Podcasts about Supplier

 A resident in the steeply walled valley street of Wellington's Holloway Road says they can only escape the noise of Wellington Water's ongoing night-time works by wearing earmuffs over their headphones as they watch TV. Some locals are furious about the month's of work going ahead to refresh the nearly 100 year old wastewater pipes in the area. Meanwhile, another resident says the water supplier has agreed to put him up elsewhere, after a rough first night when the project began. Bill Hickman has more.        

Adrian revisits a classic episode (originally Ep. 30, Nov 2020) in this monthly rewind, Episode 333 of China Manufacturing Decoded, and sits down with Sofeast CEO, Renaud, to unpack the three types of quality-control (QC) plans every importer and manufacturer should agree before production starts. Renaud explains three types of QC plans: The product quality control plan, often linked to the manufacturing contract. The process control plan, which controls quality during production rather than waiting until the end. The QC plan for new products, which helps buyers and suppliers think through risks before mass production starts. Key takeaways for listeners: QC planning is a pre-production activity not a rescue job; define a clear product quality standard; decide how quality will be controlled during production; and for any new product, agree on what must be proven before mass production. If any of those points are unclear, that's likely where your next quality risk is hiding.   Show Sections 00:00 Introduction to this rewind episode 01:56 What quality control plans are and why they are needed before production 04:06 Why there is more than one type of QC plan 04:43 Type 1: The product QC plan and contract-related quality terms 05:28 Defining testing, inspections, AQL limits, compliance, and responsibilities 06:41 What happens if serious issues are found after shipment? 07:11 Why even smaller buyers should document quality expectations 08:06 Type 2: The process control plan 09:04 Mapping production processes and critical steps 10:20 Turning the control plan into work instructions and checks 11:02 When process control plans become important 11:54 Why final inspection alone is often too late 12:27 Controlling quality through incoming components and sub-suppliers 13:50 How to check whether suppliers can follow process control plans 15:03 Type 3: The QC plan for a new product 16:27 Quality, reliability, and compliance requirements 17:35 Golden samples and approved prototypes 18:00 Testing stations, jigs, fixtures, and functional checks 19:07 Intended use, reliability expectations, and compliance needs 19:52 Component manufacturing, assembly, tooling, and work instructions 21:35 Pilot runs and pre-production approvals 22:35 Why new products force buyers and suppliers to think harder 22:59 Supplier optimism and the “we'll fix it later” risk 24:16 Why quality standards need to be clear and useful 25:08 Why buyers often skip proper QC planning 26:42 Why defining requirements is the buyer's job 27:40 Which QC plans apply to which buyers and products? 28:22 QC planning for all buyers vs larger or higher-risk buyers 29:26 Why process control is worth considering for new products 30:12 Why every buyer still needs at least a basic quality standard 31:12 What off-the-shelf and private-label buyers should focus on 33:02 2026 outro and key lesson recap   Related content Quality Control Plan: Defining Expectations Before Production How To Set Up A Process Control Plan [11 Steps] Golden Sample in Manufacturing What Is A PP Sample? How to set product specifications? You NEED to do product qualification BEFORE mass production! How Incoming Quality Control Inspections Fit into an Overall Quality System Get in touch with us Connect with us on LinkedIn Contact us via Sofeast's contact page Subscribe to our YouTube channel Prefer Facebook? Check us out on FB

In US-Canada trade news today, Trump says he wants USMCA-CUSMA trade deal to ‘expire immediately'. Let's talk about how Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexico are outsmarting Trump at his own game, why nobody is afraid of him anymore and why Canada is clearly winning this trade war.Tune into Episode 465 of The Bill Kelly Podcast for daily Canadian news updates.This Canada news update and political analysis was recorded on June 18, 2026.Join Bill's LIVESTREAM every Thursday at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT! Watch last week's Livecast here: https://youtube.com/live/lpDvDpJd4j8?feature=shareLIVE: Let's Talk Danielle Smith's Latest Lawsuit, Carney's Food Security Plan, US-Canada Bridge News https://youtube.com/live/lpDvDpJd4j8?feature=shareWATCH THIS EPISODE and subscribe to our channel: https://youtu.be/souYmC9Ofk8WATCH A RELATED EPISODE:

Send us a text and chime in!With rapid momentum across Arizona's dynamic aerospace and defense ecosystem, Airbus, a global aerospace and defense leader, and the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), hosted Airbus Supplier Day on June 12, 2026. Governor Katie Hobbs joined Robin Hayes, Chairman and CEO of Airbus in North America; Sharon Green, CEO of Unical; Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority; Representative Greg Stanton; Representative David Schweikert; Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and over 60 A&D suppliers for Airbus Supplier Day, showcasing the strength and depth of the state's aerospace and defense supply chain. Since 2020, Arizona has attracted more than 62...   For the written story, read here >> https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/airbus-supplier-day-highlights-arizonas-aerospace-growth/ Check out the CAST11.com Website at: https://CAST11.com Follow the CAST11 Podcast Network on Facebook at: https://Facebook.com/CAST11AZFollow Cast11 Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/cast11_podcast_network

Everybody Got What They Wanted. You Got the Bill. | Wacky WednesdayWhat if some of the affordability crisis is actually the accumulated cost of government trying to engineer preferred outcomes?A bizarre California story involving utility contractor certifications sent Chad down a rabbit hole involving:• Stadium subsidies• Hollywood tax credits• AI data center welfare• Supplier diversity programs• The hidden cost of incentivesEvery story raised the same question:Did it improve quality?Did it lower costs?Did it save time?New episodes weekly.CHAPTERS00:00 California Wants to Know If Your Electrician Is Gay04:45 Quality, Cost, Time10:00 The Certification Economy18:30 You Paid for the Stadium28:00 Hollywood's Favorite Producer Is You34:30 Data Center Welfare42:00 Exceptions or Examples?45:00 Closing Thoughts#ChadLaw#CommonSense#WackyWednesday#Economics#Politics

- Chinese Auto Executives Warn of Thin Margins - BMW Lowers Guidance Over China Sales Drop - VW Cuts Production at German Plant - German Auto Suppliers Cut Jobs and Investments - Jaguar Land Rover Plans Major Strategy Shift - GM Not Giving Up on Robotaxis - Stellantis, Wayve And Uber Partner for Global Robotaxis - Uber And Lucid Expand Robotaxi Service to Houston - Mobileye To Launch Independent U.S. Robotaxi Fleet - Chevy Reveals Next-Generation Silverado Pickup

- Chinese Auto Executives Warn of Thin Margins - BMW Lowers Guidance Over China Sales Drop - VW Cuts Production at German Plant - German Auto Suppliers Cut Jobs and Investments - Jaguar Land Rover Plans Major Strategy Shift - GM Not Giving Up on Robotaxis - Stellantis, Wayve And Uber Partner for Global Robotaxis - Uber And Lucid Expand Robotaxi Service to Houston - Mobileye To Launch Independent U.S. Robotaxi Fleet - Chevy Reveals Next-Generation Silverado Pickup

Every organization relies on secure digital connections across suppliers, partners, and platforms. Yet many of the technologies that protect those connections were built for a world before quantum computing.  While practical quantum capabilities may still seem years away, the risks associated with them are already prompting concern, particularly as encrypted data collected today could potentially be decrypted in the future. For supply chain leaders, that creates a unique challenge: preparing for a technological shift that is still emerging while protecting information that remains valuable far into the future. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, hosts Scott W. Luton and Karin Bursa sit down with Akhilesh Agarwal, President of P2P Solutions and Technology at apexanalytix, and William McNeill, Vice President of Market Intelligence, for a conversation on what the quantum era could mean for supply chains. Together, they unpack the growing conversation around quantum computing, the implications of "harvest now, decrypt later" strategies, and why supply chain ecosystems may be particularly vulnerable due to the vast amounts of supplier, financial, and contractual data that move across them every day. As digital transformation continues to accelerate, they discuss why understanding emerging risks today may be just as important as preparing for the opportunities quantum technologies could unlock tomorrow. Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Intro (00:42) Quantum risks supply chain leaders must know (02:13) Meet apexanalytix quantum risk experts (03:35) Space exploration lessons for innovation (07:03) Apexanalytix protects supplier data at scale (10:16) Why they wrote The Quantum Paradox (10:46) Harvest now decrypt later threat (15:46) Where to start with quantum readiness (21:38) Four major supply chain impacts (24:39) Supplier risk extends beyond tier one (26:27) Why supplier collaboration matters (27:42) Building a three-to-five-year quantum plan (33:20) Audit technology stack and supplier data (48:47) White paper resources and next steps (51:37) Gartner recognition and key takeaway (54:48) Act now on quantum readiness   Additional Links & Resources: Connect with Akhilesh Agarwal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akhilesh78/ Connect with William McNeill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wimcneill/ Learn more about apexanalytix: https://www.apexanalytix.com/ Learn more about Qbiton: https://www.qbiton.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- Amazon Supply Chain 101: Enabling efficiency and growth for businesses everywhere–and everywhere they sell: https://bit.ly/49r8N7D WEBINAR- The Expanding Role of Supply Chain Optimization Teams in Driving Business Impact: https://bit.ly/3PHRAAf WEBINAR- AI that moves at velocity: Cut through latency with agentic workflows: https://bit.ly/4x4626t 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/leader-briefing-quantum-risk-to-practical-action-1596 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.

