Supply Chain Now

Today we're breaking down the biggest forces reshaping global supply chains and the future of manufacturing, and exploring why companies are shifting from global collaboration to regional, domestic-first strategies—especially across the U.S. manufacturing ecosystem. Welcome to The Buzz, powered by Pegasus Logistics!In this episode of Supply Chain Now, hosts Scott Luton and Richard Donaldson welcome special guest Gary Bennett, Chief Integrated Supply Chain Officer at Array Technologies. Together they discuss:The technologies transforming operations today, including AI, automation, and digital tools redefining logistics and demand planningHow the solar energy sector is rapidly scaling to meet skyrocketing demandThe rising importance of utility-grade solar solutions as electricity demand surges from AI and data centersAmerica’s manufacturing resurgence—powered by reshoring, new incentives for domestic content, and breakthrough energy technologiesThe potential future of space-based data centers and continual innovation in solar energyIf you’re tracking the future of energy, manufacturing, and supply chain innovation, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.Additional Links & Resources:Pegasus Logistics Group: https://www.pegasuslogistics.com/ With That Said: https://bit.ly/WTS-7Dec25 Join SCN at Manifest: https://partner.manife.st/partner/supplychainnow Unboxing Logistics Podcast: https://www.easypost.com/podcast/ Tariffs remain heart of uncertainty: PMI: https://bit.ly/PMI-Nov20255 Trends to Reshape Manufacturing Industry in 2026: Deloitte: https://bit.ly/6-Mfg-Trends Regional cooperation in better state than global cooperation, experts say: https://bit.ly/WEF-cooperationConnect with Pegasus Logistics Group: https://www.pegasuslogistics.com/contract-logistics/ARRAY Technologies: https://arraytechinc.com/Connect with Gary on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-bennett-38426abConnect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richarddonaldson/Follow Scott on LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottwindonluton/ Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.comWatch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-nowSubscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/joinWork with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVkWEBINAR- 2026 Procurement Priorities: What’s Changing (and What You Need to Do First): https://bit.ly/3Yodf0ZWEBINAR- Building the New Manufacturing Workforce: https://bit.ly/4iVb4vlThis episode is hosted by Scott Luton and Richard Donaldson and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/buzz-exploring-technologies-transforming-operations-today-1518

Tariffs, trade uncertainty, and shifting energy demands are colliding with rapid advances in AI, medtech, and advanced manufacturing. At the same time, companies are racing to fill hundreds of thousands of open roles, rethink how they attract talent, and modernize permitting and policy frameworks that haven’t kept pace with innovation. The result is a U.S. manufacturing sector on the verge of a new chapter, but only if leaders can unlock the right mix of policy, people, and technology.In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton sits down with Jay Timmons, President and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), and Kathy Wengel, Executive Vice President, Chief Technical Operations and Risk Officer at Johnson & Johnson, live from the Innovation Summit North America 2025, powered by Schneider Electric. Together, they unpack NAM’s comprehensive manufacturing strategy and the conditions needed for American industry to thrive.Scott, Jay, and Kathy explore how permitting reform, energy leadership (including nuclear), and trade certainty impact investment decisions on the factory floor, from small manufacturers to multinational enterprises. They discuss the urgent need to expand the workforce pipeline, especially for veterans and non-traditional talent, and why modern manufacturing careers offer both purpose and prosperity. The conversation also highlights breakthrough innovations in healthcare, sensors, and AI, and connects them back to the policy environment that either accelerates or slows progress for manufacturers everywhere.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Intro(00:47) Introducing Jay Timmons and Kathy Wengel(01:25) NAM and Johnson & Johnson at a glance(03:47) Why manufacturing needs a new strategy(07:30) Permitting reform, energy, and nuclear(10:53) Workforce pathways and veterans in manufacturing(15:56) Tariffs, trade policy, and certainty(19:13) AI, medtech, and next-gen manufacturing(25:23) Policy, innovation, and what’s aheadAdditional Links & Resources:Connect with Jay Timmons: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaytimmons/ Connect with Kathy Wengel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-wengel/ Learn more about the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM): https://nam.org/ Learn more about Johnson & Johnson: https://www.jnj.com Learn more about Schneider Electric: https://www.se.com/ww/en/ 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/3XH6OVkWEBINAR- Supply Chain Strength: Strategies that Deliver in any Economy: https://bit.ly/4hqTnTHWEBINAR- Owens Corning's Roadmap to Fuel Cost Visibility and Savings: https://bit.ly/4pfn5hgThis 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/building-bold-new-roadmap-forward-us-manufacturing-industry-1517

