One that continues to resonate with manufacturing leaders is an acronym first introduced in 1987: VUCA—volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. What was once a way to describe periods of disruption has become a more consistent operating reality. Supply chains are no longer defined by isolated events, but by ongoing variability that leaders must design around. That shift is changing how companies think about performance. It’s no longer enough to optimize for cost alone. Manufacturers are placing greater emphasis on reliability, responsiveness and the ability to maintain continuity under pressure.