Supply Chain Now

From shifting commodity markets and explosive data center growth to drone delivery and AI-enabled workplaces, supply chain leaders are navigating change from every direction.

In this episode of The Buzz, powered by Toyota Automated Logistics, Scott Luton and Dr. Rod Thomas are joined by Hans Kremer, partner and co-founder of Inchange, to unpack the latest supply chain headlines and explore what professionals and organizations need to thrive in a rapidly evolving business environment.

The discussion shifts to professional development, where Hans shares why companies need to stop training in silos and create more cross-functional learning experiences. The group also explores lifelong learning, the value of hands-on operational experience, and why AI should be viewed as a capability multiplier, not simply a tool for cutting costs or increasing efficiency. They close with powerful insights on leadership, trust, empathy, and creating environments where people can succeed.

Key Takeaways:

Successful change starts with the people doing the work. Find true advocates early, listen carefully to resistance, communicate the “why” repeatedly, and give teams the time and resources needed to implement change.

Supply chain has become a strategic differentiator. Competition increasingly happens between entire supply chain ecosystems, not simply individual companies.

Tomorrow’s supply chain professionals need more than technical expertise. Strategic inquiry, discernment, judgment, adaptability, communication, and influence will become increasingly important as AI expands access to technical capabilities.

Copper and other critical resources could become major constraints on AI and electrification growth. Data centers, infrastructure investment, geopolitics, tariffs, and limited natural resources are creating complex global supply challenges.

Professional development needs to become cross-functional. Giving employees opportunities to experience sales, operations, supply chain, finance, and other perspectives can help break down silos and improve organizational performance.

AI should make people more capable, not simply more efficient. Organizations that use AI only to automate existing tasks may miss its greater potential to enable employees to solve problems and perform work they could not previously do.

Leadership is about enabling the success of others. Strong leaders remove obstacles, protect their teams, model the right behaviors, build mutual trust, and create an environment people want to follow.

This episode brings together timely supply chain news with practical lessons on leadership, learning, technology, and organizational performance. Whether you’re preparing your workforce for AI, navigating major market shifts, developing the next generation of supply chain talent, or simply trying to become a stronger leader, Hans, Rod, and Scott offer actionable perspectives you can put to work right away.

 

Additional Links and Resources:

Toyota Automated Logistics: https://toyota-automated-logistics.com/

With That Said: https://bit.ly/WTS-8-August-2026

Leading Beyond The Next Disruption: https://bit.ly/Mourad-Tamoud-SE

Rod's LinkedIn Post: https://bit.ly/The-Perfect-SC-Manager

Han's LinkedIn Post: https://bit.ly/Hans-Music-Stories

Copper jumps to its highest level ever. What the metal is telling us: https://cnb.cx/4cvTGv8

Congo Issues Immediate Copper and Cobalt Ban as Smelters Pay Miners for Feedstock: https://bit.ly/DRC-Bans-Some-Exports

Caterpillar sales surpass $20B as data center generators take off: https://bit.ly/CAT-has-big-2Q2026

DoorDash Takes to the Sky With Its Own Drones: https://on.wsj.com/4ccxIx7

Inchainge: https://inchainge.com/  

The Readiness Rules: https://now.supplychainnow.com/the-readiness-rules

Connect with Hans on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanskremer/

Connect with Rod on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rod-thomas-a409a41/

Upcoming Live Programming:  https://supplychainnow.com/upcoming-live-programming/

Supply Chain Now Resource Hub: https://supplychainnow.com/resource-hub/

Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about

Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com

Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now  

Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join  

Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk

WEBINAR- From Disruption to Stability: Building Resilient Logistics Solutions in a Rapidly Changing Global Market: https://bit.ly/3TguZMt

WEBINAR- SAP AI Inside the Supply Chain: From Silo to Orchestration: https://bit.ly/4bvpz6K

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Rod Thomas, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/buzz-ai-copper-drone-delivery-future-supply-chain-leadership-1622 

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.
For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at production@supplychainnow.com
© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A missed delivery in a public health supply chain is never just a logistics problem. It can mean a child misses a vaccine, a patient goes without treatment, or an entire community loses trust in its healthcare system.

