Cornerstone Edge: Planning and executing revolutionary supply chain services

The difference between a supplier and a supply chain provider is simple: while a supplier can provide a specific service or product needed, a supply chain partner or firm can offer you the same thing with an entirely different experience. The right supply chain partner can offer a full-service solution that is guaranteed to provide everything from quality control to logistics with a network of diverse suppliers.

Cornerstone Edge has more than a decade of experience and success under its belt. They can help reevaluate a supply chain strategy, no matter the demand. From analyzing a strategic game plan to delivering actionable methods, Cornerstone Edge has it covered.

CIO Bulletin had the opportunity to interview Brian Carlson, Founder of Cornerstone Edge, and talk about the company’s impact. 

Q. What is Cornerstone Edge’s story? How has the company grown in the market since its inception?

Cornerstone Edge is an all-in-one supply chain services partner that works with distributors and manufacturers to use their supply chain as a differentiator. We empower some of today’s fastest-growing brands to take their supply chains to the next level by delivering strategy, enhancing productivity, and providing technical guidance. Founded in 2011, we’re a company that’s small enough to care but strong enough to deliver.

After routinely witnessing projects go over budget and take longer than anticipated, we decided there had to be a better way to deliver supply chain transformations. We set out to build a company focused on building trust and delivering value. That company is Cornerstone Edge.

Cornerstone Edge has doubled since its inception.  While we have had some opportunities to grow faster, we have concentrated on quality. We have also narrowed our focus to supply chain projects that are specifically centered on strategy, productivity, and technology.

Q. What are the principles and values embodied by Cornerstone Edge?

We’re all about partnerships. We believe in leveraging the knowledge of your team and marrying that with the expertise of our people to create innovative solutions to the challenges slowing down supply chains. Customer relationships come first; we’re vendor agnostic (we evaluated 80+ solutions over the past 10 years), and we get that repeat business is critical to our business and yours. Some say commitment never looked so fierce.

While our commitment may sound like a tagline, the reality is that our resources are extremely focused on delivering solutions, not just completing projects.  Making sure that we remain on time, within budget, and meet the overall project objectives is who we are.  As we approach each project, some key differentiators from other firms include our creativity for solutions and our commitment to the effective execution of every single project.

Q. What is Cornerstone Edge’s philosophy on innovation? How committed is the company to furthering innovation within the supply chain industry?

We look at ‘industry best practices’ from a supply chain perspective.  However, many of those practices are ‘stale’ and do not meet the specific demands of a customer. That’s where our commitment to creativity and pushing the envelope helps us deliver innovation tailored to every client’s needs.

One customer we’re working with talks often about their ‘secret sauce’.  As with any company, there are standard processes, but there are also ways to build competitive advantages. Taking innovative concepts such as software technology or automation (e.g., conveyors, robotics) and building in creative ways to meet customer demand within their ‘secret sauce’ is how we approach every project.

Q. What are the services offered by Cornerstone Edge?

We have extensive knowledge of strategy, productivity, and technology that will help our clients stand out from their competitors.

We offer a variety of services, including Sales and Operations Planning, 3PL Selection and Implementation, Operations Analysis, Workforce Training, Warehouse Management system Expertise, and Material Handling system Evaluations.

Q. What sets Cornerstone Edge apart from its rivals when it comes to offering clients innovative solutions to their problems?

We design creative solutions for all our customers.  Part of that creativity includes providing customers with solutions that were not specifically requested but that we know can provide a better outcome.  For example, we have worked on strategic technology roadmaps for customers who originally wanted to purchase new software to meet their needs. In this case, we were able to identify ways to leverage existing technology with some minor changes that ultimately reduced labor costs and increased accuracy.

Another example includes a customer that had been planning on using existing buildings for the next 3–5 years for distribution. But after further analysis, it was determined that removing one DC from the network and designing a new one that included manufacturing would lead to undeniable savings in transportation and facility costs. It also laid the foundation for a future DC to better enhance its long-term DC footprint.

Q. What are some of the most innovative solutions Cornerstone Edge has offered to its clients?

As a niche supply chain consulting firm, we pride ourselves on our independence and have never resold a product. However, our innovation is based upon the unique ideas we come up with for leading supply chain solutions, whether it be utilizing AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots) in creative ways or leveraging warehouse management software applications beyond their out-of-the-box functionality.

Q. In the supply chain sector, according to Cornerstone Edge, which area is likely to observe the most significant and innovative disruption in the near future?

There is a lot of talk about Artificial Intelligence (AI) that could impact all industries, including supply chains. However, one of the tangible, innovative changes lately includes the use of AMRs in a distribution center operation. There are hundreds of suppliers moving into this industry, and there is a lot of ‘noise’ surrounding these innovative solutions. It’s important to note that many manufacturing and distribution companies are jumping into this arena without a clear long-term vision of how to use it.

From a cost perspective, there are vendors offering RaaS (Robot as a Service) that can provide significantly lower upfront costs and minimize maintenance challenges with these products.

Q. Would you like us to highlight something important happening in your company?

While Cornerstone Edge prides itself on creativity in its approach to every project and avoids ‘cookie-cutter’ solutions, we always remain focused on honesty and integrity. As a boutique firm, we hope that every one of our customers recognizes that in us as we focus on building ‘Trust and Delivering Value’.

A brief biography of the Founder

Brian Carlson has been in the supply chain game for over thirty years. He’s an experienced leader with a passion for delivering strategy, enhancing productivity, and providing technical guidance. He’s focused on identifying and growing professional services in the supply chain market across a variety of unique specialties, including distribution, transportation, supply chain performance, and more.

He has been a featured speaker at past International Warehouse Logistics Association conferences. Cornerstone Edge was named to Logistics Tech Outlook’s list of the Top 10 Supply Chain Providers in 2020 and has contributed articles to numerous industry publications, including one on building a new distribution center for Logistics Tech Outlook.

“The reality is that our resources are extremely focused on delivering solutions, not just completing projects.”