Podcasts about Supply chain management

How serious is the cargo theft crisis, and what real solutions are available today? How do we solve the connectivity challenges in freight tech, and why are APIs critical to the future of logistics?  Listen to our guests from the 2025 IANA Conference, Curtis Spencer of Bloodhound Tracking Device and Keith Peterson of NMFTA, as we dive into cargo security, advanced tracking systems, the market transformation that's happening right now in freight, the mission of the Digital Standards Development Council (DSDC), and their push to create common API language across carriers, shippers, 3PLs, and technology providers.   Curtis' Website: https://btdtracker.com/  Keith's Website: https://nmfta.org/  / https://dsdc.nmfta.org/home  

Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz delivered his 2025 State of the University address at the faculty investiture on September 30, 2025.SUMMARY KEYWORDSState of the University, new professors, leadership initiatives, enrollment record, US News rankings, federal policy changes, Jennison fund, budget adjustments, comprehensive campaign, experiential learning, strategic plan, One Health, research innovation, community partnerships, athletics.SPEAKERSSpeaker 1 00:00State of the University. Speaker 1  00:19So good morning again, and congratulations once again. I think they deserve another round of applause to our 2025, newly endowed professors and chairs. Your excellence truly elevates the capacity of our university to drive our work toward achieving our aspirations as a leading global public research university, and thanks to all my Spartan colleagues for joining us today, including several of our Board of Trustees members one year ago, almost to the day at my presidential investiture here at Wharton Center, I shared a Vision for Michigan State University, not just my own, but one shaped by conversations and collaborations with so many people around our campus and around the community and many of you who are here today together, we outlined big, bold goals, making Michigan State University the most inclusive, welcoming and safe environment it can be tackling grand societal challenges head on, and transforming Michigan State University into a truly next generation University. We also launched several leadership initiatives aimed at achieving those goals, and today, I'm excited to share the progress that we've made and a glimpse of what's ahead. Let's start with some great news, and there's so much that we could talk about and celebrate today, but I want to touch on a few things. First, we entered the new academic year, enrolling more undergraduate students than ever before in our 170 year history of Michigan State University, it's clear that students and families place their trust in us to provide an education that is practical, exceptional and accessible. Students come to us from 139 countries, all 50 states, and all 83 counties across the state of Michigan, we remain the top choice for in state students, with over 8200 Michiganders as part of this new class. And that's why I say that we are Michigan's State University and over 600 highly achieving incoming students join the Honors College, 30 of whom represent our inaugural class of the Williams scholars. 02:52Second, some good news from US News and World Report Speaker 1  02:58US News and World Report rankings just placed six of our undergraduate programs among the nation's top 25 two more than last year. Supply Chain Management ranked number one for 15 consecutive years. Service Learning and Education Abroad ranked number one among public universities, learning communities ranked number two nationally, and the list you could go on and on and on, but there's a lot to celebrate with regard to the incredible academic achievements and opportunities provided through our undergraduate and graduate students here at MSU. And I want to offer a huge congratulations to the faculty and staff who make these programs run, you know, on a daily basis, and, more importantly, to shine on a daily basis. So we're grateful for all that you do. However, not all developments this past year have been easy. Everyone here knows that federal policy changes have disrupted our operations and impacted our core mission of teaching, research and outreach. 04:05But Spartans don't back down. Speaker 1  04:09We mobilize teams to respond swiftly, to protect our research, support our people and continue serving the public, a responsibility that we hold and take very seriously as a leading global public research university, as we always have and will continue to do, I've taken our message to Washington DC and invited lawmakers here to see firsthand the value we provide through research, education and outreach. We've also taken action here at home, through the Jennison fund, we're investing $5 million per year for three years to support affected research programs. Just last week, we notified 37 recipients of this funding, and their work is nothing short of inspiring agricultural economist kajil Galati will be able to pivot from her international work in food safety and security toward applications in the United States, including examining lead testing policies on children's health and educational outcomes. The history department's Professor Walter Hawthorne can complete data integration, supporting scholarly and public access to the names and stories of more than 33,000 historically enslaved individuals on the unique MSU based enslaved.org platform. And graduate student Melina Ortez can continue preparing for a research for a career in research, a cancer research. Jennison funding will support 24 graduate students and restore our fellowships, allowing our continued education of the next generation of scholars and leaders. This is what it means to live our mission, to invest in people, knowledge and purpose. I want to thank all those in the offices and on the rapid response teams analyzing each new mandate and recommending ways to mitigate the disruption to our operations and our people. We will stay true to our Spartan mission and our Spartan values. Not all of our challenges stem from external factors, and I acknowledge the anxiety around our internal budget adjustments, I want to salute the careful work our colleges and administrative units have done to help build a secure, sustainable future for MSU. Together, as one team, we've taken steps to ensure our financial health for the long term. And let me be clear, as I said several times this past year, MSU is not in a financial crisis, but we are navigating a complex landscape and making tough, proactive decisions right now to stay strong. Thanks to our community's hard work, we've maintained the lowest tuition increase among Michigan's public universities over the past decade. We've increased University funded financial aid, and we've protected essential programs while aligning resources with strategic initiatives. 