Supply Chain Now

From rising diesel prices and China's evolving economy to Boeing's continued turnaround and the growing role of AI in logistics, this week's episode of The Buzz, powered by Zebra Technologies, covers the biggest stories shaping global supply chains. Scott Luton is joined by special co-host Blythe Milligan (Everything is Logistics) and featured guest Matt Yearling, CEO of YMX Logistics, for a timely conversation on freight markets, infrastructure, innovation, and what leaders should be paying attention to now.

The discussion begins with the latest freight and economic headlines, including diesel price volatility, shifting global trade patterns, China's export performance, and what these trends mean for supply chain professionals. Scott and Blythe also explore Boeing's ongoing recovery and why trust remains one of the industry's most valuable currencies.

Later, Matt Yearling joins the show to discuss an often-overlooked area of supply chain operations: the yard. He shares why yard management has become a strategic differentiator, how AI is driving measurable operational improvements, and why successful digital transformation requires more than simply adding new technology. Throughout the conversation, the panel emphasizes practical innovation, operational excellence, and the importance of people in every supply chain.

Key Takeaways

Diesel prices, freight rates, and geopolitical uncertainty continue to pressure transportation costs.

China's manufacturing and export trends are reshaping global trade and nearshoring strategies.

Boeing's recovery demonstrates that rebuilding trust takes years—but is essential for long-term success.

AI delivers the greatest value through practical, incremental improvements rather than flashy automation.

Yard operations remain one of supply chain's biggest untapped opportunities for improving efficiency and reducing costs.

Technology succeeds when paired with operational expertise, strong processes, and empowered people.

Whether you're navigating freight volatility, evaluating AI investments, or looking for new ways to improve operational performance, this episode delivers practical insights from experienced supply chain leaders. Tune in for thoughtful analysis of today's biggest headlines and actionable ideas you can apply across your own organization.

Additional Links & Resources:

Connect with Matthew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewyearling/

Learn more about YMX Logistics: https://ymxlogistics.com

Learn more about Zebra: zebra.com/warehouse-vision

WTS: https://bit.ly/WTS-19-JULY-2026

U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index: https:bit.ly/scn-us-bank

Everything is Logistics: https://everythingislogistics.com

Diesel Fuel Prices:  https://on.wsj.com/4wgKItI

Chinese Economy:  https://cnn.it/4fkw5hD

Boeing Turnaround:  https://cnb.cx/4fkxVix

Zebra Technologies:  zebra.com/warehouse-vision

The Blockbuster vs. Netflix Era of Yard Logistics: https://ymxlogistics.com/blog/the-blockbuster-vs-netflix-era-of-yard-logistics

Latest blog post:  https://bit.ly/Losing-Sales-Due-to-Inventory

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- Peak Reality Check: What Shippers, Analysts, and AI Models Are Predicting for 2026: https://bit.ly/4aTlsRv

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

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Blythe Milligan. For additional information, please visit our dedicated episodes page at: https://supplychainnow.com/thebuzz-ai-freight-volatility-hidden-power-yard-operations-1613

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 AI hype cycle is over. The scaling race has begun.

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton welcomes special guest co-host Marina Mayer, Content Director of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive and Co-Founder of the Women in Supply Chain Forum, for a wide-ranging conversation on how AI is actually reshaping global supply chains, manufacturing, and the workforce behind them. Marina unpacks data showing the AI in logistics and supply chain market is set to grow from just over $20 billion to nearly $196 billion by 2034, and explains why the real driver isn't AI adoption itself but companies learning to target it to the specific parts of the business where it belongs. From there, the two dig into a 2026 AI Skills Enterprise Benchmark from Workera, revealing that manufacturers committed to structured upskilling are hitting 79% workforce readiness scores, and why employee confidence, not just capability, is the missing piece in so many transformation efforts.

The conversation builds into how KPMG research shows 73% of businesses are now planning a comprehensive overhaul of their supply chain operating model within the next three years, up from just 11% a year prior, and what that means for hiring, training, and the next generation of talent entering the industry. Marina and Scott also explore how mid-sized businesses are using AI to manage expenses and detect fraud, and revisit a conversation on putting frontline AI directly into the hands of workers on the floor to speed up onboarding and decision-making. Along the way, Marina previews the 2026 Women in Supply Chain Forum in Charleston, including its new mentorship program and self-advocacy theme. If you want a grounded, data-backed read on where AI in supply chain is headed next, this conversation delivers.

