Smart Supply Chain

Logistics analyst Cathy Roberson shares her latest thinking and analysis on how shifting trade policies, tariffs, industry consolidation, and last-mile innovation are reshaping global supply chains. Mid-episode, learn how ALOM is helping its customers mitigate tariff uncertainty and cost, and build resilience in a fast-changing logistics environment. As the industry stands at a crossroads, this conversation offers sharp insight for supply chain leaders to explore strategies on how to stay ahead.

International supply chain executive recruiter and bestselling author of Source to Sold, Radu Palamariu, joins The Garrison Sisters to discuss what it takes to shape strong supply chain leadership. From essential leadership traits to career-advancing strategies, Radu shares insights to help supply chain professionals at all levels navigate challenges and excel in a rapidly evolving industry.

The Garrison Sisters talk to Peter Bolstorff, author of "Supply Chain Excellence: A Handbook for Dramatic Improvement on Using the SCOR Model" on best methods to transform supply chain performance by leveraging trustworthy AI and research-driven insights to build resilient, efficient, and future-ready supply chains that drive sustainable business success. Features special segment with ALOM CEO Hannah Kain discussing tariff impacts and strategies.

Ben Hazen, PhD revisits the global trade predictions he and ALOM CEO Hannah Kain made in their 2019 white paper titled, "Roadmap for Sourcing Across Borders in Uncertain Times". The Garrison Sisters ask Ben to assess how these forecasts played out and then explore escalating risks impacting current global trade including cyber-warfare and geopolitical conflict. The discussion then turns to strategies organizations can implement to reduce risk and protect their supply chain.

Smart Supply Chain podcast host Shireen Garrison moderates a dynamic discussion with ALOM CEO Hannah Kain and Mr. Supply Chain himself, Daniel Stanton, on the best resources and strategies to prepare today's workforce to solve tomorrow's supply chain challenges. Hannah and Daniel explore key skills gaps, effective learning resources, and the evolving landscape of supply chain education, compliance, and data management.

In this Smart Supply Chain podcast episode, fire safety expert Todd LaBerge shares detailed data on the fire risks of lithium-ion batteries and what questions to ask your 3PL to ensure inventory is protected. Find out what industry leading safety Li-ion fire safety measures ALOM is implementing in our new Sacramento, CA facility to protect customers and ensure workplace safety.

In this episode of "Smart Supply Chain," ALOM CEO Hannah Kain identifies industry trends she's watching closely as we head into 2024. Relying on decades of experience, she delves into how volatile geopolitics, technological advancements, and sustainability initiatives are reshaping today's supply chains. Tune in to hear one of the industry's most respected and visionary experts as she shares her 2024 supply chain outlook.

In the latest episode of Smart Supply Chain, ALOM Director of Logistics Brandon Hulse challenges the common misperception that logistics is merely about delivering finished goods to the customer and explores the all-encompassing role of logistics in every part of the supply chain. This informative episode highlights the consequences of undervaluing logistics and champions the need for strong logistics partners to forge efficient, effective supply chains.

In this can't-miss episode of Smart Supply Chain, we welcome back a audience favorite, ALOM CEO Hannah Kain, and introduce a fresh voice to the podcast, Kaveh Moraghebi, Senior Director of Quality and Sustainability at ALOM. Together, they discuss one of the industry's most debated topics – the true cost of quality in the supply chain. These supply chain savants delve into the impact on quality on the entire supply chain, from product design to the end user. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a curious newbie, you'll walk away with a more nuanced understanding of the complex topic that is quality.

In this follow up to part 1 of The Evolving ROI of Robotics in Supply Chain, ALOM VP of Operations Chris Young treats the Smart Supply Chain audience to a thought-provoking discussion about the ways robotics can and will be used in the future to improve and transform supply chain operations. He also reviews the enhancements that today's robotics need to become as efficient and impactful as possible. Though listening to part 1 isn't required to enjoy this podcast, listening to both will undoubtedly boost the overall experience.  

For decades, supply chain providers found it challenging – if not impossible – to integrate robotics into their operations without massive capex budgets. In this episode of Smart Supply Chain, ALOM VP of Operations Chris Young makes his first appearance and engages listeners with a riveting discussion about the pandemic's impact on the robotics industry and the evolving ROI of robotics in supply chain. 