07:33And we're not slowing down. Speaker 1  07:35We're moving forward together as one team with a clearer understanding of who we are and who we can become. 07:46So as I promised, let's talk apples. Speaker 1  07:51Yes, it's harvest season, and Michigan is the nation's second largest apple producer. And that matters because it connects directly to our roots and our role in supporting Michigan's economy and agriculture. I look back at our visit to the Martinez farm in Conklin during our inaugural Spartan bus tour last fall, and I'm proud to know that Michigan's 700 have a reliable partner in Michigan State University, and we saw that firsthand on that bus tour, the training in agricultural and management practices that we offer to farmers such as Paulina Martinez and his team provide the knowledge to Ensure Michigan needs 08:39in apple production, Speaker 1  08:42the Spartan bus store was one of the leadership initiatives that I announced last year. In addition to traveling to Central and Western Michigan last October, we've traveled to Detroit in May to visit places our students call ...

In this episode of Talk Commerce, Brent Peterson speaks with Martin Balaam, CEO of Pimberly, about the critical role of Product Information Management (PIM) in e-commerce. They discuss how PIM serves as a single source of truth for product data, its importance in global e-commerce, and the impact of AI and agentic commerce on the industry. The conversation also touches on the differences between B2B and B2C approaches to PIM, the challenges of data management, and how Pimberly differentiates itself in the market. Finally, they explore the implications of tariffs on data management and the future of PIM in a rapidly changing landscape.TakeawaysPIM is essential for managing complex product data.Globalization requires businesses to adapt their product data strategies.AI optimization is crucial for effective e-commerce.B2B companies are adopting agentic commerce faster than B2C.Structured data is necessary for machine-readable formats.PIM helps reduce the number of SKUs needed for different marketplaces.Tariffs can significantly impact supply chain data management.Pimberly focuses on high complexity and conditionality in product data.The importance of capturing contextual information in B2C.PIM can streamline data management across various platforms.Chapters00:00Introduction to Pimberley and Martin Balaam04:14Understanding Product Information Management (PIM)07:23The Importance of a Centralized Data Source12:13Agentic Commerce and Its Future17:00B2B vs B2C: Data Needs and Challenges21:57The Role of PIM in Supply Chain Management25:17Conclusion and Future Outlook for Pimberley27:21TC - Outtro All AV version 1.mp4Follow Talk Commerce on your favorite platform:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@talkcommerceBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/talkcommerce.bsky.socialApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-commerce/id1561204656Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7Alx6N7ERrPEXIBb41FZ1nTwitter: @talkingcommerceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/talk-commerceFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkingcommerceWebsite: https://talk-commerce.com/

When you relish the hard problems, courage, culture and vision turn challenges into the spark of business success.In this episode, host Martina Buchhauser speaks with Barbara Stolle-Amedick, Global Head of Supply Chain Management, Transformers Business at Hitachi Energy, about the journey of repositioning procurement inside a 100-year-old organisation.Barbara explains how her team moved beyond being seen as “order writers” to becoming recognised as business enablers. She shares how silos were broken down and replaced with a truly end-to-end organisation, why culture and leadership proved just as vital as process and KPIs, and how recognition was built step by step, both internally and externally.This is a story of transformation driven not by big-bang change, but by consistency, transparency, and the courage to push for more. It shows how procurement can thrive as a trusted partner and become a key driver of company-wide success.You'll learn:1. How transparency, vision and courage can dismantle silos and build trust2. Why people, culture and leadership matter as much as processes3. How to move from “order writing” to enabling business success4. How end-to-end structures and KPIs deliver speed and recognition5. How to grow supplier partnerships into long-term success factors___________Get in touch with Barbara Stolle-Amedick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-stolle-amedick-45a381156/___________About the host Martina Buchhauser:Martina Buchhauser is a global leader with extensive knowledge of the automotive industry, and its shift towards sustainable technologies and low-carbon business practices. Her leadership journey includes executive roles in Global Procurement and Supply Chain Networks at General Motors, MAN, BMW, and Volvo Cars, where she served as Chief Procurement Officer and on the management board. She is a senior advisor at H&Z Management Consulting and a non-executive director on several company boards. Martina enjoys hiking, golfing, and skiing, and values time with her family and friends from around the world. She is passionate about leadership and actively engaged in developing and promoting talent.Get in touch with Martina Buchhauser on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martina-buchhauser/ ___________The Procurement Initiative Leaders Podcast is powered by H&Z Management Consulting in collaboration with SAWOO.

