-cost country sourcing, kitting, planning, and engineering support across 13 facilities worldwide. Jay is the Past President and a Board Member of the National Fastener Distributor Association and serves on the Boards of Trustees for Westfield State University, Williston Northampton School, and Stanley Park of Westfield. Previously, he worked as an Assistant Attorney General in Massachusetts and as an Assistant District Attorney in Middlesex County. He holds a BA from Providence College and a JD from Suffolk University Law School.

Format

A lively, practical panel discussion with Q&A.
This is an online event. Registration is required.

Event Details

Date: December 16
Time: 10:30 AM
Location: Online
Cost: Free