Supply Chain Now Radio

In this new episode of Supply Chain Now, hosts Scott Luton and Billy Ray Taylor are joined by Chris Kupillas and Carly Bly from BlueGrace Logistics to unpack effective supply chain management and discover strategies that lead to significant cost savings and enhanced operational efficiencies.Listen in as Chris and Carly discuss the importance of a customer-centered approach to logistics, emphasizing transparency, and communication in identifying and mitigating cost drivers in transportation networks. They share expert insights on simplifying processes to maximize efficiency, leveraging technologies, and fostering collaborative relationships with key supply chain partners.This episode also features a unique segment on Blue Grace’s creative approach to marketing and stakeholder engagement, including a fascinating glimpse into a comic book designed to highlight “villains” in the supply chain. Tune in to learn how aligning business strategy with customer needs and internal capabilities can transform your supply ch

Let the National Supply Chain Day celebrations continue! On Monday, April 29th, Supply Chain Now celebrated National Supply Chain Day with a very special live stream. Hosts Scott Luton and Mary Kate Love were joined by Enrique Alvarez from Vector Global Logistics, and discussed the importance of celebrating the people of the supply chain industry, highlighting the various roles and responsibilities that keep the global supply chain running. Listen in as they also discussed trends in the industry, including the rise of AI, sustainability, and cybersecurity, and highlighted the creation of new jobs and career opportunities in the industry, emphasizing the need for continuous learning and adaptation. Join us for this episode and help us continue to show gratitude and empathy to our incredible supply chain professionals and stay tuned for more programming for National Supply Chain Day in the future!Additional Links & Resources:Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.comWEBINAR- From Data to

We’re continuing our series on leadership within the booming supply chains of Africa and delving deep into the dynamic and challenging world of the African supply chain ecosystem.In this episode, hosted by Scott Luton and Mary Kate Love, we’re thrilled to have two exceptional guests with us - Jacques de Villiers, Head of Supply Chain for the Omnia Group, an influential heavyweight in the mining and agriculture sectors, and MJ Schoemaker, President of the Board at SAPICS, where she's leading from the front to uplift and transform supply chain professionalism through educational initiatives and community engagement.Listen in as we discuss the hurdles and prospects of supply chain operations, touching upon critical issues like infrastructure, education, and the shifting paradigms from efficiency to reliability in a world where environmental and social considerations are paramount. MJ brings us insights from the upcoming 46th SAPICS conference, focusing on global healthcare, sustainability, and the importance of

“When you're looking at budgeting for the next two, three, four years, know that the parcel market right now is ripe. So go for it hard right now. Plan for volumes to stay pretty steady.”In this episode of Supply Chain Now, we’re joined by Robin Meyer, Senior Vice President of Parcel Strategy and Solutions at Transportation Insight.Sharing a captivating reel of anecdotes and a truckload of insightful advice, Robin, along with hosts Scott Luton and Mary Kate Love, offers several key parcel market forecasts, signposting a clear message: In what has become a shippers’ market, the opportunities for large and small players alike are immense.Discussions include a focus on the priorities of industry leaders, from the need to cut costs to mitigating risks and meeting heightening consumer expectations. Later, conversations then turn to the hangover from the pandemic and importance for shippers to diversify and take advantage of favorable market conditions.From considering how to find the right partner for your busines

The Buzz is Supply Chain Now’s regular Monday livestream, held at 12 noon ET each week. This show focuses on some of the leading stories from global supply chain and global business, always with special guests – the most important of which is the live audience!In this week's episode of The Buzz, host Scott Luton welcomes special guest co-host Vin Vashishta to the show for a very supply chain tech-focused episode of The Buzz. Together they discuss:The new Logitech mouse that launches ChatGPT in the push of a buttonEverything you need to know about AI washing: what it is, what it affects, and how you can identify itAn overview of IBM's recent availability of Meta Llama 3What just might be behind all those Facebook fights you scroll past And so much more!Additional Links & Resources:Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.comLearn more about National Supply Chain Day: https://supplychainnow.com/nscdWEBINAR- From Data to Delivery: Transforming Logistics for Maximum Efficiency: https://bit.ly