Want to make AI work for your business? In today's episode, Lois Houston and Nikita Abraham continue their discussion of AI in Oracle Fusion Applications by focusing on three key AI capabilities: predictive, generative, and agentic.   Joining them is Principal Instructor Yunus Mohammed, who explains how predictive, generative, and agentic AI can optimize efficiency, support decision-making, and automate tasks—all without requiring technical expertise.   AI for You: https://mylearn.oracle.com/ou/course/ai-for-you/152601/   Oracle University Learning Community: https://education.oracle.com/ou-community   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/oracle-university/   X: https://x.com/Oracle_Edu   Special thanks to Arijit Ghosh, David Wright, Kris-Ann Nansen, Radhika Banka, and the OU Studio Team for helping us create this episode.   ------------------------------------------------------------   Episode Transcript: 00:00 Welcome to the Oracle University Podcast, the first stop on your cloud journey. During this series of informative podcasts, we'll bring you foundational training on the most popular Oracle technologies. Let's get started! 00:25 Nikita: Welcome to the Oracle University Podcast! I'm Nikita Abraham, Team Lead: Editorial Services with Oracle University, and with me is Lois Houston, Director of Innovation Programs. Lois: Hi there! In our last episode, we explored the essential components of the Oracle AI stack and spoke about Oracle's suite of AI services.  Nikita: Yeah, and in today's episode, we're going to go down a similar path and take a closer look at the AI functionalities within Oracle Fusion Applications. 00:53 Lois: With us today is Principal Instructor Yunus Mohammed. Hi Yunus! It's lovely to have you back with us. For anyone who doesn't already know, what are Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications?  Yunus: Oracle Fusion Applications are a suite of cloud-based enterprise applications designed to run for your business across finance, HR, supply chain, sales, services and more, all on a unified platform. They are designed to help enterprises operate smarter, faster by embedding AI directly into business process. That means better forecasts in finance, faster hiring decisions in HR, and optimized supply chains, and more personalized customer experience.  01:42 Nikita: And we know they've been built for today's fast-paced, AI-driven business environment. So, what are the different functional pillars within Oracle Fusion Apps? Yunus: The first one is the ERP, Enterprise Resource Planning, which supports financials, procurements, and project management. It's the backbone of many organizations, or day-to-day operations. HCM or Human Capital Management, handles workforce-related processes such as hiring, payroll, performance, and talent development, helping HR teams operate more efficiently. SCM, the Supply Chain Management, enables businesses to manage their logistics, inventory, and suppliers and manufacturers in the business. It's particularly critical in industries with complex operations like retail and manufacturing. The CX, which is the Customer Experience, covers the full customer life cycle, which includes sales, marketing, and service. These models help the businesses connect with their customers more personally and proactively, whether through the targeted campaigns or responsive support.  03:02 Lois: Yunus, what sets Fusion apart? Yunus: What sets Fusion apart is how these applications work seamlessly together. They share data natively and continuously improve with AI and automation, giving you not just tools, but intelligence at scale.  Oracle applications are built to be AI first, with a complete suite of finance, supply chain, manufacturing, HR, sales, service, and marketing, that is tightly coupled with our industry and data intelligence applications. The easiest and the most effective way to start building your organization's AI muscle is with AI embedded in Fusion applications. For example, if the customer needs to return a defective product, the service representative simply clicks on Ask Oracle for the answers. Since the AI agent is embedded in the application, it has contextual information about the customer, the order, and any special service, contract, or any other feature that is required for this process. The AI agent automatically figures out the return policy, including the options to send a replacement product immediately or offer a discount for the inconvenience, and also expedite shipping. Another AI agent sends a personalized email confirming details of the return, and different AI agent creates the replacement order for fulfillment and shipping. Our AI-embedded Fusion Applications can automate an end-to-end business process from service request to return order to fulfillment and shipping and then accounting.  These are pre-built and tested so that all the worry and hard work is removed from the implementation point of view. They cover the core workflows. Basically, they address tasks that form part of the organization's core workflow. User requires no technical knowledge in the scenarios.  05:16 Lois: That's great! So, you don't need to be an AI expert or a data scientist to get going. Yunus: The outcomes are super fast in business softwares and context is everything. Just having the right information isn't enough. This is about having the information in the right place at the right time for it to be instantly actionable. They are ready from day one and can be optimized over time. They are powerful out of the box and only get better with day-to-day processes and performance. 