Supplier negotiation is one of the most commercially significant skills a fashion buyer develops and one area where limiting habits can form early. In this episode, Elisabeth Mac Hale shares what she wishes she had understood sooner about supplier negotiations, and what she sees buyers consistently getting wrong, regardless of how experienced they are. In this episode:• Why treating every negotiation as a price conversation limits the commercial value of a supplier relationship• What it means to understand the supplier's position •  The real commercial cost of confusing toughness with effectiveness in a negotiation•  Why treating negotiation as an ongoing conversation changes the quality of every supplier relationship Find out where your buying skills stand right now with the free Buyer-Ready Assessment: If you would like to develop your fashion buying knowledge from concept to customer, explore the Thrive in Fashion Buying and Merchandising course

On Wednesday, some 1,000 union workers who were on strike at GM supplier Dauch Corporation, formerly American Axle, in Three Rivers, Michigan, reached a tentative deal with the company. The new contract will secure the workers' topline demand of $30 per hour by 2030, a more than 36% increase to the top wage rate over the next four years. Members of the UAW Local 2093 walked out on strike at midnight on June 1, 2026. The plant  makes axles for GM's GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado pickup trucks and commercial vans. In a statement, UAW President Shawn Fain, said, "After 18 years of sacrifice, these workers are finally winning back a big chunk of what was taken from them."According to the union, American Axle workers made major sacrifices to save the Three Rivers facility from closure during the Great Recession in 2008. "Many long-time workers who were making as much as $29 an hour in 2008 saw their wages slashed to $14.50," the UAW said. UAW members hired before May 31, 2012, including those who went from $29 per hour in 2008 to $14, will see an immediate $8 per hour increase once the new contract is ratified. Union workers will also see more paid days off and won't have to make any concessions on their current health care costs. For example, workers won't experience any healthcare premium cost increases over the next four years. The union also won time off to celebrate Martin Luther King Day and Veteran's Day, as well as more days off for Christmas. Workers with at least one year of seniority will receive an additional nine vacation days per year as well as a $2,000 ratification bonus.#UAW, #UnitedAutoWorkers, #LaborNews, #Strike, #Manufacturing, #ManufacturingNews, #Automotive, #AutoIndustry, #GeneralMotors, #GMSupplier, #FactoryWorkers, #UnionStrong, #LaborUnion, #MichiganManufacturing, #IndustrialNews, #SupplyChain, #AmericanManufacturing, #Workforce, #ShawnFain, #AutoParts

On this episode of The Ty Brady Way, Ty sits down with Scott Jones, a 30-plus year veteran of the franchise world who has sat on every side of the table. He's been a multi-unit franchisee across multiple brands, a franchisor, and a co-founder of a support services company that now serves about 80,000 franchised locations worldwide. If there's a three-sided fence in franchising, Scott's been on all three sides of it, and that perspective is exactly what makes this conversation worth your time. Scott's entrepreneurial roots go back to his childhood dinner table. His dad was a corporate executive with an oil company who hit an inflection point when the company got acquired and relocation to Chicago was the only way to keep his job. He said no, walked away, and started building businesses. Scott watched all of it up close. He never had a job until he graduated college, was always creating something on his own, and didn't stay in the corporate world long before following the same path his dad had blazed. That early front-row seat to what entrepreneurship actually looks like, the good days and the hard ones, shaped everything that came after. One of the most honest moments in this conversation is when Scott shares his real take on the franchise industry. Out of more than 4,000 unique franchise brands, he believes about half are absolute train wrecks based on unit economics alone. They don't have the support systems, the processes, or a game plan that gives someone a real shot at success. Another 40% are okay to good. That leaves roughly 10% that are truly exceptional. He knows that's not a popular thing to say in his industry. He says it anyway because it's the truth, and because his whole job is built on helping people find that 10%. Ty and Scott get into the biggest mistake people make when looking at franchises: falling in love with the widget. I like this sandwich, so this must be a great business. Scott reframes the whole conversation by asking a different question: how are you going to measure any opportunity? The moment he asks that, nobody talks about sandwiches anymore. They start talking about quality of life, financial goals, what they want their life to look like in one year, three years, ten years. A business is a vehicle. The question is whether it's the right vehicle for where you're actually trying to go, and whether you're the right person to drive it. The early mistake Scott owns is one a lot of founders share: he had to control everything and couldn't let go. It took a good mentor and some hard experience to recognize that his job wasn't to do all the tasks himself. It was to build people, develop systems, and create a culture where exceptional is expected and rewarded. He makes a point worth sitting with: average employees can hide in a large corporate environment. In a small business, they hurt you. The goal is to build a culture where people who think and work at a high level actually thrive, and where people who haven't operated that way before get the chance to discover they can. The story that closes this episode is one Scott spoke about the day before recording. Two engineers, both in corporate jobs, came to him five years ago with a dream of eventually working their way out. The plan was to start a franchise, keep both jobs, and maybe in two years he'd be able to leave. They found a boutique fitness franchise in Alabama. He left his job in five or six months. Eight or nine months later they added a second business. A year ago they added a third. Their net worth has increased about tenfold over five years. She still works her corporate job by choice. They're now looking at buying the buildings their businesses operate in rather than leasing them. That's the outcome Scott is working toward every time he picks up the phone. His closing message is simple and direct: don't settle. Too many people are stuck in a life they don't love because it's the thing they know. There are better ways. The only thing standing between where you are and where you want to be is the willingness to step outside what's familiar and find out what's actually possible.  

Setting up a new factory is a major strategic decision. It is not just about finding cheaper land, moving away from China, or following other companies into Vietnam, Mexico, or another popular manufacturing location. In this episode, Renaud speaks with David Collins, CEO of Manufacturing Transformation Group, about what companies need to think through before relocating production or building their own factory. They discuss why more companies are considering factory relocation or ownership again, especially after COVID, tariff changes, supplier dependency, and IP concerns. But David explains why the first question should not be “where should we move?” It should be “what are we actually trying to accomplish?” The conversation covers the real trade-offs between China, Vietnam, Mexico, and other locations; why labour cost should not be the only driver; how supplier location, workforce skills, logistics, and infrastructure affect the decision; and why companies need a proper BOM, cost model, and feasibility study before making a move. They also get into greenfield vs brownfield factory projects, equipment selection, factory layout, commissioning, factory acceptance testing, and why automation can be a waste of money if it does not fit the real production process. The key message: moving to a new factory is a rare chance to redesign your manufacturing system properly. But if you simply copy the same poor layout, weak supply chain, bad inventory habits, and unsuitable equipment into a new building, you may just move the mess.   Show Sections 00:00 – Introduction: setting up a new factory 01:43 – Who David Collins and Manufacturing Transformation Group are 05:04 – Why more companies are considering factory relocation 05:50 – China, Vietnam, Mexico, and the real trade-offs between locations 08:10 – Why some companies want to own manufacturing again 09:32 – Don't just move the mess to a new factory 11:45 – The first question: what are you trying to accomplish? 12:02 – Supplier location, workforce skills, logistics, and infrastructure 14:18 – Why a real BOM and cost model are essential 15:27 – Feasibility studies and idealised factory planning 16:07 – Why automation is not always the right answer 17:34 – Comparing factory setup scenarios and locations 18:16 – Why labour cost should not be the only driver 20:48 – IP risks and supplier dependency 22:15 – Learning from the problems in your current factory 23:46 – Project management during a factory move 24:03 – Greenfield vs brownfield factory projects 26:09 – Layout planning, implementation, and local specialists 27:13 – On-the-ground project management and construction risks 28:33 – Equipment commissioning and factory acceptance testing 29:50 – Choosing equipment that fits your real needs 31:41 – Equipment maintenance, spare parts, and supplier risks 32:40 – Why factory setup is a once-in-a-decade decision 34:12 – Disciplined planning and avoiding old mistakes 36:45 – Closing thoughts   Related content How To Plan for Transferring Production To a New Factory: 45 Point Checklist Transfer Manufacturing From One Chinese Factory To Another With Fewer Risks How To Diversify Manufacturing Sources Out of China and Cut Risk Sofeast can help you > Electronic Production Transfer from China to India OR Malaysia Supply Chain Risk Management, Part 5: Moving Manufacturing to Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, or India (Pros & Cons) Production Transfer: A Roadmap (Assembly Operations Only) Get in touch with us Connect with us on LinkedIn Contact us via Sofeast's contact page Subscribe to our YouTube channel Prefer Facebook? Check us out on FB