Join us for an insightful journey into the heart of the beauty industry's retail supply chain. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, sponsored by Microsoft, hosts Scott Luton and Kevin L. Jackson delve into the intricate world of beauty retail with special guest Caroline Troit, Senior Vice President, Salon Centric, for L'Oreal. Listen in and discover why the retail supply chain is the lifeblood of the beauty industry, powering the seamless delivery of products to millions of independent stylists and salon owners and explore how innovation, sustainability, and the relentless pursuit of efficiency are shaping the future of beauty retail supply chains. Get ready to uncover the strategies and insights driving retail success in the dynamic world of beauty, in this episode, as we hear directly from a leader at the forefront of the industry, Caroline Troit.Additional Links & Resources:Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.comLearn more about National Supply Chain Day: https://supplychainnow.co

In the energy sector, sustainability isn't just a buzzword; it's a necessity. As the world faces urgent environmental challenges, the energy industry plays a critical role in reducing carbon emissions and promoting a cleaner future. Sustainable practices are not only essential for environmental stewardship but also for ensuring long-term resilience and competitiveness in an evolving market.In this episode of Supply Chain Now, sponsored by Microsoft, Scott Luton and his co-host Kevin L. Jackson are joined by Dwight Jacobs, the Senior Vice President of Supply Chain and Chief Procurement Officer at Duke Energy. They delve into various aspects of the intersection between supply chain procurement, technology, and sustainability within the energy sector.Dwight shares insights from his journey at Duke Energy, emphasizing the importance of a people-centric approach and servant leadership in driving success. He reflects on Duke Energy's mission to power communities and discusses the evolving role of technology in achi

The Buzz is Supply Chain Now’s regular Monday livestream, held at 12 noon ET each week. This show focuses on some of the leading stories from global supply chain and global business, always with special guests – the most important of which is the live audience!In this week's episode of The Buzz, hosts Scott Luton and Billy Taylor welcomed Amit Sinha, Principal, AWS Industry Products, Supply Chain & Operations with Amazon Web Services, and Jorge Morales, Global COO of ISCEA. Together they discussed what to expect from the upcoming 2024 ISCEA SC Tech Show, along with top news including:‘Rosie the Riveters’ being honored by CongressHow factories around the world are slowly cranking into gear againAI tools bringing real gains into supply chains And much more!Additional Links & Resources:Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.comLearn more about National Supply Chain Day: https://supplychainnow.com/nscdWEBINAR- Profitable Manufacturing Unveiled: Crafting a Winning S&OP Stra

What are point solutions? What problems can they solve? Why is it a good approach for companies that are starting out on their automation journeys?In this episode of Supply Chain Now, we have two experts with a combined experience of more than 35 years of experience in materials handling and global supply chain strategy.Both are from Bastian Solutions, a Toyota Advanced Logistics company that specializes in the design and delivery of distribution and production solutions for clients in the United States, Canada, India, the Middle East, Mexico and South America. Alex Haines is the company’s Manager of New Business Development, and he joins hosts Scott Luton and Kevin L. Jackson alongside VP of Global Sales and Applications, Matt Kuper.During the conversation, Alex and Matt introduce and explain the merits of a point solutions approach to automating supply chain and warehousing processes. With relatively few barriers to entry, they outline how ‘becoming smart’ can be broken down into manageable pieces and proje

Selecting the right Transportation Management System (TMS) solution can be crucial for businesses. Finding a solution with the right balance of cost efficiency, visibility, good customer service, scalability, risk management, and analytics can be a difficult decision. Sometimes you get it right- and sometimes you get it wrong!In a recent episode of Supply Chain Now, hosts Scott Luton and Mary Kate Love welcomed Cody Graham, founder and president of Neon Logistics, and Anthony Ceritelli, senior director of Customer Success with Turvo, and discussed their unique business relationship. Neon Logistics initially partnered with Turvo for a TMS implementation but later switched to a different tech platform. However, they found the new platform fell short of their needs and returned to Turvo. The switch to the new platform cost Neon Logistics around $1 million in total costs, including time, additional vendors, and lost revenue from customers. Join us for this conversation, and learn from Graham's unique experience.