05:55 Are you working towards an Oracle Certification this year? Join us at one of our certification prep live events in the Oracle University Learning Community. Get insider tips from seasoned experts and learn from others who have already taken their certifications. Go to community.oracle.com/ou to jump-start your journey towards certification today!  06:20 Nikita: Welcome back! So, when we talk about the AI capabilities in Fusion apps, I know we have different types. Can you tell us more about them?  Yunus: Predictive AI is where it all started. These models analyze historical patterns and data to anticipate what might happen next. For example, predicting employee attrition, forecasting demand in supply chain, or flagging potential late payments in finance workflows. These are embedded into business processes to surface insights before action is needed. Then we have got the generative AI, which takes this a step more further. Instead of just providing insights, it creates content, such as auto-generating job descriptions, summarizing performance reviews, or even crafting draft responses to supplier queries. This saves time and boosts productivity across functions like HR, CX, and procurement. Last but not the least, we have got the agentic AI, which is the most advanced layer. These agents don't just provide suggestions, they take actions on behalf of the users. Think of an agent that not only recommends actions in a workflow, but also executes them, creating tasks, filling tickets, updating systems, and communicating with stakeholders, all autonomously but under user control. And importantly, many business scenarios today benefit from a blend of these types. For example, an AI assistant in Fusion HCM might predict employees turnover, which is predictive AI, generates tailored retention plans, which is generative, and it is generative AI, and initiate outreach or next steps, which is done by the process of agents, which is called agentic AI. So, Oracle integrates these capabilities in a harmonious way, enabling users to act faster, personalize at scale, and drive better business outcomes.  08:39 Lois: Ok, let's get into the specifics. How does Oracle use predictive AI across its Fusion apps, helping businesses anticipate what's coming and act proactively.  Yunus: So in HCM, things like recommended jobs, in this, candidates visiting a potential employer's website encountered an improved online experience, whereby if they have uploaded their resumes, they will be shown job opportunities that match their skills and experience mix. This helps candidates who are unsure what to search by showing them roles and titles they may not have considered. Time to hire provides an estimated as to how long it will take for an HR team to fill an open role, but this is really useful not only in terms of planning, recruitment, but also in terms of understanding whether you might need some temporary cover and for how long will it actually take the process to complete. In the process of supply chain management, the predictive AI is leveraged to revolutionize transit time and estimated time of arrival, which is called as the predictive analysis, enhancing efficiency, and optimizing operations. It can flag abnormal patterns in supply or inventory. For example, if a batch of parts is behaving differently in the production line and predict future demands, helping avoid overstocking or stockouts is a process that can be done by using the SCM predictive analysis or predictive AI. In ERPs, where you can audit your expenses, plan for future expenses, and do dynamic discounting for vendors who are likely to accept earlier payments or earlier payment discounts, it can also speed up reimbursements by automated expense entries. In CX, you have the options to go with adaptive intelligence for sales, which helps representatives prioritize the leads and the likelihood that a specific lead will close, helping representatives focus their time and effort. So predictive scheduling and routing in service delivery ensures that the right resource is assigned to the right customer at the right time, boosting operational efficiency and customer satisfaction, also known as fatigue analysis. 11:23 Lois: Now let's shift our focus to generative AI. How does Oracle implement generative AI across HCM, ERP, Supply Chain, and CX? Yunus: So, in HCM, the generative AI can automatically generate performance review summaries from raw data, saving time for HR teams, and can help you in providing candidates with summaries of their interview process, feedback, and next steps, all auto generated. With AI assistance, goal creation for employees can be automated, and the system analyzes performance data and trends to propose meaningful and attainable goals, aligning them with organizational objectives and employee capabilities. In SCM, similarly, the generative AI process helps you in defining drafting summaries of purchase orders. So generative AI can automatically create clear, readable synopses, and can be summarized with complex negotiations and discussions, making it easier for supply chain managers to analyze supplier proposals, track negotiations, processes, and understand key takeaways. With predictive AI embedded, it is helping you to leverage to help generate the repairs of master definitions of summaries, and can generate descriptions for item based