The Supply Chain Dialogues started in early 2023 with a simple idea: turn four decades of executive experience into structured conversations about what actually goes wrong in operations, supply chains, procurement, and corporate design — and what to do about it.
Season 1 laid the groundwork. Working with AI co-host Amy, the episodes walked through the core questions that reveal blind spots in any organisation: where value leaks, where processes break down, and where leadership gaps hide in plain sight.
Season 2 opened the door to guests. Practitioners and academics joined the conversation — on sustainability, GHG emissions, digital transformation, leadership, and the harder questions that rarely make it into management meetings.
Season 3 went deeper into sustainability and the path to Net Zero, exploring the human, organisational, and market forces that determine whether companies actually change — or just report change.
Season 4 drew directly on doctoral research into GHG emission reduction in discrete manufacturing. The findings challenged much of the conventional wisdom around regulation, measurement, and organisational size — and pointed toward what actually works.
All episodes are available on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, with full transcripts available here.
S03E01 - NetZero - Green Steel: Interview with Felix Schmitz, the CEO of Klöckner Metals in Germany
Summary
In this conversation, Daniel interviews Felix Schmitz, the CEO of Klöckner Metals in Germany, about green steel and the decarbonisation of the steel industry. They discuss the importance of steel in various industries, the environmental impact of steel production, and Klöckner Metals' strategic approach to sustainability. Felix shares his background, role at Klöckner Metals, and personal interests and affiliations. They also delve into the role of a steel and metal distributor, their value-added services, and the significance of technology in the steel industry. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the carbon footprint of steel, the journey towards green steel, and the potential for decarbonisation technologies to transform the industry. In this conversation, Felix Schmitz, CEO of Klöckner Metals in Germany, discusses the potential of green steel and the demand for decarbonised products. He emphasises the importance of educating customers about the benefits of green steel and dispels the misconception that it is more expensive. Schmitz highlights the need for steel purchasers to understand the business model and the potential cost savings of green steel. He also discusses the role of CEOs in driving decarbonisation and the importance of setting CO2 targets. The conversation concludes with a discussion on government subsidies for green steel and the need for common standards in the industry.
Enjoy!