In this age of booming ecommerce and heightened customer expectations, returns management is increasingly complex. This episode of Smart Supply Chain, featuring ALOM Vice President of Supply Chain Strategy Lisa Dolan, unpacks how reverse logistics significantly influences customer satisfaction and brand reputation, along with highlighting innovative strategies and solutions to navigate the ever-evolving returns environment. 

Inflation, increasing interest rates, a shaky economy, softening consumer demand, geopolitical unrest, war ... the list of factors creating uncertainty in the global supply chain continues to grow, putting even more pressure on supply chain professionals. In this episode of Smart Supply Chain, ALOM CFO Jack Sexton discusses the price of supply chain uncertainty and offers tips on how to manage these ballooning costs and create a resilient, cost efficient supply chain.  

With the buzz around ChatGPT continuing to increase, Smart Supply Chain connected with one of our listeners' favorite experts, ALOM COO/CTO Brandon Marugg, and asked him to share his thoughts about this powerful AI and the future of chatbots. In this can't miss episode, Brandon not only explains ChatGPT, but also digs into how it will change supply chains and the benefits and risks related to using this type of AI. 

Speed into this latest episode of Smart Supply Chain featuring ALOM's Lisa Dolan, vice president of supply chain strategy, and Shawn Bush, supply base manager. These two supply chain experts trade insights and opinions on nearsourcing and why it's a critical strategy in today's environment. This exciting episode races into the history of nearsourcing and why it's coming back with a roar. So strap in and enjoy the ride!

Every company, regardless of size or industry, is becoming a tech company, according to ALOM's new Chief Operating Officer Brandon Marugg. In this episode of Smart Supply Chain, he explains what it means to be a tech-focused COO and how that mindset impacts the management of supply chains today and tomorrow. From culture and software integration to "I Love Lucy" and Jenga, this episode is not only enlightening but also entertaining. 

The launch of a new supply chain program is undoubtedly exciting, but it can also be stressful. All too often, the planning and contracting process is rocky, and onboarding doesn't meet expectations. In this episode of Smart Supply Chain, Shireen Garrison and Steve Brown, leaders on ALOM's Strategic Account Management team, detail methods to overcome challenges related to new program launches and the art of ensuring their success. Filled with real-life examples and helpful advice, this episode is a must-listen for all supply chain pros.   

ALOM Director of Operations Steven Pierce lets us pick his brain about various picking strategies and the most popular picking methods. Full of fun, fascinating dialogue and real-world examples about all things picking-related, this episode of Smart Supply Chain provides a fresh perspective on one of the most important supply chain management basics.

Within organizations today, supply chain is moving into the spotlight. C-suite execs and boards are realizing supply chain drives their businesses. This realization has changed the way they think about the math of supply chain. In this episode of Smart Supply Chain, ALOM VP of Global Accounts Dana Hicks digs into supply chain's evolution from a simple cost center into a a critical function that increases revenue and improves customer satisfaction.  

After several decades of offshoring manufacturing and supplier networks to Asia, many corporations are now embracing nearshoring. In this episode, Rosemary Coates, executive director of the Reshoring Institute, and Hannah Kain, president & CEO of ALOM, partner up to deliver a though-provoking discussion that digs into what's motivating corporations to shift their strategy and how that shift will impact supply chains around the world. 

ALOM leaders Hannah Kain, Lisa Dolan, and Eunice Lobo each bring a different perspective to the supply chain industry in this engaging episode of Smart Supply Chain. These brilliant supply chain experts, who've been named as 2022 Pros to Know by Supply & Demand Chain Executive, provide a comprehensive industry outlook and share insightful predictions for the coming years.   

This episode of Smart Supply Chain is packed with supply chain experts! In honor of ALOM's 25th anniversary, we feature three of the company's employees with the longest tenure: Lisa Dolan, VP of supply chain strategy; Brandon Marugg, chief technology & privacy officer; and Lynn Pensa, senior account manager. These ALOM Long Timers, as we like to call them, have been with the company almost since the beginning. In this episode, they share their thoughts on ALOM's evolution, what makes ALOM unique and different compared to other organizations, and their proudest and most memorable moments at ALOM. 