The Buzz is Supply Chain Now’s regular Monday livestream, held at 12 noon ET each week. This show focuses on some of the leading stories from global supply chain and global business, always with special guests – the most important of which is the live audience!In this week's Digital Transformers edition of The Buzz, hosts Scott Luton and Kevin L. Jackson welcome special guest Anton Karnaukhov, Co-founder, VP of Application Delivery with XpertMinds, to the show. Together they discuss:What generative AI means for supply chain workAs mainframes turn 60, how skill gaps threaten the enterprise workforceHow AI is disrupting the supply chain industryAnton's expert perspective on the implementation of new technologies in supply chainAnd so much more!Additional Links & Resources:Learn more about XpertMinds: https://xpertminds.net/Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.comLearn more about National Supply Chain Day: https://supplychainnow.com/nscdWEBINAR- Building an Antifragile Supply Chain: Dr.

Global supply chains are still grappling with the aftermath of COVID-19 and ongoing disruptions caused by international conflicts and economic instability. So, in an era where destabilization has become the new normal, what can organizations do to improve agility and resiliency?In this episode of Supply Chain Now, hosts Scott Luton and Mary Kate Love are joined by supply chain transformation experts Christine Barnhart, Chief Marketing and Industry Officer at Nulogy and Jake Barr, CEO of BlueWorld Supply Chain Consulting to discuss the next steps for industry professionals.Offering actionable advice, the pair explain why supply chain leaders must actively embrace change management, adopting modern methodologies and technologies to enhance operational effectiveness. From the importance of bolstering visibility to understand and take a proactive role in managing supply chain networks, to the integration and interoperability of key technologies and value-add solutions, several essential learnings are shared.For a

In today’s dynamic consumer landscape, it is essential for businesses to continually adapt and stay ahead of the curve to meet evolving customer demands.In this episode of Supply Chain Now, sponsored by Microsoft, we welcome back Jennifer McKeehan – an industry leader spearheading groundbreaking innovation in retail supply chain transformation.With her extensive experience at Peloton and The Home Depot, McKeehan now serves as Senior Vice President of End-to-End Delivery at Walmart, a role where she's instrumental in shaping the future of retail.Shining a spotlight on the company’s extensive network of 4,600 US outlets, with 90% of the US population living within 10 miles of a Walmart store, McKeehan discusses several key supply chain initiatives helping to keep the organization at the forefront of the national retail market.From recently completing it’s 30,000th drone delivery to investing billions of dollars in automation to boost both the customer and employee experience, McKeehan highlights exactly how the

The Buzz is Supply Chain Now’s regular Monday livestream, held at 12 noon ET each week. This show focuses on some of the leading stories from global supply chain and global business, always with special guests – the most important of which is the live audience!In this week's episode of The Buzz, hosts Scott Luton and Elba Pareja-Gallagher discuss the latest news and developments in the global supply chain industry. They touch on the ongoing crisis at the Port of Baltimore, the potential resurgence of the manufacturing industry, and the importance of sustainable sourcing and packaging.The episode features a special guest, Patricia Coan, COO of Pura, a smart home fragrance company. Coan shares her insights on building high-performing teams, the complexity of the fragrance industry, and Pura's sustainability efforts, including a partnership with an Aboriginal tribe in Australia for sustainable sandalwood sourcing.Additional Links & Resources:Learn more about Sustainability Navigator: https://www.sustainabili

From saving time, cutting costs, and enhancing efficiency to mitigating errors, relieving workforce pressures, and reducing employee turnover, technology adoption can pay dividends when it comes to freight auditing.In this unique episode of Supply Chain Now, we’re joined by two companies that have worked together to realize the benefits that technological innovation can bring to the freight auditing table.With Ecolab having undergone its own highly successful transformation journey, Natalie Rekow, Senior Logistics Manager, Transportation Admin, Cost Performance and Freight Payment, offers up her firsthand experiences on the differences that embracing key solutions can make.Alongside her is Shannon Vaillancourt, President and Founder of RateLinx – the partner enterprise that stepped in to support Ecolab during its process optimization venture – who provides a window of insight looking at exactly what’s involved in moving from a manual to technology-driven operation.Tune into this insightful discussion on freig