on their specification, helping product teams automatically generate catalog contents. With ERPs, you can automate the creation of business reports, offering more insights and actionable narratives, rather than just showing the raw data. The AI can provide context, interpretations, and recommendations. AI can also take raw project data and generate a comprehensive, easy-to-read project status, reports that stakeholders can quickly review. In CX, we have got service request summarization, which can provide these long summaries for the customer services and the tickets that have been requested by the customers, allowing support teams to understand the key points in the fraction of time, and can also create knowledge base articles directly from common service requests or inquiries, which not only improves internal knowledge management but also empowers customers by enabling self-service. So generative AI can automatically generate success stories or case studies from successful opportunities or sales, which can be used as marketing content or for internal knowledge sharing. 14:20 Nikita: And what about Oracle's Agentic AI? What are its capabilities across the different pillars? Yunus: In HCM, Agentic AI handles the end-to-end onboarding experience, from explaining policies to guiding document submissions, even booking orientation sessions, allowing the HR staff to focus on human engagement. It can further support HR teams during performance review cycles by surfacing high potential employees, pulling in performance data, and recommending next actions like promotions or learning paths. It helps manage time with requests by checking eligibility, policy constraints, and suggesting appropriate substitutes, reducing administrative frictions and errors. With SCM, the Agentic AI Fusion Applications act as a real time Assistant to ensure buyers follow procurement policies, and reducing compliance risk and manual errors. It can also support sales representatives with real-time insights and next best actions during the quoting or ordering process, improving customer satisfaction and sales performance. With ERP, you can handle document intake, extraction, and routing, saving significant time on manual document management across financial functions using Fusion Applications. AI automates reconciliation tasks by matching transactions, flagging anomalies, and suggesting resolutions. It helps you in reducing close cycle timelines and continuously analyzes profit margins. And it recommends the pricing adjustments that can be done in your ERPs. In CX, the Agentic AI Fusion Application supports staff by instantly compiling full customer histories, orders, service requests, interactions, and can act like a real-time assistant, summarizing open tickets and resolutions, helping agents take over or escalate without needing to dig through the notes, and dynamically adjust technicals and technician routes based on traffic, priority, or cancelation, increasing the field efficiency and customer satisfaction. 17:04 Lois: Thank you so much, Yunus. To learn more about the topics covered today, visit mylearn.oracle.com and search for the AI for You course. Nikita: Join us next week as we cover how AI is being applied across sectors like healthcare, finance, and retail, and tackle the big question: how do we keep these technologies aligned with human values? Until then, this is Nikita Abraham… Lois: And Lois Houston, signing off! 17:30 That's all for this episode of the Oracle University Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please click Subscribe to get all the latest episodes. We'd also love it if you would take a moment to rate and review us on your podcast app. See you again on the next episode of the Oracle University Podcast.

For the final episode of Season 3, co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby spoke with supply chain consultant and former Procter & Gamble senior director Andrew Byer to explore how people, culture, and technology intersect to shape resilient supply chains. Byer shares lessons from his long career at Procter & Gamble, where he supported global operations for health, hygiene, and cleaning products. He discusses how licensing, supply chain planning, and culture building are critical levers for performance, and why growing talent from within remains essential. The conversation also touches on how machine learning and automation are shaping new approaches to work. Plus, Ted and Tom cover the latest headlines: the Supreme Court's upcoming case on the legality of Trump's tariffs, the end of the “de minimis” loophole for online orders, changes to EV tax credits, and new data on consumer prices and jobless claims. The episode was recorded virtually on September 11, 2025. Related links:  Supreme Court to hear Trump's tariff legality case in November ‘De minimis' loophole is ending; here's what it means for online orders EV tax credit ends soon, but it's still as complicated as ever: What to know Consumer prices rose at annual rate of 2.9% in August, as weekly jobless claims jump Download our latest white papers from UT experts on returns management and reshoring manufacturing.  Learn about UT's new master's degree in global supply chain managementSave the date for the fall Supply Chain Forum, November 4–6 in Knoxville Become a Supply Chain Forum partner Subscribe to GSCI's monthly newsletter Read the latest news and insights from GSCI Text the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management team!