In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley shares five strategies he would prioritize when launching a new e-commerce brand today. Drawing from over a decade of experience scaling his own brand to eight figures, Josh covers: building recurring revenue models for compounding growth, identifying products with TikTok Shop viral potential, securing favorable manufacturer payment terms to optimize cash flow, prioritizing TikTok Shop as the primary sales channel over Amazon or Shopify, and developing a mission-driven brand that commands trust and premium pricing. The episode delivers actionable insights for entrepreneurs seeking scalable, sustainable e-commerce success.Bullet Points:Importance of recurring revenue models for sustainable growth in e-commerce.Strategies for identifying products with viral potential on TikTok Shop.Building strong relationships with manufacturers to secure favorable payment terms.Prioritizing TikTok Shop as the primary sales channel for new products.Developing a mission-driven brand that fosters trust and allows for premium pricing.The impact of subscription or membership models on customer lifetime value.Leveraging TikTok Shop's unique algorithm for effective product-market fit testing.Utilizing pre-orders as a cash flow strategy to fund production.The shift in e-commerce dynamics away from traditional platforms like Amazon.Creating a cohesive brand narrative to enhance customer loyalty and brand value.Timestamps:00:00:54 Recurring Revenue is KeyThe importance of building a brand with a recurring revenue model, like consumables or subscriptions, for compounding growth.00:07:55 Viral Products on TikTok ShopFocus on finding or creating products that have viral potential on TikTok Shop to unlock success across all sales channels.00:09:57 Strong Manufacturer RelationshipsPrioritize building relationships with manufacturers to secure favorable payment terms, creating a negative cash conversion cycle for infinite scalability.00:14:10 Prioritizing TikTok Shop FirstLaunch new products on TikTok Shop first, as success there proves viability and drives traffic to other channels like Shopify and Amazon.00:17:08 Building a Mission-Driven BrandFocus on creating a true brand with a mission and values to build customer trust and command premium pricing.00:19:28 Recap of the Five StrategiesA summary of the five key focus areas: recurring revenue, TikTok virality, manufacturer terms, TikTok Shop first, and mission-driven branding.Links and Mentions:Business Models & Revenue"Reoccurring Revenue": "00:01:54""Reoccurring Revenue": "00:19:28"Products & Tools"Intake Breathing": "00:04:04"E-commerce Platforms & Sales Channels"TikTok Shop": "00:08:56""Sales Channels": "00:19:28""Viral Products on TikTok": "00:19:28"Supplier & Manufacturer Relationships"Manufacturer Relationships": "00:09:57""Manufacturer Relationships": "00:19:28"Business Strategies"Pre-orders": "00:12:09"Branding & Mission"Brand Mission": "00:17:08""Brand Purpose": "00:19:28"Transcript:Josh Hadley 00:00:00  I'm going to share with you the five things I would focus on if I had to start a brand new e-commerce brand from scratch today. Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, I'm Josh Hadley. I've scaled my own ecommerce brand from 0 to 8 figures, and I'm actively building towards nine figures in sales. This podcast is where I document that journey and share the systems, the strategies, and the lessons learned in real time so that you can learn what actually matters and scale your own business. My name is Josh Hadley. First and foremost, I am a man of faith. I'm a husband to a beautiful wife and the father of four children. I've been selling you the e-commerce space for over a decade, doing over $20 million in annual revenue and selling multi-millionaire on Amazon, TikTok, shop and Shopify. And I am also the host of the number one business strategy podcast Ecomm Breakthrough. Today, I want to share with you the five things that I would really focus on if I had to start a brand new eCommerce brand from scratch.Josh Hadley 00:00:54  And this is honestly coming from a point of identifying like the weaknesses within my own brand things I would wish I could change if I, you know, could have any dream or wish in the world. But also, after having run my own e-commerce brand for the past ten years and having pivoted that brand a whole number of times, and we've pivoted the brand multiple times in order to keep it afloat. And with all of that experience, here are the top five things that I would be actively working on if I had to start a new brand from scratch. So number one, the holy grail of all things I would be looking for in any new e-commerce brand is do they have reoccurring revenue? Okay, that could be two different things. I could have a consumable item and it could be like a razor blade as an example, right. For shaving if I needed. That's why Harry's Razors, All Dollar Shave Club, etc. like we're all very familiar with them because they are able to spend a lot of money up front to go acquire a customer because they know the lifetime value of a customer, because they know that customer is going to come back and reorder the cartridges to refill their razor blades on their razors, etc. that is the holy grail of e-commerce.Josh Hadley 00:02:06  And so it's the same thing with supplements, right? That's why there's the supplement space is heavily crowded, but there's so much opportunity because if you get it right, you now have a compounding vehicle. And this is the biggest mindset shift that I've had to go through. When I first started in e-commerce, I was excited whenever I got that first sale, even on Etsy, right? And on Shopify, you hear the catching sound and you love that sound and you're just like, yes, I got a new customer. And yes, it gives you a good boost of dopamine. However, I'm getting really tired at this stage of my career in just being so front end acquisition heavy, and that's one of the most disappointing things. If I were to look back over the past decade, is I have not compounded my growth. We have sold millions, millions of customers have purchased our products. That's great. Sounds impressive. However, I wish that those millions of customers would have compounded over the past decade.Josh Hadley 00:03:07  But instead we were so front end acquisition heavy and focused that yes, we could go generate a sell for a new product on Amazon. But then what? Every day we start at zero. Every month I start at zero. And that is one of the biggest challenges in business if you want. It's all about having the right money model that sits behind your brand, and that is ultimately the biggest e-commerce brands that are able to scale more quickly and rapidly have either a consumable product that customers need to come back and repurchase, whether it be a supplement, whether it be, you know, maybe you're selling soda or its candy food, or it's even something like we talked about the refillable cartridges, which, by the way, here's a new brand that I was actually very, very impressed with. They took this and they said, hey, how do we how do we invent reoccurring revenue into a business where, more often than not, it's just kind of like one time purchases. So this is coming into it's called intake breathing.Josh Hadley 00:04:04  And what they have are these nas...

Advocates raise concerns about new federal immigration court initiative designed to expedite deportation order cases. Plus, what's behind a utility company's search for new power source? Finally, preserving Indigenous stories for future generations.

Alissa Succi of Counselor Top 40 supplier Koozie Group (asi/40480) shares valuable insights gleaned over nearly 30 years in the promo industry.

Federal subcontracting opportunities on SBA's SubNet are one of the most underused tools in govcon, and most small businesses walk right past them. In this episode, Zack Golden breaks down a systematic, research-first approach to identifying large primes with subcontracting plans, getting in front of the right people, and positioning your business as the dependable boots-on-the-ground partner primes actually need. What you'll learn in this episode: How to use SBA's SubNet and the Directory of Federal Government Prime Contractors to identify large primes that are required by contract to subcontract to small businesses Why deep research — including task order history, contracting officer contacts, and project manager outreach — separates vendors who get work from those who just get forwarded to a supplier portal The exact line Eric borrowed from Ryan Atencio that consistently opens doors with large primes: "We answer the phone and we always give quotes" How IDIQ and MAC vehicles in construction can become your leverage point to position your company as a regional subcontractor for primes operating outside their core geography Why registering on a prime's supplier portal before your first meeting is non-negotiable and how skipping this step ends conversations before they start EPISODE CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Mindy AI intro and Federal Help Center community welcome 0:53 - How to use SBA SubNet to find subcontracting opportunities 2:22 - Filtering SubNet by state, keyword, and industry type 2:52 - Directory of federal prime contractors with subcontracting plans explained 4:21 - Deep research strategy for targeting specific prime contractor projects 5:19 - How to reach project managers and what to say when you do 6:18 - How GE Hitachi became a real client through persistence and quotes 6:48 - Why large primes have mandatory small business subcontracting requirements 7:18 - Supplier portals and why registering before meetings is essential 8:44 - Using expiring contracts and NAICS codes to find targeted opportunities 10:12 - IDIQ and MAC vehicles as leverage for regional subcontracting in construction 12:34 - How to approach prime contractor project managers with subcontracting proposals Mindy gives you the federal opportunities, agency signals, recompete intel, and pursuit briefs that tell you not just what contracts exist, but which ones to chase and how to win them. Sign up for free Daily Alerts and get opportunities delivered to your inbox before the day starts.

The Today in Manufacturing Podcast is brought to you by the editors of Manufacturing.net and Industrial Equipment News (IEN).This week's episode is brought to you by Spot.AI. Transform your plant floor with AI that understands the physical world.Imagine if your existing security cameras could do more than just record—what if they could actively protect your team and optimize your entire production line?In a new video, Anna Wells dives into how Spot.AI is revolutionizing manufacturing with intelligent video AI agents. You will discover how to leverage the camera infrastructure you already own to uncover hidden risks and streamline your daily operations.Watch the video to learn how to:Enhance safety, like automatically detecting missing PPE and hazardous conditions before accidents happen.Crush operational bottlenecks by identifying idle workstations.And maximize your tech ROI by seamlessly integrating advanced AI with your current camera setup.From basic security deterrence to full-scale manufacturing optimization, this informative session offers a practical blueprint for implementing video AI on your plant floor.Watch the video, right now. Every week, we cover the three biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward. This week:- Wisconsin Castings Supplier Suffers 'Significant Fire Event'- U.S. Army Testing First New Hand Grenade in Nearly 60 Years- Boiler-Related Explosion at International Paper's NC Plant Injures Multiple WorkersIn Case You Missed It- How a Stamp Factory Reddit-Sourced Its Rubber Waste Problem - Real-Life AI Part I: 6 Use Cases That Reclaimed Hours of Wasted Time- Which Shocks Pose the Biggest Risks to Global Food Systems Please make sure to like, subscribe and share the podcast. And to email the podcast, you can reach any of us at Jeff, Anna or David@ien.com, with “Email the Podcast” in the subject line. Subscribe to our daily and weekly newsletters.

Explore the seismic shift in logistics as companies pivot towards supplier consolidation. In this episode, Peter MacLeod uncovers the hidden advantages of this trend with insights from industry leaders Jason Sedlan and Phil Thorpe. Discover how consolidating suppliers can streamline operations, cut costs, and enhance resilience.Why are businesses embracing a one-stop-shop approach? How does this impact the future of logistics and industrial sectors? Tune in to find out how these changes could redefine your strategy and give you a competitive edge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tracklisting:1.⁠ ⁠Ethan Walsh - Look Good2.⁠ ⁠Bruno Furlan - Flame3.⁠ ⁠Max Styler - One More4.⁠ ⁠Todd Terry, Eddie Craig - Can You Feel It5.⁠ ⁠Chapter & Verse - Freak6.⁠ ⁠Earth n Days - Don't Give Me This (CASSIMM REMIX)7.⁠ ⁠BYOR - Club Go Crazy8.⁠ ⁠Emery Bex - Midnight Shhh9.⁠ ⁠Volkoder - Trajadão10.⁠ ⁠Alex Mills - Body Reefa Mash Up11.⁠ ⁠Chris Lorenzo - Hots For You12.⁠ ⁠Zack Darza & Snooko - Bow Down13.⁠ ⁠Matt Sassari - Party All The Time14.⁠ ⁠Mistajam X Roland Clark - President House15.⁠ ⁠Alan Fitzpatrick - We Do What We Want (AF's Polite Rebellion Mix)16.⁠ ⁠Sam Supplier - It Wasn't Coke17.⁠ ⁠Luke Alexander - Get Shaky18.⁠ ⁠Kitty Hall - Puff Puff Pass19.⁠ ⁠Franky Rizardo - Shinjuku

Chris and Hector break down a phishing attack that exposed employee data at a major food supplier, Microsoft's escalating fight with a security researcher publishing zero days, and the eye watering cost of enterprise AI adoption. They also discuss insider trading on prediction markets, the takedown of a massive DDoS botnet, and why basic security failures continue to create outsized consequences. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Send HATF your questions at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠questions@hackerandthefed.com