 

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(00:25) Meet Marina Mayer

(02:00) Balancing work and sports mom logistics

(05:28) The 196 billion AI supply chain boom

(06:05) Why AI adoption needs a targeted approach

(10:36) The 2026 AI Skills Enterprise Benchmark

(13:02) Building employee confidence with AI

(16:18) Lessons from MODEX and workforce transformation

(19:38) Why 73 percent are overhauling operating models

(25:47) Mid market businesses tackle AI and expenses

(28:35) Putting frontline AI in workers hands

(35:27) Women in Supply Chain Forum 2026 preview

 

Additional Links & Resources:

Connect with Marina Mayer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinamayer/

Learn more about Supply & Demand Chain Executive: https://www.sdcexec.com/

Learn more about Food Logistics: https://www.foodlogistics.com/

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/3XH6OVkps://bit.ly/4aTlsRv

WEBINAR- The Future of Supply Chains: Where Talent Meets Technology: https://bit.ly/4uUuxkc

WEBINAR- Peak Reality Check: What Shippers, Analysts, and AI Models Are Predicting for 2026: https://bit.ly/4aTlsRv

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

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/ai-transforming-supply-chain-jobs-skills-future-workforce-1612

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.

Freight audit is one of supply chain's most stubborn cost centers, and the traditional model of catching errors months after the fact is no longer good enough.

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton and Marty Parker are joined by Jason Murray, CEO at Shipium, and Tim Meester, Vice President, Network Performance & Intelligence at Shipium, to discuss the shift from reactive freight audit to always-on, AI-native monitoring.

The panel explores why the freight audit industry keeps growing at a 14.2% CAGR even as billing errors persist at 2 to 6% of all parcel invoices, and why every dollar lost to those errors can take 19 to 20 new revenue dollars to recover. They address how delayed, after-the-fact reconciliation lets small pricing mistakes snowball into major margin loss, outlining a vision for continuous, agentic auditing that catches issues before invoices even arrive. By leveraging live data, simulation, and autonomous AI agents, shippers can detect root causes in real time and act on them immediately rather than weeks later. Jason Murray concludes by challenging operators to start building a data-first culture now, before the competitive gap becomes impossible to close.

 

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro 

(02:40) Meet Jason Murray and Tim Meester of Shipium

(08:36) Jason's journey from Amazon to founding Shipium

(12:30) Why freight audit keeps growing yet errors persist

(12:47) Auditing as reconciliation hell and the GLP-1 analogy

(17:55) Always On Audit reframes reconciliation as monitoring

(22:08) Reframing leakage and loss spend as a margin tax

(26:47) Where the money actually leaks in parcel billing

(33:16) Always on audit versus traditional after the fact review

(46:18) Why the data layer has to come first for AI

(50:37) Real world use cases where AI catches hidden savings

(56:21) Holistic differentiation and the next 24 months for audit

Additional Links & Resources:

Connect with Jason Murray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-shipium/

Connect with Tim Meester: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meester/

Connect with Marty Parker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martyparker/

Learn more about Shipium: https://www.shipium.com/

Learn more about Adæpt Advising: https://www.adaeptadvising.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- The Future of Supply Chains: Where Talent Meets Technology: https://bit.ly/4uUuxkc

WEBINAR- Peak Reality Check: What Shippers, Analysts, and AI Models Are Predicting for 2026: https://bit.ly/4aTlsRv

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

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Marty Parker, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/inside-shipium-plan-turn-freight-audit-into-real-time-monitoring-1611

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.

On this episode of The Buzz, powered by Zebra Technologies, hosts Scott Luton and special guest co-host Amber Salley are joined by Rich Carey of MFG.inc to break down the biggest headlines shaping global supply chain. From the future of the USMCA and the health of U.S. manufacturing to separating AI hype from real-world value, this conversation delivers practical insights for supply chain leaders navigating constant change.

What does the latest manufacturing data really tell us? Is AI bringing meaningful transformation to supply chains or just creating more noise? And how can organizations build resilient operations while developing stronger leaders?

Scott, Amber, and Rich tackle these questions by exploring North American trade policy, manufacturing growth fueled by AI infrastructure investments, energy challenges, and the realities of autonomous supply chains. Rich also shares actionable leadership lessons from decades of operational excellence work, emphasizing servant leadership, trust, quick wins, and developing frontline leaders who can successfully lead change. If you're looking for practical strategies, not just buzzwords, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.

Key Takeaways

Why the annual review of the USMCA matters for supply chain planning and business certainty.

What recent U.S. manufacturing data reveals about growth, hiring, and AI-driven demand.

The difference between real AI applications and the growing "AI noise" across the supply chain industry.

Why autonomous supply chains still face significant hurdles around data, governance, and decision-making.

How servant leadership, trust, and quick wins accelerate successful operational transformation.

Why investing in frontline leaders is one of the most effective ways to improve manufacturing performance.