Natan Bershtel is the Director of Business Development at Pelagic, a fractional supply chain partner for growing brands and CPG companies. Before Pelagic, Natan spent nearly 20 years as a public school teacher before joining and eventually running his family's contract packaging business—where he worked with iconic names like Seed, Liquid IV, Celsius, and Element. After his company's exit, Natan teamed up with John Morgan to help brands avoid common operational pitfalls and build supply chains that scale.In this episode of DTC Pod, Natan breaks down what it takes to build a resilient supply chain at every stage of brand growth. He shares practical strategies to avoid common pitfalls, tips on sourcing the right partners, and insights on how successful brands approach manufacturing, fulfillment, and logistics. Natan also highlights why supply chain is core to a brand's success and how founders can create real competitive advantages by making supply chain decisions based on quality, relationships, and flexibility.Episode brought to you by StordInteract with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. Importance of supply chain in DTC and omnichannel brands2. Key players: sourcing, manufacturing, co-packers, 3PLs, and fulfillment3. Differences in supply chain needs for emerging vs. established brands4. Supply chain pitfalls and how to avoid them5. Vetting, relationship-building, and collaboration with your supply chain partners6. Overlooked areas of supply chain where founders lose time/money7. How to approach minimum order quantities and negotiations8. When to outsource fulfillment vs. doing it yourself9. Logistics of manufacturing, packaging, and distribution10. The impact of scale on supply chain decisions11. Using data and timelines to make faster, smarter choices12. Leveraging agency and partner networks for supply chain speed13. Why in-person vendor relationships are crucial14. How truly great supply chains build brand moatsTimestamps00:00 Intro and the state of supply chain in DTC01:40 Natan Bershtel's background and path to Pelagic02:24 Lessons from growing a contract packaging family business04:11 Why supply chain is the backbone of every brand05:28 The role of execution vs. creative vision in CPG07:09 How to find and vet the best manufacturing/packaging partners11:15 The agency advantage: getting reps and sharing supply chain intel12:41 Core players in bringing a product to market15:04 Aligning supply chain strategy with brand vision and goals16:56 Two playbooks for scaling: bootstrap profit vs. capital-intensive growth19:48 Timelines—how to ask supply partners the right questions21:41 How and when to ask for what you need from partners26:32 End-to-end product launch: manufacturing, packaging, and fulfillment28:42 When to move fulfillment to a 3PL (and when to keep it in-house)33:15 Tech and process innovation at leading 3PLs35:14 Strategic decisions: packaging, location, and unit economics38:58 Challenging assumptions and reviewing supply chain regularly42:08 Supply chain as brand moat and advantage44:13 Final tips: Always go in-person and build real relationshipsShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTokNatan Bershtel - Director of Business Development at PelagicBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Dr. Jennifer Ryan discusses her interest in researching supply chains under uncertainty.An Exercise in Game TheoryWhat is a GPO (Group Purchasing Organization)?Lehigh Business Undergraduate Supply Chain Management CoursesLearn More About Jennifer Ryan

For the August 2025 episode, co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby spoke with Doug Gray, VP of integrated supply chain for Trane Technologies, about driving resilience in the aftermarket business, embedding sustainability into strategic decision-making, and upskilling long-tenured employees to create value in a landscape of AI and automation. Gray, a member of the GSCI Advisory Board, joined Trane's executive leadership in 2024. In his role, he is accountable for the company's supply distribution, including SIOP, order management, quality and packaging, inventory management, and distribution center operations. A global climate innovator, the company provides heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, refrigeration solutions, and connected building technologies, while maintaining a focus on reduced energy use and carbon emissions. Prior to Trane, Gray spent more than 16 years in various supply chain functions for Caterpillar Inc.  Listen in for insights on AI adoption, aftermarket performance, inventory management, and talent development. Plus, Ted and Tom dig into the latest news about U.S. tariffs and trade relationships, the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, and more. The episode was recorded during the GSCI Advisory Board meeting at the Haslam College of Business on August 20, 2025. Related links:  U.S. hikes steel, aluminum tariffs on imported appliances, railvars, and EV parts How Trump's tariffs, the AI boom, and the leadership shake-up at the Bureau of Labor Statistics will impact the economy Doug Gray named a 2025 Rainmaker by DC Velocity Learn about UT's new master's degree in global supply chain management Download our latest white paper on reshoring manufacturing and the talent skills gap for U.S. labor.  GSCI leaders on five points of consideration from the proposed UP-NS merger Save the date for the fall Supply Chain Forum, November 4–6 in Knoxville Download the white paper “Future-Ready Procurement” or read our blog series  Join the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative, where forward-thinking leaders and companies, like Trane, explore advanced concepts in SCM with UT scholars. Sign up for one of our virtual credentials in Finance (Sept. 15-Nov. 16) and Procurement (Sept. 15–Nov. 16). Become a Text the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management team!