What are millions of fitness bookings telling us about the future of gyms, studios, and wellness? In this episode, JT sits down with Jeff Bladt to unpack the inaugural ClassPass 2026 Industry Impact Report and explore the trends shaping modern fitness behavior. They discuss why consumers increasingly want variety and discovery, how Pilates and HYROX-style training continue to surge, why recovery services are exploding in popularity, and how studios can better monetize unused class capacity. If you operate a gym, studio, or wellness business, this episode offers valuable insight into where the industry is heading next. You'll learn: - Why variety is becoming essential to fitness retention - The behavior patterns of long-term ClassPass users - The continued rise of Pilates and hot fitness formats - Why recovery and wellness services are growing rapidly - How ClassPass helps studios fill unused inventory - What gym operators can learn from ClassPass onboarding and reviews - The future of the ClassPass and EGYM relationship Timestamps: (00:00) Why JT wanted to unpack the ClassPass Industry Impact Report (02:32) Why the report data is so significant for the industry (05:10) The biggest takeaway: variety and discovery matter (08:11) Why users are trying 10+ studios on average (12:24) How ClassPass reduces onboarding friction for new exercisers (17:42) Why Pilates and hot fitness formats are booming (24:03) What happened to boutique cycling after the pandemic (28:06) The rise of recovery, stretching, and wellness ecosystems (37:01) How ClassPass helps studios monetize unused capacity (49:48) The future of the ClassPass and EGYM partnership Take the Next Step: - Become an FBP Insider (7 days free) https://fbpinsiders.fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/ - Free live online events for fitness leaders https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/onlineevents - Have a say in Season 7! https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/season-7/ Our guest, Jeff Bladt: - Website: https://classpass.com/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bladt/  Our Merch Sponsor: Mountainside Fitness: Website: https://mountainsidefitness.com/  REX Roundtables: Website: www.REXRoundtables.comEmail: Eddie@REXRoundtables.com Supplier's Pitch: Alantheus Thompson, Groe Solutions LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alantheus  Company Website: https://www.groe.solutions Company Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groe.solutions/ Company LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/groesolutions  Thank you to the partners who support The Fitness Business Podcast:  BeBalanced Centers: Provides natural hormone balancing for weight loss and symptom relief. https://www.bebalancedcenters.com/ Instinctive Insights: Provides profit-driven marketing and data science services to increase customer acquisition. https://www.instinctiveinsights.com/ Eleiko: Manufactures and sells premium strength and weightlifting equipment. https://eleiko.com/en-usNetGym: Provides automated staff operations and sub-request management for fitness studios. https://www.netgym.comEGYM: Provides smart, connected fitness technology and equipment for gyms. https://egym.com/us About Our Guest: Jeff Bladt is Senior Vice President of Pricing and Marketplace at Playlist, the parent company of ClassPass, where he leads global marketplace strategy, pricing, and partner economics. He focuses on optimizing supply-demand dynamics, driving incremental revenue for partners, and enhancing user engagement through data-driven innovation. Bladt plays a key role in scaling ClassPass as a leading wellness marketplace, helping connect millions of users with fitness and wellness experiences worldwide. Please note: We only recommend products we care about (affiliate links support our free content). Thank you for your support!

Amazon's pricing algorithm is relentless, and it doesn't care about your supplier agreements or MAP policies. Neil Twa, host of The High Voltage Business Builders Podcast, dives into real-world scenarios where sellers face these challenges head-on. Take, for instance, a home goods seller pulling in $25,000 a month, also dealing with a regional chain. Neil shares three actionable strategies that apply whether you're making $5,000 or $500,000 monthly. Documenting Amazon's pricing changes is crucial, even if it means keeping a dreaded spreadsheet. The Amazon pricing machine won't slow down, and suppliers will keep reacting to retail shifts. Sellers at every level need to adapt. Ready to audit your AI readiness? Take the free 5-question assessment: voltagedm.com/aiquiz?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep288 Get the complete Almost Automated Income Blueprint for $27 at voltagedm.com/blueprint: https://voltagedm.com/blueprint?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep288

Jeffrey Mosher welcomes back Laketa Henderson, Michigan District Director, SBA, U.S. Small Business Administration, Detroit, MI. The SBA's second Supplier Matchmaking Expo of the year is fast approaching – this Friday in Detroit, in fact. Remind us why the SBA is doing this and why matchmaking events are so important to the health of the American small business dream? The event emphasizes strengthening U.S. supply chains and “Made in America” partnerships. What opportunities does that create specifically for Michigan manufacturers and suppliers? Speaking of “Made in America,” our nation is celebrating Freedom 250 this year. Is the SBA doing anything special? A Patriot Pitch Competition? What is it, what can businesses win, and how can they apply? There are several stages of judging, but competitors have to get by the first round. What are judges looking for from the first-round contestants that will move them on to the “Road to 68”? The criteria judging panels are looking at are: A) Strengthening American competitiveness B) Small Business “punching above its weight.” C) Economic impact and quality jobs D) Business fundamentals and execution readiness Why these four things in particular? The prize pool is $1 Million. How is that broken down between the final five winners?

Episode 330 of China Manufacturing Decoded features hosts Adrian and Renaud from the Sofeast Group discussing why quality control should not start when finished products come off the production line. By then, many key decisions have already been made: product requirements, supplier selection, component choices, tooling, process setup, inspection methods, and testing plans. In this episode, Adrian and Renaud explain what quality control should look like during the NPI process, before mass production begins. They discuss why final inspection is only one part of the quality picture, how clear product requirements reduce confusion, why supplier and component qualification matter, and how process controls, inspection points, test methods, jigs, fixtures, and pilot runs help prevent defects before they become expensive production problems. You'll learn why quality needs to be built into the product and manufacturing process from the start, rather than being inspected in at the end. The main takeaway: final inspection may catch problems, but it does not prevent them. Good NPI quality control reduces risk earlier, when changes are easier and cheaper to make.   Podcast sections 00:00:11 Episode 330 begins: QC during NPI before mass production 00:01:14 Why many companies treat quality control as an end-of-line activity 00:02:08 Why final inspection is reactive, not preventive 00:04:01 How to build quality into the product and process earlier 00:04:44 Why everything in product development can affect quality 00:06:08 Product requirements as the foundation of NPI quality control 00:07:09 Supplier qualification, design risks, inspection, and testing 00:08:29 Quality gates, validation, reliability, compliance, and performance 00:09:36 Manufacturing process controls and why they need to be planned 00:12:02 Using AI to help document product requirements 00:13:00 Examples of turning user needs into measurable specifications 00:15:41 Cosmetic standards, boundary samples, and critical measurements 00:18:21 Qualifying suppliers, components, and materials 00:19:53 Turning requirements into inspection and testing processes 00:22:18 Applying QC controls during prototype and pilot batches 00:23:04 Work instructions, jigs, fixtures, and process risk reviews 00:25:05 Mistake proofing example: preventing drilling errors 00:26:28 Eliminating risks where possible, controlling them where not 00:27:12 Why prevention is stronger than end-of-line inspection 00:28:04 Final takeaway: quality-forward NPI reduces production risk   Related content NPI process guide NPI deliverables review service from Sofeast 7 must-do NPI tasks before a successful launch Why skipping part qualification in NPI will cause problems 3 key process improvement tools Pilot run best practices DFM and Industrialization support from Agilian You NEED to do product qualification BEFORE mass production! Get in touch with us Connect with us on LinkedIn Contact us via Sofeast's contact page Subscribe to our YouTube channel Prefer Facebook? Check us out on FB

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Duvo and Mirakl.In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses:AWS launches the Agentic Shopping Assistant (aka ASA), packaging the technology and learnings behind Amazon's Alexa for Shopping so third-party retailers can deploy their own conversational AI shopping experiences in roughly 60 days.Dick's Sporting Goods beats Q1 estimates with 4.1% same-store comp growth and $5.17B in sales, as Foot Locker posts its first positive comparable sales quarter since Q4 2024.Walmart rolls out its Prepaid Consolidation Program, allowing suppliers to ship under a single purchase order to one location while Walmart handles distribution across 42 regional centers.The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights.

EP [number] — Grimsey argues that corporate strategy starts with fixing leadership, not spreadsheets.Bill Grimsey unpacks why UK high streets keep failing and why most boardrooms still dodge the real work: leadership, confidence and clarity. Starting with Hong Kong turnarounds and ending with British town centres, he explains why strategy dies when leaders avoid the truth.The conversation covers motivating broken teams, mapping strengths instead of obsessing over threats, dealing with suppliers transparently, and why councils need 20‑year commercial plans to revive towns. It also dives into AI, customer experience, and the future of retail.What You'll Learn in This Episode:• Rebuild confidence inside a failing organisation• Map strategic strengths without wasting energy on distractions• Use transparency to improve supplier relationships• Assess whether your town's leadership structure is fit for purpose• Apply AI to improve customer experience rather than cut cornersThis episode is for UK operators who want a practical view of strategy from someone who has actually rebuilt failing businesses.*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*Spotify Video Chapters:0:00 Why the UK high street keeps failing1:29 Fixing leadership before strategy4:39 Park'n'Shop Hong Kong turnaround11:04 Customer experience vs efficiency17:25 AI's real value in business23:10 Supplier relationships and transparency27:58 Turnaround at Wickes33:50 Trust, confidence and respect40:48 Business rates and tax structures52:17 The Grimsey Reviews and town strategy1:02:20 Independent retail: what works now1:12:09 Tech, delivery and the future of retail1:18:55 Pedestrianisation and town experience1:20:41 Closing thoughtsWatch and subscribe to us on YouTubeFollow us:InstagramTikTokLinkedInTwitterFacebookIf you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.me

Timestamps: 0:00 Corsair's New Memory Supplier 1:14 HP's Broken BIOS Updates 2:09 California Age Verification Law Backlash 4:24 QUICK BITS INTRO 4:37 China's Underwater Data Center 5:12 TSMC Employee Bonuses 5:44 Rippable GameCube, Wii, and Xbox Games 6:12 Drone Speed Record 6:44 The Pope Weighs in on AI NEW SOURCES: https://lmg.gg/gZoBL Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite tariffs, EV disruption and supply chain pressure, supplier relationships improved across all six major North American OEMs for the first time in 26 years. Dr. Angela Johnson explains what changed — and why communication and trust are becoming critical competitive advantages.