In this episode of Smart Supply Chain, ALOM Director of Operations Eunice Lobo discusses her favorite strategy for achieving operational excellence: the balanced scorecard. Whether you're familiar with the balanced scorecard or completely new to it, you'll find a lot of value in Lobo's expertise and examples of how this strategy can help an organization stay true to its mission and vision while exceeding its customer expectations and financial objectives.  

Like many industries, manufacturing and supply chain are dealing with a persistent talent shortage – one that the pandemic exacerbated. Not only are organizations competing to acquire talent, but also retain the talent they already have. In this episode of Smart Supply Chain, ALOM President and CEO Hannah Kain and Head of People Paul Vagadori discuss best practices for managing talent, the importance of a diverse workforce, and how organizations can position themselves as the 'Employer of Choice' in this competitive labor market. 

In this episode of Smart Supply Chain, ALOM President and CEO Hannah Kain discusses her entrepreneurial journey, from a little girl in Denmark who dreamed of owning her own business to founding one of the largest woman-owned supply chain service providers and B2B e-commerce pioneer in the U.S. Today, as ALOM celebrates 25 years of operations, Kain recalls the obstacles she experienced and overcame to cement the company's position as a technology-driven industry innovator and quality leader.

Digital transformation (DX) involves integrating digital technology into all areas of a business, fundamentally changing the way it operates and delivers value to customers. In this episode, ALOM's Chief Technology and Privacy Officer Brandon Marugg engages in a thought-provoking dialogue about the goals of DX and how its  impact is creating a more intelligent supply chain.

While most people realize that CFOs play important roles, most lack a true understanding of the many parts of an organization CFOs touch, especially when it comes to supply chain. This enlightening episode, featuring ALOM CFO Jack Sexton, offers a peek into the mind of a CFO, providing listeners with a better sense of how a CFO thinks about supply chains and how he directly influences an organization's success.  

2021's legacy will be The Year of Supply Chain. Suddenly, supply chain wasn't unfamiliar or uninteresting, but something everyone wanted to talk about. In this episode, ALOM CEO Hannah Kain looks back at the challenges the whack-a-mole supply chain created, the lessons supply chain professionals learned, what she considers to be the biggest surprise of the year, and what, if anything, keeps her up at night. This is an episode you don't want to miss.  

Have you always wondered about the correct pronunciation of the word "data"? Are you curious about the different ways data can be used to improve supply chain performance? Do you want to know how machine learning and AI can transform supply chains? ALOM's Chief Technology and Privacy Officer Brandon Marugg answers all these questions and more in this episode of Smart Supply Chain. 

What will the global supply chain look like in 2027, and what can supply chain professionals do today to prepare for the future? ALOM's VP of Supply Chain Strategy Lisa Dolan tackles these questions in this riveting discussion that delves into shifting consumer expectations, advances in data and machine learning/AI, green supply chains, and more.  

Supply chain professionals are dealing with a lot today – unpredictable demand, material shortages, labor shortages, freight delays, political unrest, extreme weather … the list of troubles goes on and on. Yet, the best of the best are still filling orders and delivering on-time. ALOM's VP of Client Success Fiona Lowbridge draws on two decades of supply chain experience and offers expert advice on how to emphasize collaboration, communication, trust, and resilience to turn today's troubles into success.

Nearly 50 million people around the globe are modern slaves. Slavery is all around us – in the clothes we wear, the toys we buy our children, and the food we eat. ALOM CEO Hannah Kain discusses the reasons why our global supply chain is vulnerable to slavery and the actions supply chain professionals must take to stamp out slavery. 

Supply chains are increasingly threatened by cyber attacks, which can compromise tens of thousands of victims through a single breach. In this episode, David Edwards, senior director of technology solutions and security for ALOM, details the evolving risks for digital and physical supply chains and what cybersecurity experts can do to fight these cyber threats. 

Smart companies have realized the importance of a robust supplier diversity program and have made suppler diversity a top corporate initiative. In this episode, Rich Watson, ALOM's director of supply base management, digs into supplier diversity programs and the value they bring to supply chains.  

This episode features Hannah Kain, president and CEO of ALOM. We discuss Just-in-Time (JIT) vs Just-in-Case (JIC) strategies for inventory and supply chain management.