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton welcomes Don Hicks, CEO of Optilogic, and Taylor Wilkerson, Executive Director of Design for Life, for a powerful conversation about using supply chain design to help more people access essential medicines. Don and Taylor explain why many public health supply chains face the same complexity as the world’s largest commercial networks, but must operate with far fewer resources, limited infrastructure, and consequences measured in human lives rather than profit. Taylor shares how outdated systems, manual processes, and limited visibility can prevent medicine from reaching the communities that need it most, while Don explains why managing the existing network is not enough. Meaningful progress requires redesigning the system itself.

The conversation explores why resilient supply chains must be built before a crisis hits. Taylor explains how better data, flexible networks, and stronger design can help healthcare systems respond to outbreaks and demand surges. He also shows how a single stockout can lead to missed care, greater health risks, and lost trust. The medicine may cost pennies. The real challenge is getting it to the right people at the right time.

Don and Taylor also talk about how AI can make advanced supply chain tools more accessible. Local health leaders could ask questions in plain language, test scenarios, and make faster decisions without relying on outside consultants. By putting planning and optimization tools in the hands of the people closest to the problem, Design for Life aims to improve healthcare access and save lives.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(02:31) Meet Don Hicks and Taylor Wilkerson

(07:25) Taylor’s path into public health supply chains

(09:27) Don’s experience with global healthcare delivery

(13:06) The mission behind Design for Life

(17:57) Why resilient supply chains must come before crisis

(20:04) How public healthcare networks really operate

(22:02) Why managing the current system is not enough

(24:23) Turning supply chain studies into action

(27:48) Two forces reshaping global health supply chains

(30:17) How AI can democratize supply chain design

(33:15) The human cost of medicine stockouts

(37:46) Making advanced planning tools easier to use

(40:38) Why the best user interface may be none

(44:40) Empowering local experts to make decisions

(48:42) How to support Design for Life

(51:13) Finding purpose through supply chain work

Additional Links & Resources:

Connect with Taylor Wilkerson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-wilkerson-21477a/

Learn more about Design for Life: https://designforlife.org/

Connect with Don Hicks: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donald-hicks-35575b/

Learn more about Optilogic: https://optilogic.com/

Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about

Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com

Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now

Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join

Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://supplychainnow.com/media-kit/

WEBINAR- From Volume to Resilience: How Automotive Supply Chains Are Adapting to a New Market Reality: https://bit.ly/4f6SUGA

WEBINAR- From Disruption to Stability: Building Resilient Logistics Solutions in a Rapidly Changing Global Market: https://bit.ly/3TguZMt

WEBINAR- SAP AI Inside the Supply Chain: From Silo to Orchestration: https://bit.ly/4bvpz6K

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/public-health-supply-chain-redesign-bigger-band-aids-will-not-work-1621

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.
For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at production@supplychainnow.com
© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Most apparel companies don't have a demand problem. They have a lead time problem.

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, hosts Scott W. Luton and Scot Case welcome Maithili Shenoy, Founder and CEO of La Naia Collective, for a frank, frameworks-forward look at why the global apparel operating model is cracking under its own weight and what it would actually take to rebuild it. From the Multifiber Agreement's unraveling in 2005 to the speed at which TikTok now dictates what sells, Maithili draws a clear line between the world the industry was built for and the one it's operating in today. She breaks down why long lead times convert forecast error into stranded inventory, how the markdown machine erodes billions in gross margin dollars annually, and why the financial damage runs deeper than most balance sheets reveal. Scot adds a sustainability lens that sharpens the conversation, connecting the landfills of Ghana's Kantamanto Market to the same structural misalignments driving poor financial returns.