Send us Fan MailThe advent of artificial intelligence is expected to create significant opportunities for brands to connect with consumers through AI-powered loyalty programs that become increasingly more efficient and personalized. But Jakob Harrison, Head of GTM for Payment Networks at fintech company FIS, notes that just like all new technology, AI will also bring new challenges for brands. This is especially true as agentic commerce grows more prevalent and transforms how consumers shop. “Brands are going to need a loyalty engagement solution that's more immediate, more relevant and easier to execute because they're going to be competing not only for the consumer but the AI agent as well,” Harrison said. “And the winning experience is the one that not only the consumer has, but that its assistant or its agent can confidently choose and apply in real time.” 

Editor's note: Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to the Today in Manufacturing podcast.The Today in Manufacturing Podcast is brought to you by the editors of Manufacturing.net and Industrial Equipment News (IEN).This week's episode is brought to you by QAD | Redzone. Industrial manufacturers are facing a convergence of pressures that legacy systems were never built to handle: supply chain instability, labor shortages, margin pressure, faster decision-making.At the same time, AI is shifting from experimentation to operational necessity, enabling manufacturers to turn data into action and build more adaptive, resilient operations.An upcoming live webinar, hosted by Today in Manufacturing's very own Anna Wells, will explore what AI modernization means in practice and where it is already delivering measurable impact across manufacturing operations.Join Anna live at 10:00 am Central on Wednesday, June 17th for a lively discussion and question and answer session.Register now to attend "How Industrial Manufacturers Are Building AI-Powered Operations and Systems That Win."Every week, we cover the three biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward. This week:- Why Ford, Stellantis Are Propping Up This Bankrupt Supplier- Schlitz Owner to End Production of Famed Beer- Jaguar Land Rover's Profit Dropped About 99.44% Last YearIn Case You Missed It- Kansas Farmers Hit Hard by Weather, Growing Costs- Tariff Refunds and ‘Dumb' Price Increases: A Manufacturer's Survival Guide for 2026- Walmart, Amazon Race to Win Over Rural America with Speedier DeliveriesPlease make sure to like, subscribe and share the podcast. And to email the podcast, you can reach any of us at Jeff, Anna or David@ien.com, with “Email the Podcast” in the subject line. Subscribe to our daily and weekly newsletters.

Jeffrey Mosher welcomes Brad Zaun, Acting Regional Great Lakes Administrator, US SBA - Small Business Administration. There were several questions he wanted to find out about from Brad in this conversation. The 2026 Supplier Matchmaking Expo is focused on connecting suppliers directly with major buyers. Why are events like this becoming increasingly important for small and midsize businesses trying to grow? This year's expo includes one-on-one matchmaking meetings with corporate and government buyers. How can businesses best prepare to make the most of those conversations? The event emphasizes strengthening U.S. supply chains and “Made in America” partnerships. What opportunities does that create for Michigan manufacturers and suppliers specifically? Many smaller businesses may assume supplier expos are only for large manufacturers. What types of companies should really consider attending this event, and why? Beyond networking, what long-term business value can companies gain from participating in the Supplier Matchmaking Expo in Detroit on June 5th? » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Watch MBN's YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/ The upcoming SBA Supplier Matchmaking Expo taking place Friday, June 5, 2026. Hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Alliance of APEX Accelerators, Michigan Small Business Development Center, and DTMB - Central Procurement Services, the event is designed to connect suppliers directly with corporate and government buyers looking to strengthen U.S. supply chains. Brad explains why matchmaking events are increasingly valuable for small and midsize businesses, how companies can prepare for one-on-one buyer meetings, and what “Made in America” initiatives could mean for Michigan manufacturers and suppliers. The conversation also highlights how businesses beyond traditional manufacturing can benefit from attending and building long-term partnerships. Registration for the event at Motor City Casino is available at Supplier Matchmaking Expo Registration https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-supplier-matchmaking-expo-tickets-1986269266846?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm_source=chatgpt.com

Running a successful fitness business requires more than just hard work. It requires financial clarity. In this episode, JT speaks with Billy Hofacker, CEO of Fit Profit Solutions, about the numbers that actually drive profit, performance, and long term success. If you've been guessing your way through your finances, this episode will give you a clear starting point. You'll learn: - The biggest financial mistakes gym owners make - The core numbers every fitness business must track - Why revenue alone is misleading - How to project cash flow and avoid financial stress - What "net owner economic benefit" really means Timestamps (00:00) The two languages of business: owner vs accountant (03:10) Why gym owners struggle financially despite working hard (07:45) The biggest financial mistake in the fitness industry (12:20) Why revenue can be misleading without context (18:05) The 4 core numbers every gym owner must track (26:40) Why tracking daily numbers changes behavior (34:15) Cash flow vs profit and why they are different (42:50) Understanding profit margin in a gym business (50:30) When to hire and intentionally lower profit margin (58:10) Where to start if you don't know your numbers Take the Next Step: - Become an FBP Insider (7 days free) https://fbpinsiders.fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/ - Free live online events for fitness leaders https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/onlineevents - Have a say in Season 7! https://fitnessbusinesspodcast.com/season-7/ Our guest, Billy Hofacker: - Website: https://www.yourfitnessmoneycoach.com - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billy-hofacker-1641aa14/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billyhofacker/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billyhofacker/  REX Roundtables: Website: www.REXRoundtables.comEmail: Eddie@REXRoundtables.com Supplier's Pitch: Danny Orlick, NetGym NetGym Website: https://netgym.com/partners/fbp/ NetGym LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thenetgym NetGym Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenetgym/ NetGym Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/THEnetgym LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielorlick/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dannyorlick_netgym/  Thank you to the partners who support The Fitness Business Podcast:  Groe Solutions: Provides AI and computer vision software for gym member retention. https://www.groe.solutions Budderfly: Provides comprehensive, no-cost energy efficiency as a service for businesses. https://www.budderfly.com/ Gym TV (Club Com): Provides custom digital entertainment, music, and signage for fitness clubs.https://www.clubcom.com/ Simple Again (Performance Food Centers): Helps businesses open smoothie and juice bars with clean ingredients. https://www.performancefoodcenters.com Power Plate: Sells whole-body and targeted vibration plate machines for fitness and wellness.https://www.powerplate.com/ About Our Guest: Billy Hofacker, a 25-year fitness pro and BJJ black belt, built and sold Total Body Boot Camp on Long Island. Now, he helps Fit Pros win with money through his book Fitness Profits and top 1.5% podcast Your Fitness Money Coach. A Distinguished Toastmaster and sought-after speaker, Billy presents for top organizations like Perform Better. Please note: We only recommend products we care about (affiliate links support our free content). Thank you for your support!

Amazon's UK boss has called for work experience to be made mandatory for everyone aged sixteen and over, describing it as "the most transformative thing" he has seen for young people entering the workforce. John Boumphrey argues that the education system is not producing work-ready school leavers and that the blame should fall on the system rather than on young people themselves.The cost of living crisis and its effect on retail pricing is a constant theme. Just this week the govenment called on supermarkets to cap the price of some goods to help consumers. Boumphrey - who is the UK Country Manager - sets out how Amazon aims to match the lowest price among national competitors and resists the suggestion that government intervention could do a better job than competitive markets. He acknowledges the impact of National Insurance increases and global disruption, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, on business costs, while insisting these have not yet fed through to customer prices.Amazon's record as a supplier is challenged directly. The Groceries Code Adjudicator ranks Amazon worst among retailers for supplier complaints, and Boumphrey, UK country manager at Amazon, accepts the company has "a lot more to do," particularly around delayed payments in its grocery division. He points to recent changes including named contacts for every grocery supplier.A pilot drone delivery service in Darlington, the first outside the United States, is delivering products within two hours. Boumphrey suggests the service will initially suit rural and remote areas rather than city centres, and expects the timescale to shorten towards thirty-minute delivery.The conversation addresses the near-miss union recognition vote at Amazon's Coventry warehouse, where the result fell just short of the threshold. Boumphrey says he personally values the existence of unions but prefers direct engagement with employees, adding that if workers choose union recognition, the company will comply.Amazon's UK tax contribution of more than five point eight billion pounds is set out, though Boumphrey resists calls to publish a standalone corporation tax figure, citing the volatility of that number during periods of heavy investment. He also addresses illegal streaming on Fire Stick devices, confirming that sideloading has been restricted on newer products and that Amazon is working with a global anti-piracy coalition.And could Ai soon be ordering your shopping for you? Amazon is piloting a service in the United States called Buy For Me, where an AI agent can purchase products on a customer's behalf — buying items automatically when they hit a specified price, without the customer needing to place the order themselves. Boumphrey confirms there are no immediate plans to bring it to the UK but describes it as part of a broader shift in how retail is evolving. Boumphrey acknowledges the responsibility that comes with holding a customer's payment details and acting on their behalf, but stresses that the customer remains in control at every stage.Presenter: Sean Farrington Producer: Olie D'Albertanson Editor: Henry Jones03:44 Cost of living & pricing 05:00 Government & price intervention 15:15 Supplier complaints & Groceries Code 21:48 AI, Alexa Plus & agentic shopping 25:53 Drone delivery in Darlington 29:40 Robots, automation & the jobs market 31:28 Mandatory work experience & skills crisis 37:08 Union recognition & Coventry vote 42:46 Tax transparency 45:48 Fire Stick piracy