Whether you're leading supply chain strategy, manufacturing operations, procurement, or digital transformation, this episode provides thoughtful perspectives on today's biggest industry trends while offering practical leadership advice you can apply immediately. You'll leave with a clearer understanding of where the industry is headed and how great leadership remains the competitive advantage that technology alone can't replace.

Additional Links & Resources:

Zebra: https://www.zebra.com/machinevision

With That Said: https://bit.ly/WTS-12-July-2026

USMCA: Retail, manufacturing and apparel groups call for preservation: https://bit.ly/USMCA-Annual-Review

US factory activity eases off four-year high; input prices remain elevated: https://reut.rs/3SNyfPv

Turning Supply Chain Volatility into Competitive Advantage with o9 Solutions: https://bit.ly/SCN-At-Gartner-2026

The Autonomous Supply Chain: Why We’re Not There Yet (And What It Will Actually Take): https://bit.ly/Amber-Salley-AutonomousEra

From Planning to Decision Making: https://bit.ly/From-Planning-to-Decision-Making

Mfg.inc: https://mfg.inc/

Connect with Rich on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richcary/

Connect with Amber on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ambersalley/

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- The Future of Supply Chains: Where Talent Meets Technology: https://bit.ly/4uUuxkc

WEBINAR- Peak Reality Check: What Shippers, Analysts, and AI Models Are Predicting for 2026: https://bit.ly/4aTlsRv

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

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Amber Salley, and produced by Trisha Cortes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated episode page at: https://supplychainnow.com/buzz-manufacturing-momentum-ai-reality-leadership-lasts-1610

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.

Supply chain benchmarking has been evolving rapidly, but the biggest shifts in driving true organizational value may still be unfolding.

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton and Lora Cecere (Founder of Supply Chain Insights), are joined by Dave Winstone (Global Director, Supply Chain Excellence at Dow) and Wael Abdelmalek (CEO of Uthereal). Together, they explore what it truly means to define and measure supply chain excellence, moving from rigid historical spreadsheets to data-driven, dynamic benchmarking and human-AI partnership.

The panel highlights how 32 top-performing companies outperformed the market by focusing on metrics that correlate directly to market cap rather than a simple popularity contest. Dave draws on nearly four decades of global leadership to make the case for focusing on portfolio rationalization and network design while bypassing traditional distractions like massive ERP implementations. Meanwhile, Wael shares how agentic AI platforms can condense 15 years of industry-leading research into minutes, creating a powerful learning engine that works alongside humans to scale organizational insights.

The guests share the core operational pillars that separate top performers from the rest of the market: leadership alignment, clear strategic direction, customer focus, and balanced performance scorecards. By embracing data objectivity and the power of dynamic orbit charts, they demonstrate how leaders can have tough, uncomfortable conversations at the board level to navigate macroeconomic headwinds and unlock real, sustainable growth.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro 

(02:29) The journey behind Ask Lora 

(03:39) Dave Winstone's background at Dow 

(08:18) Divisional benchmarking and collaboration history 

(09:16) The data-driven origins of Supply Chains to Admire 

(11:59) Building relevant industry sectors and peer groups 

(13:30) Improvement vs. performance in maturity 

(14:26) Measuring what matters over popularity contests 

(15:58) Comparing Supply Chains to Admire with the Gartner Top 25 

(16:36) Looking at industry headwinds through orbit charts 

(19:45) Stripping out subjectivity in industry lists 

(20:36) Why small companies outperform large ones 

(21:42) Traditional best practices vs. historic pitfalls 

(23:27) Revealing the 2026 Supply Chains to Admire winners 

(26:05) Core pillars: What the top performers have in common 

(30:27) Ask Lora: Dynamic benchmarking through agentic AI 

(33:32) Wael Abdelmalek's deep tech and cloud architecture background 

(37:32) Leveraging proprietary algorithms and agentic behavior 

(41:45) Demonstration: How to use Ask Lora 

(47:36) Testing scalability and breaking the model 

(51:05) Shifting the cross-functional dialogue at the board level 

(54:22) Key lessons from the panel

Additional Links & Resources:

Connect with Lora Cecere: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loracecere/

Connect with Dave Winstone: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-winstone-79337a34/

Connect with Wael Abdelmalek: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wwael/

Learn more about Supply Chain Insights: http://www.supplychaininsights.com

Learn more about Dow: https://www.dow.com/en-us.html

Learn more about Uthereal: https://www.uthereal.ai/

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

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

WEBINAR- The Future of Supply Chains: Where Talent Meets Technology: https://bit.ly/4uUuxkc

WEBINAR- Peak Reality Check: What Shippers, Analysts, and AI Models Are Predicting for 2026: https://bit.ly/4aTlsRv

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

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/supply-chains-admire-2026-winners-dynamic-benchmarking-opportunities-1609

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.