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Greg Smith is Medtronic’s EVP of global operations and supply chain [Photo courtesy of Medtronic]

EVP of Global Operations and Supply Chain Greg Smith sees fewer suppliers in Medtronic’s future, he said in an interview this week.

Smith spoke with DeviceTalks Editorial Director Tom Salemi in his first published interview since joining Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) in April 2021.

Smith was previously EVP of U.S. supply chain at Walmart and SVP of global operations at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. His more than three decades of experience also includes time at ConAgra Foods, United Signature Foods, VDK Frozen Foods and Quaker Oats.

Around the same time that he joined Medtronic, semiconductors and resins were in short supply following the February 2021 cold s…

Greg Smith is Medtronic’s EVP of global operations and supply chain. [Photo courtesy of Medtronic]

For much of his 36-year career in operations, Greg Smith has had to explain to family and friends what the supply chain is and what his job is all about.

“I don’t have to do that anymore,” he said.

It’s no wonder why. Examples of supply chain SNAFUs have intruded on nearly all aspects of our everyday lives since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, from shortages of masks, test components and toilet paper in the early days to persistent bottlenecks in semiconductors, resins and the many medical and consumer products that use them.

Smith is EVP of global operations and supply chain at Medtron…