Nvidia just reported Q1 fiscal year 2027. The numbers are extraordinary even by Nvidia's own standards. Free cash flow of $49 billion. A nearly 60% free cash flow margin. Revenue guidance implying over $300 billion for calendar year 2026, with some estimates suggesting $400 billion is possible. Next quarter alone: $91 billion in guided revenue. Vera Rubin is beginning to ship and is expected to generate $20 billion in its first six months.And then Jensen Huang said something on the earnings call that almost nobody covered.Nvidia plans to become the world's largest CPU supplier in 2026.That single claim has profound implications — for Intel, for AMD, for every investor tracking the CPU market, and for the semiconductor supply chain at large. CSI called this out as a remote possibility during their CPU market share update just weeks earlier. Now it is a public commitment from Jensen Huang himself.CSI works through the full picture in this episode. They cover Nvidia's new revenue reporting framework — the shift from a single data center segment to two sub-markets. Hyperscale covers the five major cloud providers: Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, Meta, and Oracle. ACIE covers AI clouds, industrial, enterprise, and sovereign data centers. This segmentation matters enormously because 80% of global IT spending is still on legacy systems. The enterprise migration to AI infrastructure is just beginning to happen at scale, and for the first time investors have direct visibility into it through Nvidia's own reporting.They also run the reverse DCF at $223 per share. The result: 20% free cash flow per share growth over five years at a 6% terminal rate gets you to today's price. That is not historically cheap for Nvidia. But it is the lowest bar the company has had to clear in years — and given that EPS grew 214% and FCF per share grew 88% in Q1 alone, clearing that bar looks more feasible than it sounds.CSI's updated position: Nvidia remains their largest personal holding. The updated baseline assumption is 50% stock price growth for 2026, revised upward from 40%. Not a prediction. A framework for thinking about what the business needs to deliver to justify current prices.What we cover:— Nvidia Q1 FY2027: $49B FCF, 60% FCF margin, EPS +214% YoY— Revenue outlook: $300B+ in 2026, $91B guided next quarter— Vera Rubin: $20B in sales expected in first six months— New reporting framework: hyperscale vs. ACIE and why it matters— The enterprise migration — 80% of global IT still on legacy systems— Jensen's CPU claim: Nvidia to be world's largest CPU supplier in 2026— Reverse DCF at $223: 20% FCF/share growth, 6% terminal rate— Why Nvidia has looked "boring" while small caps ran hundreds of percent— Updated CSI baseline: 50% stock price target revised upwardSemi Insider members get access to CSI's full DCF and reverse DCF tools, live Q&A sessions, and analysis like this as it happens. Join at chipstockinvestor.comDisclosure: Nick and Kasey have a position in Nvidia. This content is for general information only and is not individual investment advice. All investing involves risk.chipstockinvestor.com

Ohio-based Toledo Mold & Die – a manufacturer of automotive trim and other plastic parts – has become unavoidably ensnared in the unraveling of parent company First Brands.And while it may look like one small component of a big conglomerate, for Ford and Stellantis, it's a lifeline.When massive auto industry supplier First Brands filed for bankruptcy, the ensuing fallout created gaps in the supply chains of some of the nation's largest OEMs.Two of those were Ford and Stellantis. As first reported by Plastic News, after unsuccessfully seeking a buyer for the components maker, First Brands said in April that it would begin laying off Toledo Mold & Die's 600 employees.That is, until a Hail Mary was thrown.At the 11th hour, First Brands revealed that it had found a suitable buyer – TNJ Ohio LLC – but, said Ford Authority, they “needed to keep the lights on long enough to close that deal.”In swooped Ford and Stellantis, who are said to be writing weekly checks to keep the company afloat and retain its workers.But, of course, these automakers aren't just providing “incremental funding support on a week-to-week basis” out of the goodness of their hearts. These actions speak to how critical some suppliers can be in an automotive supply chain, and why these carmakers can't afford to just watch from a distance as the lights go out.First Brands is continuing to sell off its assets – the second act in a protracted wind-down process that included closing 17 facilities and laying off 4,000 workers. For its part, Ford is said to have been “paying for parts in advance, in cash, and also funding certain administrative expenses.”#Manufacturing #Automotive #Ford #Stellantis #SupplyChain #AutoIndustry #FactoryNews #IndustrialNews #ManufacturingNow #FirstBrands #OhioManufacturing #Bankruptcy #AutoParts #OEM #SupplyChainCrisis #FactoryWorkers #IndustrialManufacturing #BusinessNews #AutomotiveNews #ManufacturingIndustry

Welcome to Bicycle Retail Radio. What you're about to hear is a recording of the NBDA's Bicycle Industry Retailer & Supplier Best Practices Panel.The bicycle industry is navigating real headwinds right now — excess inventory, shrinking margins, reduced foot traffic, staffing challenges, and shifting consumer habits. This panel exists to meet those pressures head-on.Three times a year, the NBDA brings together retailers, suppliers, and industry leaders to share best practices and build collective strategies for stability and growth. Topics come straight from members, and sessions are built around practical solutions you can actually use.If you'd like to submit a topic or get involved as a panelist, reach out through info@NBDA.com.Support the show

A poisoned software package compromised OpenAI employee devices before security teams could stop it. The company behind critical Ozempic injection components has been offline for weeks after a ransomware attack. And Change Healthcare is now facing another major lawsuit tied to the 2024 breach that crippled healthcare payments nationwide. Three stories. One message: Your business is now exposed to companies you don't control. On this episode of Security Squawk, Bryan Hornung, Randy Bryan, and Reginald Andre break down three cyber incidents that reveal how third-party trust has become one of the biggest operational risks in business today. This Week's Cybersecurity Breakdown 1. OpenAI, TanStack & the npm Supply Chain Worm A software supply chain attack spread through trusted developer ecosystems at massive speed: 42 npm packages poisoned in six minutes Malware stole GitHub tokens, AWS credentials, and CI/CD secrets OpenAI confirmed two employee devices were compromised ChatGPT Desktop, Codex App, Codex CLI, and Atlas certificates rotated Demonstrates how modern attacks now spread through trusted development infrastructure 2. West Pharmaceutical Ransomware Attack A cyberattack against a company most people have never heard of — but nearly everyone depends on: West Pharmaceutical components are used in roughly 43 billion injectable drug deliveries annually Includes Ozempic, Wegovy, insulin pens, vaccines, and hospital injectables Systems taken offline globally after ransomware deployment Manufacturing disruptions continue weeks later 3. Allied World v. Change Healthcare — The Financial Fallout Begins The legal consequences of the Change Healthcare breach are escalating: Cyber insurer Allied World filed suit seeking more than $1 million in damages Avesis operations were disrupted for roughly 90 days Root cause traced to a low-level Citrix account with no MFA Credentials were reportedly circulating on Telegram prior to the breach The Bottom Line The modern business attack surface is no longer just your company. It's: your software vendors your healthcare clearinghouses your package repositories your pharmaceutical suppliers Every trusted relationship is now a potential point of failure. And when those companies get breached, your business absorbs the consequences. Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/securitysquawk Subscribe for weekly breakdowns of ransomware, supply chain attacks, AI threats, and executive-level cybersecurity strategy.

Send us Fan MailWhen most people think about loyalty programs, they likely think about the ones that are designed for consumers — gift cards, travel points, credit card rewards, and other perks that brands use to deepen their relationship with their members.  CarltonOne is a Canadian technology company that provides the platform powering these types of programs for roughly 200 clients in financial services, technology, automotive, healthcare, the restaurant industry and more. But the company also provides the infrastructure for loyalty programs that might sometimes get overlooked: those that are designed to recognize and reward employees.  Whether it's recognizing employees for years of service, reaching performance goals or other reasons, these programs are vital to helping companies reduce employee churn and increase engagement among their workforce, according to Melanie Corasaniti, Vice President of Client Success at CarltonOne.

For the first time in 26 years of the Working Relations Index, every single North American OEM moved up the chart. Ford, Toyota, Stellantis, Honda, GM, and Nissan all scored higher than the year before. That has never happened. Not once.In this special episode, Jan sits down with Dr. Angela Johnson, principal at Plante Moran responsible for the WRI, along with Sig Huber, Chief Commercial Officer of Elm Analytics and former supplier risk leader at Toyota and Fiat Chrysler. Three sharp voices. One story the industry needs to hear.Tariffs. EV cost recovery. Permacrisis fatigue. Return-to-office mandates. Four undercurrents shaped this year's results, and they all point to the same place. When OEMs can't control the macro, they lean into what they can control. Communication. Accessibility. Buyer responsiveness. Taking the meeting. Listening. Acting. That's what moved the needle, and the suppliers noticed.Ford's 32-point jump is the second-largest gain in WRI history, and Liz Door led that charge from the top. Stellantis is showing the early signs of a real turnaround under Filosa. GM's still working through cultural inertia, but the relationship side keeps moving in the right direction. And Toyota and Honda aren't slowing down.Angela also unpacks her new 6C framework. It's the bridge between transactional and relational. Commercial fairness, consistency, clear expectations, communication, continuity, and collaboration. It's the structure the industry's been missing.But here's the harder truth. The next 18 to 24 months will test every relationship in this industry. Cost of goods sold is climbing. Supplier financial distress is creeping back. Cross-functional alignment inside the OEMs is slipping. The playbook's changing. The question isn't whether we can do this together. It's whether we will.Here's the link to the WRI 2026 StudyThemes Discussed in this EpisodeFirst-time-ever WRI result: all six OEMs scored upPermacrisis fatigue and the shift toward collaborationTariffs, EV cost recovery, and commercial fairnessThe 6C framework: bridging transactional and relationalFord's record-setting jump and Liz Door's leadershipStellantis's rebound under FilosaGM's ongoing culture changeTop 50 suppliers, organizational memory, and cultural inertiaReturn-to-office mandates and buyer performanceCross-functional decline inside the OEMsFrom cost reduction to resilience: the playbook is changing

TOPIC: BorgWarner PANEL: Joe Fadool, CEO, BorgWarner; Chris Otts, Wall Street Journal; Gary Vasilash, shinymetalboxes.net; John McElroy, Autoline.tv