The conversation builds into Maithili's 4S architecture: Strategize, Segment, Structure, Sustain, and the regenerative loop that ties them together. Real-world examples ground every layer: Inditex running 57.8% gross margins with inventory costs half the industry average, Abercrombie & Fitch going from 1% to 15% operating margins by abandoning markdown dependency, and why companies still anchored to gross margin rate alone are running out of runway. If you're trying to understand why so many smart people keep making decisions that produce irrational collective outcomes and what a better model actually looks like, this conversation earns its time.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(02:19) Meet Maithili Shenoy

(03:47) From classical dance to global supply chains

(06:28) Career experiences that shaped her perspective

(09:23) The hidden cost of apparel overproduction

(13:06) Why today's apparel operating model is broken

(14:23) How globalization changed fashion supply chains

(19:56) Why costs keep rising across the industry

(21:30) The biggest flaws in the current operating model

(23:55) Four ways the current model destroys value

(29:14) Introducing the 4S architecture

(30:10) Strategize with the right business metrics

(33:09) Segment products by demand and speed

(37:50) Align incentives with business outcomes

(40:41) Building a model that can adapt over time

(45:02) The metrics every apparel leader should track

(49:57) What Zara, Abercrombie, and Ralph Lauren do differently

(55:47) Why apparel returns are becoming more expensive

(01:01:06) Predictions for the future of apparel retail

Additional Links & Resources:

Connect with Maithili Shenoy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maithili-shenoy/

Learn more about La Naia Collective: https://www.lanaiacollective.com/

Connect with Scot Case: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotcase/

Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about

Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com

Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now

Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join

Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://supplychainnow.com/media-kit/

WEBINAR- From Volume to Resilience: How Automotive Supply Chains Are Adapting to a New Market Reality: https://bit.ly/4f6SUGA

WEBINAR- From Disruption to Stability: Building Resilient Logistics Solutions in a Rapidly Changing Global Market: https://bit.ly/3TguZMt

WEBINAR- SAP AI Inside the Supply Chain: From Silo to Orchestration: https://bit.ly/4bvpz6K

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Scot Case, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/appareal-pandl-broken-tariffs-just-exposed-what-already-failing-1620

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.
For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at production@supplychainnow.com
© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From rising diesel prices and geopolitical instability to new defense sourcing requirements and rapid advances in artificial intelligence, procurement and supply chain leaders are navigating a business environment where the traditional playbook no longer works.

In this episode of The Buzz, powered by Toyota Automated Logistics, hosts Scott Luton and Allison Giddens welcome James Meads, founder of Entrepreneurial Procurement, for a timely discussion on the forces reshaping procurement and global supply chains. The conversation explores major investments in domestic manufacturing, the growing tension between lean inventory and supply chain resilience, and the ripple effects of diesel shortages and commodity inflation.

The panel also examines new Pentagon sourcing and traceability policies, including the challenges of reducing dependence on critical materials from countries such as China and Russia. James explains why procurement teams must move beyond a process-driven, support-function mindset and begin operating more like entrepreneurial business partners. He also shares practical AI applications that can eliminate repetitive work, improve research, and help procurement professionals focus on higher-value decisions without automating broken processes or relying on poor data.

Key Takeaways:

Why companies such as GE Aerospace and General Motors are investing heavily in domestic production, supplier resilience, and access to critical components

How geopolitical instability is forcing businesses to reconsider just-in-time inventory strategies and qualify additional suppliers

Why higher diesel prices can create widespread inflation across transportation, agriculture, manufacturing, and consumer goods

The opportunities and risks associated with new defense sourcing, supply chain mapping, and material traceability requirements

Why procurement leaders must advocate for investment, communicate their value, and adopt a stronger ownership mindset

Practical AI use cases that can reduce manual work in procurement, including data entry, supplier research, category strategies, RFPs, and RFQs

Why technology cannot successfully orchestrate broken processes or unreliable data

How procurement teams can choose technology based on specific business problems instead of getting distracted by product demos and industry hype

Procurement is no longer simply about controlling costs or processing transactions. It has become a critical source of resilience, innovation, risk management, and competitive advantage. Tune in to hear practical guidance on building stronger supplier strategies, selecting technology that solves real problems, and preparing your organization for a more uncertain and fast-moving global business environment.

