Greg Skrovan: Doing What’s Good for Intel and for the Environment
Greg Skrovan is the director of global reverse logistics for Intel Corporation.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Leads the global organization responsible for warranty and reverse logistics strategy, service delivery, customer service and fraud mitigation for all Intel products, as well as more than $1 billion in returns. Oversees management of more than 15 3PL return depots and repair centers.
EXPERIENCE: Global program director, circular economy, supply chain innovation and business development; group manager, capital equipment planning and supply line management group; manager, global transportation and logistics procurement; manager, European logistics; regional transportation manager; all with Intel.
EDUCATION: Georgia Institute of Technology, M.S., international supply chain management; Michigan State University, B.A., supply chain management
I should have ‘supply chain nerd’ in my LinkedIn job title. Even as a freshman in college, I knew I wanted to study supply chain. I’ve been blessed to be in supply chain roles since I graduated.
My interest in the circularity aspect of supply chains kicked in about seven years ago when I became involved in the reverse logistics function. You can’t have a circular economy without reverse logistics.
Typically the biggest struggle in gaining continued investment in sustainability initiatives, especially in the supply chain, is showing a return on investment. The thing that excites me most about our mission is that we play a critical role supporting our customers’ needs while also driving cost savings and doing something positive for the environment through our asset recovery capabilities. We try to find a way to either resell or repurpose any material that comes back to us, so we’re getting its highest value. Or, we try to recycle, with little to no waste.
Our goal is to recover and resell or recycle 99% of products that come back. Today, we’re able to reuse or resell roughly 60% of materials that come back. We want to find higher value uses for the 40% we can’t currently reuse or resell.
Circularity provides an opportunity to do what’s good for the company and for the environment.
Years ago, I worked in Amsterdam with a team of employees to transform our European distribution model. It was a great opportunity to be immersed in another culture and country. The biggest challenge was understanding local labor laws and the unwritten rules around working with employees in the Dutch culture, versus managing them in the United States.
Building our European team meant working a lot and failing a lot. But we were able to leave knowing we had a strong operation and strong local leaders in place. The operation continues to thrive.
Today, my team includes people from seven countries. Recognizing the differences in cultures and perspectives and the different ways people work and are motivated and contribute, while also staying within the strong Intel culture, is incredible. One great thing about Intel is we have a strong company culture, but we also have an inclusive culture and we take advantage of differences in perspectives and experiences.
As supply chain professionals, I believe we have a responsibility, which doesn’t exist in all functions, to make decisions that benefit our companies and are also good for the planet. This profession has the opportunity to excel in that sweet spot between doing what’s good for the company and what’s good for the environment.
Greg Skrovan Answers the Big Questions
1. If you could speed the development of a supply chain-disrupting technology, what technology would you choose?
Artificial intelligence and machine learning. We’re currently leveraging this in our receiving process, where we take advantage of the data and watch trends and opportunities. I’m excited about using it in our day-to-day work to make faster and better decisions.
2. Do you have any words to live by?
A colleague once said he knew he wouldn’t always be the smartest person in the room, but he could be the most prepared and work the hardest. It’s about focusing on what you can control and influence. Do that and good things are going to happen. Worst case, you’ll sleep well, knowing you did everything you could.
3. If you could throw a dinner party and invite anyone from throughout history, who’d make the guest list?
I would bring back several family members who have passed. I would bring Jesus; that would be an opportunity you couldn’t pass up. And the chance to be able to listen to Martin Luther King would be incredible.
So, a mix of thought leaders, inspirational people, my family, and some storytellers to make the dinner enjoyable.