This week, Roger looses his spin, Oogie Boogie Bash ticket sales news, specialty license plates for Disneyland fans, we finish our conversation with Haley Clair and more! Please support the show if you can by going to https://www.dlweekly.net/support/. Check out all of our current partners and exclusive discounts at https://www.dlweekly.net/promos. News: Magic Key holders are preparing for a digital showdown as pre-sale tickets for the 2026 Oogie Boogie Bash are set to go live next month. For those with an Inspire Key, tickets go on sale on June 16th, with all other Key Holders having access to the pre-sale on June 17th. – https://www.laughingplace.com/disney-parks/magic-key-oogie-boogie-bash-pre-sale-2026/ An update to Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin has left some fans in a whirl, as the ride's iconic interactive spinning feature has been permanently disabled following its latest refurbishment. While the steering wheels remain in the vehicles as props, Disneyland officials confirm that spinning is now automated at specific intervals to increase ride reliability and reduce frequent mechanical downtime. The removal of the manual spinning mechanism has allowed the attraction to officially offer lap-sitting for the first time, accommodating more of the park's youngest guests. – https://www.laughingplace.com/disney-parks/roger-rabbit-car-toon-spin-changes/ https://www.micechat.com/435656-disneyland-update-autopia-sparks-star-wars-snarls-summer-starts/ Disneyland just celebrated their “Week of Wishes”, an annual celebration of their 45 year partnership with Make a Wish. Well the celebration continues! Make a Wish and Charitybuzz have a fundraiser sweepstakes where fans donations to Make a Wish and enter for a chance to win a VIP weekends that includes a vacation to Disneyland and the global premiere of Avengers: Doomsday! – https://www.prizeo.com/sweepstakes/charitybuzz/maw-disney-weekend-2026 California residents may soon be able to show their Disney pride on the open road with the newly announced Disneyland Resort specialty license plates. This magical collaboration between Disney and the California Children's Hospital Association will raise funds for 13 pediatric hospitals across the state, supporting healthcare services and patient programs. The project needs 7,500 pre-orders to move forward, so fans are encouraged to sign the interest form now to help bring this dash of pixie dust to California bumpers. – https://www.laughingplace.com/disney-parks/disneyland-license-plate/ A local business, Advantage ColorGraphics, has been the secret force behind Disneyland's iconic park maps for over 40 years. CEO Tom Ling recently shared that while digital apps are rising, the printed guide map remains a vital souvenir and navigation tool, produced by a dedicated local team just miles from the resort. In recognition of this decades-long partnership and their commitment to craftsmanship, Disneyland recently honored the company with a special commemorative shadow box and the prestigious Supplier of the Year award. – https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1649215716389361 SnackChat: Trader Sam's Mixology – https://www.laughingplace.com/disney-parks/trader-sams-mixology-seminar-summer-2026/ Discussion Topic: Imagineer and Disney legend Harriet Burns with actress Haley Clair – www.imagineerharriet.com https://www.instagram.com/haley.clair/ https://www.facebook.com/ImagineerHarrietBurns/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

我们找到做过F1动力的工程师郑夏桐，问问国产新能源如此发达，F1的电机电池技术是否已经落后？以及所谓F1技术下放到民用车，是真技术迁移，还是更多只是品牌讲的花哨故事？这里会有大量的专有名词和缩写，我全部放在Shownotes最后，欢迎大家查阅嘉宾：@郑夏桐 莲花动力推进系统工程师可以在XiMi团直接支持节目，周一就收听抢先版比赛合作或加听友群+v guanbing-77，注明意图00:00:00 开场00:03:29 从丰田普锐斯到KERS00:12:09 高压平台起源00:19:11 电机材料展示00:31:02 轴承与变速箱00:40:03 磁钢与油冷技术00:48:42 各大厂商路线盘点01:05:55 从F1下放的技术有哪些？成功了么？01:30:14 2026规则复盘01:40:54 保时捷栽在哪里了【动力系统与F1规则】PU Power Unit 动力单元，F1里指内燃机、电机、电池、控制器等整套系统ICE Internal Combustion Engine 内燃机ERS Energy Recovery System 能量回收系统ERS-K Energy Recovery System - Kinetic 动能回收系统部分KERS Kinetic Energy Recovery System 早期F1动能回收系统MGU-K Motor Generator Unit - Kinetic 动能电机发电机，负责能量回收和电驱输出MGU-H Motor Generator Unit - Heat 热能电机发电机，连接涡轮轴，2026规则取消ES Energy Store 储能单元，也就是F1电池CU-K MGU-K Control Unit MGU-K控制单元，也就是电池和MGU-K之间的逆变/功率控制器SOC State of Charge 电池荷电状态，简单说就是剩余电量比例Clipping/Clipping 电驱输出被削减，直线上电机功率掉下去Derate/Derating 降额输出，F1语境里和Clipping基本可以互换，但是在电动机领域不完全可以【电驱与新能源技术】MG Motor Generator 电机发电机，丰田/本田混动系统里常见叫法MG1 Motor Generator 1 丰田混动系统中的一号电机/发电机MG2 Motor Generator 2 丰田混动系统中的二号电机/发电机MCU Motor Control Unit 电机控制器，民用车语境里的电控/逆变器DC-AC Direct Current to Alternating Current 直流转交流，逆变器核心工作DC-DC Direct Current to Direct Current 直流变直流，用于不同电压平台转换SiC Silicon Carbide 碳化硅，高压高效率功率半导体材料GaN Gallium Nitride 氮化镓，功率半导体材料MOSFET Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor 功率开关器件IGBT Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor 绝缘栅双极型晶体管，较早期电驱功率模块常见技术i-MMD intelligent Multi-Mode Drive 本田双电机混动系统HEV Hybrid Electric Vehicle 混合动力汽车PHEV Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle 插电式混合动力汽车EV Electric Vehicle 电动车eVTOL electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing 电动垂直起降飞行器BMS Battery Management System 电池管理系统Dielectric Oil Dielectric Oil 介电油/绝缘冷却油，用于电机、电池、逆变器冷却Immersion Cooling Immersion Cooling 浸没式冷却，把电池或部件泡在绝缘冷却液中散热【材料、机械与底盘】PEEK Polyether Ether Ketone 聚醚醚酮，高性能耐高温工程塑料DLC Diamond-Like Carbon 类金刚石碳涂层，低摩擦耐磨涂层CoFe Cobalt-Iron 钴铁合金，节目里用于F1高性能电机材料语境Halbach Array Halbach Array 哈尔巴赫阵列，特殊磁钢排列方式，用来增强单侧磁场NVH Noise, Vibration and Harshness 噪声、振动与声振粗糙度，民用车舒适性指标AMT Automated Manual Transmission 自动化手动变速箱DCT Dual-Clutch Transmission 双离合变速箱PDK Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe 保时捷双离合变速箱SST Sequential Shift Transmission / Sequential Manual Transmission 序列式变速箱LSD Limited-Slip Differential 限滑差速器eLSD electronic Limited-Slip Differential 电子限滑差速器PDCC Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control 保时捷动态底盘控制系统PTV Porsche Torque Vectoring 保时捷扭矩矢量分配系统PASM Porsche Active Suspension Management 保时捷主动悬架管理系统【厂商、机构与供应链】OEM Original Equipment Manufacturer 主机厂/整车厂Tier 1 First-tier Supplier 一级供应商，直接给主机厂供系统或总成Tier 2 Second-tier Supplier 二级供应商，给一级供应商供零部件或材料HPP Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains 梅赛德斯AMG高性能动力总成公司，F1动力单元部门，之前的伊尔莫工程公司HPE Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines HPP早期名称之一RBPT Red Bull Powertrains 红牛动力总成公司AVL AVL List GmbH 奥地利动力总成开发、仿真和测试工程公司VAC Vacuumschmelze 德国高性能磁性材料供应商ST STMicroelectronics 意法半导体NXP NXP Semiconductors 恩智浦半导体ZF Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen 采埃孚GKN Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds 英国工程集团名源，节目里涉及汽车/航空供应链背景MA McLaren Applied 迈凯伦应用技术AMG Aufrecht, Melcher, Großaspach 奔驰高性能品牌AMG的名称来源

Renovations and conversions are about to outpace new builds by a lot — and that changes who suppliers should sell to. Glenn Haussman talks with Bruce Ford, SVP at Lodging Econometrics, in Las Vegas while Choice Hotels International's convention and HD Expo run in the same building.

Send us Fan MailChris Wrenn joins, “The Happy Hour” this week to discuss his fun and amazing journey!  From a young age he was hooked on punk rock and the punk rock lifestyle. His journey to becoming the founder of Bridge Nine Records, is the fun and crazy part! He has financed his entire record label with sports # 1 rivalry!  REDSOX/YANKEES! Chris and his friends were the ones that cashed in on the “YANKEES SUCK” boom!  Now it was not all fun and games! This journey got risky and sometimes even extremely dangerous! Chris joins King Hap to talk his journey and new book, FENWAY PUNK.Enjoy this exciting episode with Hap and 1st time author Chris Wrenn!***BRAND NEW UNRELEASED ABYSS HIT DROPS AT THE CONCLUSION OF TODAY's SHOW***Pick Up Fenway Punk herehttps://www.chriswrenn.com/fenway-punkFollow Chris on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/chrisb9?igsh=MTNlMDh1dzNydW5mMQ==This exciting episode was brought to you by LIQUID-IV SUGAR FREE LIV ENERGY!!!https://glnk.io/koyv/kinghap  *PROMO CODE KINGHAP SAVES 25%This episode was recorded live on the network infront of Happy Hour V.I.P.sIf you want to be part of the live tapingsfollow us on Twitchhttps://m.twitch.tv/thehappyhourscorwww.TheHappyHourSocialClub.comAAS  ALWAYS The Happy Hour is brought to you by the official Top Shelf Alcohol of the Happy Hour!CLEARWATER DISTILLERY https://shop.clearwaterdistilling.com/PROMO CODE KINGHAPSAVES 10% and free shipping over $100OLD SCHOOL LABSAmazing Supplements made for Amazing people!TRY THE AMAZING TIRAMISU PROTEIN! Save 25% site wide with promo code Kinghap(https://shop.oldschoollabs.com/KINGHAP)