Additional Links & Resources: 

Learn more about Toyota Automated Logistics: https://toyota-automated-logistics.com/

The latest edition of “With That Said”: https://bit.ly/WTS-2-August-2026

GM invests in U.S. onshoring: https://bit.ly/GM-Invests-In-Onshoring-2026

“Diesel Supply Crunch”: https://bit.ly/4yQTEI1

The White House issues executive order on DoD procurement: https://bit.ly/New-Executive-Order-for-DoD-CriticalMinerals

Download the Procurement Tech Map from James Meads: https://resources.entproc.com/tech-map-for-mid-market-businesses

Connect with James Meads: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-meads/

Upcoming Live Programming:  https://supplychainnow.com/upcoming-live-programming/

Supply Chain Now Resource Hub: https://supplychainnow.com/resource-hub/

Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about

Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com

Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now  

Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join  

Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk

WEBINAR- From Volume to Resilience: How Automotive Supply Chains Are Adapting to a New Market Reality: https://bit.ly/4f6SUGA

WEBINAR- The Automotive Industry’s Next Digital Breakthrough: https://bit.ly/4vhUwT4

WEBINAR- From Disruption to Stability: Building Resilient Logistics Solutions in a Rapidly Changing Global Market: https://bit.ly/3TguZMt

WEBINAR- SAP AI Inside the Supply Chain: From Silo to Orchestration: https://bit.ly/4bvpz6K

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Allison Giddens, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated episode page at: https://supplychainnow.com/thebuzz-procurement-mindset-shift-modern-businesses-need-1619

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.
For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at production@supplychainnow.com
© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The annual release of a major industry index always sparks intense debate, but the true value lies in the core strategies driving the world’s top performers.

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton is joined by regular co-host Mike Griswold, Vice President Analyst at Gartner, and special guest Laura Rainier, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner, to break down the defining macro trends from the Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 for 2026.

The panel explores how leading organizations navigate global volatility by moving past tech experimentation to deliver true enterprise value. They dive into the realities of the autonomous workforce era, detailing how top-tier supply chains prioritize human-machine collaboration and systems thinking over simple digital literacy. Highlighting standout examples like Unilever’s shared forecasting and Schneider Electric’s disciplined process optimization, the discussion illustrates what it takes to build a resilient, network-centric operation. Laura Rainier also addresses critics directly, explaining why qualitative community opinion remains the ultimate "secret sauce" for capturing true excellence, while Mike Griswold wraps up by challenging leaders to leverage the supply chain as a primary engine for strategic growth. 

 

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:44) Gartner's 2026 Top 25 preview

(02:23) Meet Gartner analyst Laura Rainier

(04:46) Laura's future supply chain research

(07:28) Three supply chain macro trends

(11:26) Network-centric strategies and orchestration

(15:46) Top 25 companies leading change

(21:41) Fix processes before deploying AI

(24:30) What defines a Supply Chain Master

(26:49) Why leaders invest in people

(27:34) How Supply Chain Masters stay ahead

(29:07) New and returning Top 25 companies

(31:09) How companies earn their return

(34:03) Why Schneider Electric ranks first

(40:34) Walmart's rise and retail momentum

(42:41) Why community opinion matters

(47:38) 2027 ESG methodology changes

(48:25) Gartner events and upcoming summits

 

Additional Links & Resources:

Connect with Mike Griswold: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-griswold-6a68922/

Connect with Laura Rainier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-rainier-9087857/

Learn more about Gartner: https://www.gartner.com/

Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about

Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com

Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now

Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join

Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://supplychainnow.com/media-kit/

WEBINAR- From Volume to Resilience: How Automotive Supply Chains Are Adapting to a New Market Reality: https://bit.ly/4f6SUGA

WEBINAR- The Automotive Industry’s Next Digital Breakthrough: https://bit.ly/4vhUwT4

WEBINAR- From Disruption to Stability: Building Resilient Logistics Solutions in a Rapidly Changing Global Market: https://bit.ly/3TguZMt

WEBINAR- SAP AI Inside the Supply Chain: From Silo to Orchestration: https://bit.ly/4bvpz6K

 

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/macro-trends-micro-moves-inside-gartner-supply-chain-top-25-1618

The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.
For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at production@supplychainnow.com
© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.