As businesses strive to adapt to an increasingly digital world, the industrial metaverse is emerging as a powerful tool for achieving competitive advantage. From Caterpillar's virtual reality lab to Microsoft's integration of generative AI in supply chain management, organizations worldwide are embracing the industrial metaverse to drive innovation and enhance decision-making. In this new episode of Supply Chain Now, sponsored by Microsoft, join hosts Scott W. Luton and Kevin L. Jackson in an engaging exploration of the industrial metaverse and its profound impact on various industries. From revolutionizing product development to optimizing supply chain management, discover how businesses are leveraging this transformative technology to drive innovation and achieve extraordinary outcomes.Listen in and learn:Exactly what the industrial metaverse is, its benefits, and practical applicationsHow the industrial metaverse strengthens teams by enabling seamless collaboration and empowering individuals to make faster

The Buzz is Supply Chain Now’s regular Monday livestream, held at 12 noon ET each week. This show focuses on some of the leading stories from global supply chain and global business, always with special guests – the most important of which is the live audience!In this week's episode of The Buzz, host Scott Luton welcomes Tandreia Belamy back to Supply Chain Now, now as an official Supply Chain Now co-host! Together they discuss:How the Red Sea attacks are affecting all kinds of supply chains- including teddy bears!Closing the warehouse labor gapHow the manufacturing industry is working to interest high schoolersWhat is causing huge headaches for the world's biggest chip suppliersKey takeaways from MODEXAdditional Links & Resources:Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.comLearn more about National Supply Chain Day: https://supplychainnow.com/nscdWEBINAR- Exploring Rebate Strategies in Supply Chain Partnerships: https://bit.ly/48KmfAvWEBINAR- Building an Antifragile Supply Chain: Dr. Sch

Cybersecurity is a global issue impacting almost every industry. Staggeringly, it’s estimated that cybercrime cost the world $8 trillion in 2023 – a figure exceeding the annual GDP of every country barring the USA and China.In this episode of Supply Chain Now, sponsored by Microsoft, hosts Scott Luton and Kevin L. Jackson sit down with Allison Giddens, Co-President of Win-Tech, Inc., an aerospace manufacturer, to discuss the critical intersection between cybersecurity and manufacturing.Conversations begin with a focus on risk prioritization, with Giddens explaining the manufacturers need to start with the computers in their front office before worrying about the threats facing their connected equipment. “We’re telling manufacturers, hey, you need to know how to run a marathon and they don't even know how to walk a 5K,” she states.Discussions then turn to the importance of multi-factor authentication, the need to balance investments in both people and technology, the criticality of understanding cyber even whe

Why is it time to treat maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) as a first-class citizen? How can these processes be properly optimized? What makes business leaders hesitate to adopt new technologies?To discuss this, and a whole lot more, not one, but two experts from Verusen joined hosts Scott Luton and Mary Kate Love for this episode of the Supply Chain Now, with Founder and Chief Strategy Officer Paul Noble alongside Senior Manager of Product Management Danny Ramos in the hotseat.Paul has just returned from Las Vegas from the SAP Innovation Days for Supply Chain conference, and kicks things off by highlighting some of the key themes that he and other attendees discussed on the ground. Chief among them is the supply chain tech stack and the ways organizations are seeking to unify systems, and how MRO is being folded into these transformational strategies.This is important, the duo say, because MRO is essential to running businesses effectively. “You can’t produce a product if you’re uncertain of what’s ha

The Buzz is Supply Chain Now’s regular Monday livestream, held at 12 noon ET each week. This show focuses on some of the leading stories from global supply chain and global business, always with special guests – the most important of which is the live audience!In this week's episode of The Buzz, host Scott Luton introduces new Supply Chain co-host Kim Reuter to the show. Together they discuss:A delay in the $5B Rivian Plan in GeorgiaHow consumer prices continue to riseThe Taylor Swift economic impactAssessing supply chain risk at ZaraSoftware that enables seafood tracing from catch to saleAdditional Links & Resources:Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.comWEBINAR- Navigating Logistics Disruptions with Advanced Technology and Automated Collaboration: https://bit.ly/42KfZazWEBINAR- Exploring Rebate Strategies in Supply Chain Partnerships: https://bit.ly/48KmfAvWEBINAR- Building an Antifragile Supply Chain: Dr. Schär’s Climb to Inventory Excellence: https://bit.ly/3Pc7wanThis episode is