Show Notes: Scarlett Jiang from Vantage AI, an AI product and services firm based in London,  provides a one-minute overview of Vantage AI, highlighting their focus on data foundations and AI transformation. Vantage AI helps companies consolidate data from various systems into a single source of truth. Scarlett mentions the firm's experience with hospitality franchise clients, such as Burger King, KFC, and McDonald's. Mock Demo of Chatbot Scarlett introduces a mock demo of a chatbot designed for hospitality franchise owners. The chatbot can handle real-time queries about sales data, labor costs, and other key metrics. Scarlett explains the process of using the chatbot to query data, including translating natural language questions into SQL, which means users do not need to know SQL.  Custom Dashboard Scarlett introduces the custom dashboard with data intelligence analyst chatbot functionality, allowing users to query via human natural language and retrieve insights from pre-ingested data warehouses.  Sales Performance The chatbot can provide summaries of sales performance, labor data, and other operational metrics. Sales Performance Rank Scarlett shows how the chatbot can handle more complex queries, e.g.: If I had to focus on 3 stores to improve performance this quarter, which would you recommend and why? (chatbot showcase the capability to synthesize sales, reviews, and trend data into  recommended action) Performance Graph The chatbot can provide detailed insights into top and bottom performers, including specific metrics like net sales and transaction counts. Scarlett discusses the benefits of using a chatbot for specific questions, rather than pre-built dashboards. The chatbot can also provide reasoning behind its answers, showing the steps it takes to generate insights. The Process of Building AI Tools Scarlett explains the process of building AI tools, starting with a diagnostic phase to understand the client's data journey and use cases. After the diagnostic, a strategic roadmap is created to prioritize use cases. A quick prototype is then developed, followed by data foundation transformation. The process can range from a few days to several months, depending on the complexity and scope of the project. Accounts Payable Month-end Reconciliation Demo Scarlett demonstrates a workflow automation tool for account payable month-end reconciliation.  Accounts Payable Reconciliation This demo presents a finance use case built around month-end accounts payable reconciliation - a process every finance team navigates. Supplier invoice data sits across two systems: the AP subledger, which holds granular invoice-level detail, and the general ledger control account, which carries a single summary balance that should match. In practice, the two rarely align - late-posted invoices and manual journal entries that bypass the subledger are the most common culprits. This demo showcases an AI agent that pulls data from both sources, identifies and reconciles the gap automatically; and surfaces discrepancies to human reviewers for sign-off or overwrite - eliminating hours of manual investigation at close. Converting PDF Purchase Orders into CSV Files Scarlett demonstrates a tool that converts PDF purchase orders into CSV files. Snowflake Tables The tool extracts key information from the PDF, such as contract terms, payment schedules, and expenditures. The tool can transform the extracted data into a chart format for easier analysis.  Reconciliation Report Payment Breakdown The tool is designed to automate the process of working with large amounts of unstructured data, reducing manual effort.  Cost and Development Time  Scarlett discusses the cost and development time for AI tools, noting that prototypes can be developed quickly. The bulk of the work involves data cleaning, ingestion, and transformation to ensure data accuracy. The development time can range from a few days to several months, depending on the complexity and scope of the project. The cost varies based on the specific requirements and the level of automation needed. Demonstration Videos:  Pre-recorded Demo 1: Data Intelligence demo https://www.vantageglobal.ai/insights/demo-pages/data-intelligence-analyst Pre-recorded Demo 2: Accounts payable month-end reconciliation agent ​https://www.vantageglobal.ai/insights/demo-pages/ap-month-end-reconciliation-agent Pre-recorded Demo 3: Parsing unstructured data to structured data https://www.vantageglobal.ai/insights/demo-pages/purchase-order-explorer-agent Timestamps: 02:24: Demonstration of AI Chatbot for Hospitality Franchise Owners 07:14: Advanced Query Capabilities of the Chatbot 13:06: Process of Building AI Tools at Vantage AI 17:40: Case Study: Account Payable Month-End Reconciliation  28:03: Case Study: PDF to CSV Transformation 34:42: Cost and Development Time for AI Tools  This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/unleashed/episode-643-scarlett-jiang-coo-at-vantage-global-ai-shares-3-live-client-ai-use-cases/ Unleashed is produced by Umbrex, which has a mission of connecting independent management consultants with one another, creating opportunities for members to meet, build relationships, and share lessons learned. Learn more at www.umbrex.com. *AI generated timestamps and show notes.  

MSD's Ian Wagner speaks with Defense Metals CEO Mark Tory about advancing the Wicheeda rare earth project in British Columbia. The company's pre-feasibility study outlines production of roughly 5,000 tonnes of NdPr annually, supported by strong economics and a potential 60-40 debt-equity financing structure, including interest from Export Development Canada. Tory highlights China's dominance in rare earths and how Western governments are working to establish secure supply chains, including pricing floors. With permitting underway and a feasibility study planned, upcoming catalysts include strategic partnerships and potential government-backed funding initiatives.

It's EV News Briefly for Wednesday 22 April 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyBMW GIVES I7 MORE RANGE AND SCREEN SPACEBMW has revealed what it calls the most extensive refresh ever applied to a BMW, with the updated electric i7 arriving first in September 2026 and plug-in hybrids to follow, with pricing expected to rise from the current £105,000 starting point. The new i7 swaps its old 105.7kWh battery for a 112.5kWh pack using Gen6 cylindrical cells, pushing maximum range from 387 miles to 452 miles and DC charging speed from 195kW to 250kW, while adaptive dampers and active rear steering become standard across the whole range.The styling adopts BMW's Neue Klasse design language with slimmer crystal-embedded headlights, a horizontal-slat grille, 22-inch alloys as standard, and up to 500 exterior colour combinations including a new two-tone option. Inside, the i7 becomes the first BMW to offer a front-passenger touchscreen (14.6 inches), gains a 17.9-inch central display and a sweeping 43.3-inch Panoramic iDrive dashboard, while rear passengers keep their 31.3-inch 8K cinema screen and 35-speaker Bowers & Wilkins system.***RIVIAN STARTS R2 PRODUCTION IN ILLINOISRivian has begun production of the R2 at its Normal, Illinois plant, with CFO Claire McDonough confirming the start in a Reuters interview and first customer deliveries expected later this spring. Reservation holders will receive configuration invitations in June, with the $57,990 Launch Edition shipping first, followed by the $53,990 Premium later in 2026 and the more affordable Standard and entry variants arriving through 2027.Rivian expects R2 to cost less than half of what an R1 costs to build once higher volumes are reached in 2027, and the vehicle also underpins the company's broader ambitions including the $2,500 Autonomy+ self-driving package and an Uber robotaxi partnership worth up to $1.25 billion across 25 cities.***GM SAYS NO DELAY TO ELECTRIC TRUCK PROGRAMMEGM publicly denied cancelling any electric trucks after Crain's Detroit Business — citing three anonymous sources — reported that the automaker had indefinitely delayed its next-generation electric truck programme, which had been targeting a 2028 production start for refreshed versions of the Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, Hummer, and Escalade IQ. GM told Motor1 that "EVs remain the end game" and confirmed no impact to current electric truck production, though the company gave no timeline for when the next-generation programme might resume.Supplier executives and analysts told Crain's they do not expect a new generation of GM's all-electric truck line until 2030 or beyond, suggesting the delay is substantial even if GM stops short of calling it a cancellation.***SMART #2 SETS UP FORTWO RETURNSmart has unveiled the Smart #2 concept, a two-door, two-seat electric city car that revives the spirit of the original Fortwo, with a production model expected to launch in October 2026. Built on the Electric Compact Architecture platform, it offers an estimated 186-mile range — a dramatic leap over the old EQ Fortwo's 58-mile range — along with a 10–80% charge time of under 20 minutes and vehicle-to-load capability.Expected to measure around 106 inches (2.7 metres) long, the Smart #2 would be smaller than the Dacia Spring and Renault Twingo, placing it among Europe's smallest new EVs at launch.***ID. BUZZ ADDS AWD AND NEW TECHVolkswagen Commercial Vehicles is rolling out a 2026 model year update for the ID. Buzz this summer, headlined by the new Pro 4MOTION variant that pairs a 210kW rear motor with a front motor for a combined 250kW and raises towing capacity to 1.8 tonnes on the standard wheelbase. The update also brings one-pedal driving capable of bringing the vehicle to a full stop, a new Innovision infotainment system with an integrated app store, traffic-light-responsive Connected Travel Assist, a welcome return to physical steering wheel buttons, and optional vehicle-to-load capability at up to 2.0kW.***CHARGEPOINT LAUNCHES 600KW EXPRESS SOLOChargePoint has unveiled the Express Solo, a standalone DC fast charger capable of delivering up to 600kW, which the company says sets a new benchmark for public charging in the US. The unit supports two simultaneous sessions, accepts direct DC input for integration with on-site battery storage, enables bidirectional charging, and uses an Omni Port combining CCS1 and NACS connectors — all at a claimed 30% lower purchase and operating cost than comparable high-power chargers.***FRANCE SETS 2035 ROAD CHARGING PLANFrance's government has published a national strategy to deploy around 30,000 EV charging points on motorways and national roads by 2035, targeting corridors that carry roughly one third of all traffic despite representing just 2% of total road length. The plan includes approximately 22,000 fast chargers at around 150kW for light vehicles across 900 service areas — a fivefold capacity increase — plus 8,000 heavy-duty charging points across 560 locations.***COKE CANADA ADDS VOLVO ELECTRIC TRUCKSCoca-Cola Canada Bottling is expanding its electric fleet to nearly 40 vehicles by adding Volvo VNR Electric trucks in Quebec City and the Vancouver area, building on a 2023 pilot programme that tested six of the trucks in real-world conditions. Each VNR Electric uses a six-battery configuration with a range of up to 440km, and the expansion is supported by a new 180kW Heliox Flex charging station in Quebec City and two additional chargers in Vancouver.***PG&E ADDS CYBERTRUCK TO V2G PILOTPG&E and Tesla have added the Cybertruck to PG&E's residential vehicle-to-grid programme, using Tesla's Powershare Gateway and Universal Wall Connector in what is the first AC-based V2G application approved for California customers. Participants can receive up to $4,500 in incentives for bidirectional charging equipment and earn additional compensation for exporting electricity back to the grid during peak demand events.***VOLKSWAGEN SETS GERMAN V2G LAUNCH FOR 2026Volkswagen and its energy subsidiary Elli plan to launch a fully integrated vehicle-to-grid service for private customers in Germany in Q4 2026, with pre-registration opening in June, promising annual earnings of €700–€900 under favourable conditions. Elli will manage the full stack — dynamic tariff, DC bidirectional charger, smart meter integration, and a control app — backed by around one million bidirectional-capable MEB-platform EVs already on European roads.

Preview for Later TodayJack Burnham discusses the security risks of Chinese tech companies, specifically Hikvision. He highlights its role as a top-tier PLA supplier and its use in surveillance for the mass detention of Uyghurs.1954