Todd Heimes, Vice President at Amazon Business, shares insights from his 26-year journey at Amazon, emphasizing the company's global expansion efforts in Europe, Japan, and India. He discusses how AI is revolutionizing procurement by eliminating inefficiencies and streamlining purchasing workflows. Todd introduces innovative tools like the Amazon Business Assistant and Spend Anomaly detection, designed to enhance customer experience. He also advises supply chain leaders to prioritize data mastery to navigate challenges and make informed decisions.

Explore the fast-evolving landscape of energy technology, where skyrocketing demand meets innovative AI solutions. Discover how Schneider Electric is reshaping the industry with powerful tools like EcoStruxure and the One Digital Grid Platform. Scott Luton highlights collaborative decarbonization efforts with major brands and the importance of energy efficiency as a competitive edge. Learn why modernizing our energy infrastructure is crucial for resilience and growth in an AI-driven future.

Supply chain planning is undergoing a profound shift in a landscape shaped by rising geopolitical pressure, accelerating disruption cycles, and unprecedented investment in AI. Organizations are being pushed to deliver growth while navigating higher volatility, tighter margins, and increased expectations for speed and adaptability.In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton is joined by special guest host Mike Griswold, Vice President Analyst at Gartner, and Noha Samara, Senior Director, Global Supply Chain at Gartner. Noha draws on her cross-industry experience from manufacturing and consumer goods to high tech to explore how planners can better connect strategy, ecosystems, and technology to meet the demands of 2025 and beyond.Scott, Mike, and Noha unpack the four essentials for elevating planning performance: aligning planning strategy with business priorities, collaborating across extended supply networks, defining a precise and targeted role for AI, and equipping people with the skills and confidence to lead through change. They also spotlight insights from the Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit, including the skills planners need, the expanding relevance of CPFR, and why the future of planning depends as much on talent and culture as it does on data and technology.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Intro(02:43) Guest introduction: Noha Samara  (04:20) Celebrating teachers and their impact  (08:45) Noha's professional journey  (13:23) Challenges and trends in supply chain planning  (18:03) Best practices for 2026 supply chain planning  (26:55) The evolution of CPFR and ecosystem collaboration  (27:43) The impact of COVID-19 on supply chain visibility  (30:39) Defining a deliberate role for AI in supply chain  (37:17) The importance of people in supply chain transformation  (43:08) Insights from the Supply Chain Planning Summit  (48:37) Final thoughts and takeawaysResources:Connect with Noha Samara: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noha-samara-4864863/ Connect with Mike Griswold: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-griswold-6a68922/Learn more about Gartner: https://www.gartner.com/enConnect with Scott Luton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottwindonluton/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/3XH6OVkWEBINAR- Inside the Cargo Theft Surge: Insights & Predictions for 2026: https://bit.ly/4oVAsmsWEBINAR- Inside Outdoor Cap’s Warehouse: How Voice Picking Elevated Daily Operations: https://bit.ly/49m4D1zWEBINAR- Supply Chain Strength: Strategies that Deliver in any Economy: https://bit.ly/4hqTnTHWEBINAR- Owens Corning's Roadmap to Fuel Cost Visibility and Savings: https://bit.ly/4pfn5hgThis 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/4-ways-optimize-supply-chain-planning-2026-1514

