About CAPSI

“Whenever I hear that we need a national dialogue, as in, we need a national dialogue on gun control, police reform, or voter rights, I wonder, where exactly would we have that dialogue? In the newspapers, on social media, in our courts? These venues are ill-suited for substantive national dialogues.” ... Michael Sussman

Industrial sectors often operate in fragmented silos, each pursuing arbitrary and sometimes conflicting goals. As a result, industrial development tends to unfold as a series of isolated projects rather than integrated systems. To navigate the challenges posed by climate change, we must redesign our supply chains to prioritize efficiency and sustainability.

Addressing these challenges demands unprecedented collaboration among all stakeholders within a framework that fosters trust and actionable plans. CAPSI brings together representatives from diverse industrial sectors to facilitate whole systems planning for profitable and sustainable outcomes. We achieve this through IntelliSynthesis®, our inquiry-based dialogue process, complemented by topic-focused IntelliConferences®.

As a society, we aren’t lacking intelligence for solving problems. What we lack is a communication framework that builds solutions without being derailed by excessive competition, mistrust, or vested interests. Over thirty years as trusted advisors working with thousands of partners from industry, government, academia, and communities, OnTrackNorthAmerica has developed IntelliSynthesis®, a powerful tool for mobilizing the knowledge, intelligence, and goodwill all around us. The more aspects of a system we identify, measure, and consider, the more we turn its interactions into positive synergies. Despite preconceptions, addressing all elements of a system makes it easier to build consensus and develop action plans. New solutions appear that would have otherwise been concealed.

Supply chain shortcomings became public during COVID-19 when goods were stalled at ports and intermodal transfer points for months. The Biden administration responded with a massive public investment in infrastructure. Unfortunately, this precious capital is allotted for individual competing projects while overall system inefficiencies remain. Consequently, we continue to stimulate more highway-centric supply chain activity and underutilize railroads’ energy, space, and capital efficiencies for moving heavy weight over land.

Consider how transportation has typically been planned, or more accurately, not planned. Supply chains have evolved as a chaotic response to shippers’ and developers' indiscriminate land transactions, regardless of the transportation inefficiencies those choices impose.

Railroads, ocean carriers, freight forwarders, ports, trucking companies, distributors, and shippers operate in a competitive and, in some cases, monopolistic mode, neither of which allows for the collaboration needed for supply chain efficiency. To create sustainable, multimodal industrial systems, we must shift toward integrated planning of supply chains, land use, and transportation.

A profound shift is necessary. If we don’t transform our approach, this mistrust could rob us and future generations of a sustainable, prosperous future. Fortunately, when we engage in open and accepting conversations, we foster trust and cooperation among others.

Through the co-creation of CAPSI, stakeholders envision, articulate, and commit to shared principles, protocols, and goals. By moving from a competitive to a collaborative mindset, we can develop policies, programs, and commercial opportunities that benefit everyone. While individual efforts have limits, together, we can harness our collective intelligence to reach our highest potential.

         “These are powerful ambitions. Thankfully, we now have the tools to produce action plans for success. Time is of the essence. We live in a critical moment of potential environmental collapse alongside the need to expand economic vitality to more people. Redesigning industrial systems will deliver both environmental and economic sustainability. Join us in CAPSI for a brighter future!” ... Michael Sussman