Strengthening Ohio’s Supply Chain Resiliency: Insights from the SCOIN Study

By ClearView Management Resources

Ohio’s manufacturing economy is at a critical turning point. With global disruptions, workforce shortages, and rapid shifts in transportation and sourcing strategies, small and mid-sized manufacturers (SMMs) need clearer visibility and stronger networks to remain competitive.

To address this need, ClearView Management Resources partnered with the Ohio Department of Development and the Ohio MEP to lead a comprehensive statewide analysis: the Supply Chain Optimization & Intelligence Network (SCOIN) study. The full report—now available for download below—captures insights from 277 manufacturers across 66 counties, representing automotive/EV, aerospace/fabricated metals, chemicals/plastics, and more.

What the SCOIN Study Reveals

The study highlights several key challenges shaping Ohio’s manufacturing landscape:

Reduced Supplier Visibility: Many manufacturers lack insight into tier-2 and tier-3 suppliers, creating blind spots during disruptions.
Workforce Availability Pressures: Companies overwhelmingly cited talent shortages—especially in logistics, production, and maintenance—as a top barrier to growth.
Transportation & Freight Volatility: Rising costs, carrier constraints, and inconsistent lead times are impacting reliability for both inbound and outbound flows.
Overreliance on Out-of-State Sources: Despite Ohio’s strong industrial base, many companies still source heavily from other regions, creating avoidable risk and lost economic opportunity.
Inconsistent Performance Data: Manufacturers expressed difficulty measuring supplier reliability in a standardized, proactive way.

These findings demonstrate that Ohio’s supply chain is strong, but increasingly stretched—and that coordination and data are the keys to long-term resiliency.

ClearView’s Recommended Solutions: Building a Stronger Network

Based on these insights, ClearView provided several strategic recommendations, two of which are already in motion:

1. The Ohio Supply Chain Academic Network (O-SCAN)

O-SCAN brings together employers, educators, MEPs, economic developers, and workforce partners to build better talent pipelines and stronger industry connections. The network focuses on:

Regional workforce data
Pathway development
K-12 & postsecondary partnerships
Employer engagement
Technical assistance for SMMs

This collaborative model helps align education and industry while spotlighting career opportunities across logistics, manufacturing, and operations.

2. Digital Process Intelligence with Celonis

To help manufacturers identify inefficiencies and improve operational performance, ClearView recommended wider adoption of process-mining technology like Celonis.
Process intelligence gives companies real-time visibility into bottlenecks, cost drivers, and improvement opportunities—essential for navigating volatile supply chain environments.
A joint use case with Celonis is now underway to support manufacturers in applying these tools.

Why This Matters for Ohio’s Future

Ohio is uniquely positioned to lead in supply chain resiliency. Our central geography, strong manufacturing heritage, and emerging industries offer a powerful foundation—but success will require continued collaboration, smarter data, and aligned workforce strategies.

ClearView is committed to supporting this effort by providing research, technology, and actionable guidance that helps SMMs grow, adapt, and compete globally.

Download the Full SCOIN Report

2024 SCOIN MEP Ohio Report Download

If you’d like help interpreting the findings or exploring how O-SCAN, Celonis, or our workforce development services can support your organization, ClearView is here to help.