As modern supply chains grow more complex, shippers are under increasing pressure to move beyond spreadsheets, emails, and manual decision-making. For Trove Brands, rapid expansion across multiple product lines created new challenges in parcel, LTL, truckload, and international shipping. Keeping up with customer expectations and rising order volumes required better automation, cleaner data, and greater visibility across every mode. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, host Scott Luton speaks with Tanner Dastrup, Director of Logistics at Trove Brands, and Shannon Vaillancourt, CEO of RateLinx. They break down how Trove replaced outdated workflows with automated rate shopping, digital truckload auctions, integrated freight audit tools, and real-time container tracking. By connecting these capabilities directly to their ERP systems, Trove reduced manual work, improved accuracy, and provided teams and customers with more reliable information.Together, Scott, Tanner, and Shannon explore the broader shifts shaping transportation today, from the value of unified data to the cost of inconsistent carrier selection and manual settlement. Their discussion shows how flexible technology can streamline warehouse and 3PL workflows, strengthen customer experience, and help growing shippers scale with confidence.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Intro(00:34) Meet the panel(02:34) Trove Brands overview(06:29) Shipping operations and challenges(12:17) Automation and integration(17:48) Data and integration hurdles(25:30) Streamlining sales with real-time quotes(26:47) Challenges in B2B LTL shipments(29:21) Operational inefficiencies in warehouse and 3PL workflows(34:22) Improving international shipping visibility(42:20) Choosing the right TMS solutionAdditional Links & Resources:Learn more about RateLinx: https://www.ratelinx.com/Connect with Shannon Vaillancourt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-vaillancourt/Learn more about Trove Brands: https://trovebrands.comConnect with Tanner Dastrup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanner-dastrup-1a4677165/Read why ShipLinx TMS was the best fit for A&A Global: https://www.ratelinx.com/use-cases/integrated-automated-in-control-shiplinx-tms-freight-audit-transforms-aa-global-shipping-operations/Check out our previous episode with RateLinx and A&A Global: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4d7dhNr8tQLearn 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/3XH6OVkWEBINAR- Inside the Cargo Theft Surge: Insights & Predictions for 2026: https://bit.ly/4oVAsmsWEBINAR- Inside Outdoor Cap’s Warehouse: How Voice Picking Elevated Daily Operations: https://bit.ly/49m4D1zWEBINAR- Supply Chain Strength: Strategies that Deliver in any Economy: https://bit.ly/4hqTnTHWEBINAR- Owens Corning's Roadmap to Fuel Cost Visibility and Savings: https://bit.ly/4pfn5hgThis 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/logistics-challenges-time-block-tackle-win-1513

U.S. imports from China are experiencing sharp declines, reshaping sourcing strategies amid tariffs and lower consumer demand. The podcast dives into the disappointing ROI from AI in retail, highlighting how many organizations struggle with ineffective investments. Listeners also learn about key supply chain trends for 2026, including talent shortages and geopolitical challenges. Additionally, Thanksgiving grocery prices show a mixed bag, with some items seeing price hikes despite an overall drop in costs. Tune in for insights and future predictions!

Chris Rogers, Head of Supply Chain Research at S&P Global Market Intelligence, brings over 25 years of expertise in trade policy and logistics. In a rapidly changing landscape, Chris discusses the critical need for agility and data-driven visibility in global supply chains. He emphasizes the ongoing evolution of tariff policies and the importance of effective supply networks. The conversation touches on the transformative potential of AI and robotics, alongside insights into the 2026 Supply Chain Outlook, including trends in trade liberalization and reshoring.

In an era where artificial intelligence dominates boardroom conversations, global supply chain leaders face a new challenge: separating hype from real, scalable value. As AI becomes an essential part of the enterprise toolkit, organizations are racing to implement it not just for efficiency, but also for empowering teams, making better decisions, and transforming entire value chains.In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton sits down with Anouk Schoenmakers, Managing Partner Consulting Solutions at Bluecrux, and Joy Taylor, Managing Director at alliantConsulting, to explore how organizations can move beyond the AI buzz and create meaningful, people-centered transformation across the value chain. Together, they unpack how supply chain leaders can use AI not as a shiny object, but as an enabler of better, faster, and more confident decision-making.Anouk shares why decision intelligence is now a survival skill for modern businesses, and how companies can build the agility and mindset needed to thrive amid constant disruption.Joy offers her perspective on change management and the human side of digital transformation, explaining why technology alone isn’t enough without trust, transparency, and a people-first culture. From decoupling data and decision flows to scaling AI adoption through trust and clarity, they explore actionable insights for leaders ready to turn transformation into lasting impact.Jump into the conversation:(00:00) Intro(01:45) Meet Joy Taylor and Anouk Schoenmakers(03:07) Personal insights and warm-up questions(07:44) Diving into AI and supply chain(16:37) The role of AI in decision making(20:42) Decoupling physical and data flows(24:08) Empowering people with AI(27:21) Pro tip for leaders: eliminating barriers(27:52) The forward pass analogy: embracing change(28:51) Optimizing speed and scale in AI(30:24) The importance of trust in AI adoption(33:46) Change management: people first approach(37:18) Building an AI culture(40:18) Real-world AI success stories(48:11) Exciting future for BluecruxAdditional Links and ResourcesConnect with Joy Taylor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-taylor-womanleader/Connect with Anouk Schoenmakers: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anouk-schoenmakers-45a81713/Learn more about Bluecrux: https://www.bluecrux.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://bit.ly/3XH6OVkWEBINAR- Inside the Cargo Theft Surge: Insights & Predictions for 2026: https://bit.ly/4oVAsmsWEBINAR- Inside Outdoor Cap’s Warehouse: How Voice Picking Elevated Daily Operations: https://bit.ly/49m4D1zWEBINAR- Supply Chain Strength: Strategies that Deliver in any Economy: https://bit.ly/4hqTnTHWEBINAR- Owens Corning's Roadmap to Fuel Cost Visibility and Savings: https://bit.ly/4pfn5hgThis 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/building-trust-power-ai-adoption-1510

The future of supply chain is accelerating, and today hosts Scott Luton and Kevin L. Jackson are unpacking the innovations and investments transforming the industry. From AI-driven visibility to the “zero distance” strategy by GE Appliances, this episode dives deep into what’s next for supply chain leaders. Welcome to The Buzz, powered by OMP!Scott and Kevin are joined by Pam Simon, Conference Chair and EVP of Programming at Manifest, to explore how technology, leadership, and collaboration are driving a smarter, more resilient supply chain ecosystem.Together, they discuss:How Steph Curry’s investment in the AI-powered startup Burnt is redefining the intersection of supply chain and the food industryGE Appliances’ zero-distance supply chain initiative and its impact on efficiency, technology adoption, and reshoringThe rising influence of artificial intelligence in e-commerce, predictive analytics, and logistics optimizationNew features coming to Manifest 2026 in Las Vegas, including a dedicated procurement stage and expanded cold chain focusWhy real-time visibility and autonomous systems are key to future-ready supply chainsListen in as Scott, Kevin, and Pam unpack the trends shaping 2026 and beyond — and share how today’s leaders can stay agile, connected, and innovative in a rapidly changing world.Additional Links & Resources:Learn more about OMP: https://omp.com/“With That Said”: https://bit.ly/WTS-16Nov2025SPS Commerce 5 Question Quiz: https://www.spscommerce.com/supplychainnow/OMP ebook: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0pgvWp0Vector Global Logistics: https://vectorgl.com/Steph Curry & Burnt: https://tcrn.ch/4r9pOusManifest Vegas 2026: https://bit.ly/ManifestSCNConnect with Pam Simon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pgranoff4/Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.comWatch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-nowSubscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/joinWork with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVkThis episode is hosted by Scott Luton and Kevin L. Jackson, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/buzz-next-global-supply-chains-ai-manifest-2026-1509