Welcome to another episode of Gen Z in Manufacturing, a podcast that asks young people about their journeys in manufacturing, how they intend to influence the industry and what they are looking for from an employer.For this episode, I welcome Hannah Dannecker, a 26-year-old managing partner at Better Together Group, a collection of companies that focus on supplying support and tools to staffing companies. Additionally, Dannecker serves as a board member for the Women's Trucking Federation of Canada.In this episode, Dannecker discusses:A fact about Gen Z that always surprises older generations (1:07)How to gain young workers' trust (5:18)Helping Gen Z get over imposter syndrome (9:12)The ideal age to begin engaging young talent (15:26)Please make sure to like and share this episode. To view previous episodes, visit manufacturing.net. If you are a member of Gen Z and would like to discuss your experience in the manufacturing industry, please contact Nolan Beilstein at nolan@ien.com.

Environmental sustainability policy has failed due to focusing on symptoms rather than the root cause problems. Through significant research and a detailed roadmap for how to achieve sustainability by 2050, Buffington provides a realistic, game changing path forward that is both good for the environment and the economy. Dr. Jack Buffington received a Ph.D. in Supply Chain Management from the Lulea University of Technology in Sweden, and a Post-Doctorate at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, and now he is currently the Program Director/Professor for the Supply Chain Management program and the Denver Transportation Institute at the University of Denver. Jack has published over twenty peer-reviewed journal articles and seven books before this one. Jack's current research efforts are focused on Africa, which he believes is the epicenter of where environmental innovation must be fostered. And he is also Sustainability Director at First Key Consulting, a global brewing consulting firm. Jack is collaborating with innovators in supply chain, sustainability, and healthcare across the planet. Before these roles, Jack was responsible for supply chain logistics for MillerCoors Brewing Company, the second-largest beer company in the U.S. and the fourth-largest worldwide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs

Environmental sustainability policy has failed due to focusing on symptoms rather than the root cause problems. Through significant research and a detailed roadmap for how to achieve sustainability by 2050, Buffington provides a realistic, game changing path forward that is both good for the environment and the economy. Dr. Jack Buffington received a Ph.D. in Supply Chain Management from the Lulea University of Technology in Sweden, and a Post-Doctorate at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, and now he is currently the Program Director/Professor for the Supply Chain Management program and the Denver Transportation Institute at the University of Denver. Jack has published over twenty peer-reviewed journal articles and seven books before this one. Jack's current research efforts are focused on Africa, which he believes is the epicenter of where environmental innovation must be fostered. And he is also Sustainability Director at First Key Consulting, a global brewing consulting firm. Jack is collaborating with innovators in supply chain, sustainability, and healthcare across the planet. Before these roles, Jack was responsible for supply chain logistics for MillerCoors Brewing Company, the second-largest beer company in the U.S. and the fourth-largest worldwide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Environmental sustainability policy has failed due to focusing on symptoms rather than the root cause problems. Through significant research and a detailed roadmap for how to achieve sustainability by 2050, Buffington provides a realistic, game changing path forward that is both good for the environment and the economy. Dr. Jack Buffington received a Ph.D. in Supply Chain Management from the Lulea University of Technology in Sweden, and a Post-Doctorate at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, and now he is currently the Program Director/Professor for the Supply Chain Management program and the Denver Transportation Institute at the University of Denver. Jack has published over twenty peer-reviewed journal articles and seven books before this one. Jack's current research efforts are focused on Africa, which he believes is the epicenter of where environmental innovation must be fostered. And he is also Sustainability Director at First Key Consulting, a global brewing consulting firm. Jack is collaborating with innovators in supply chain, sustainability, and healthcare across the planet. Before these roles, Jack was responsible for supply chain logistics for MillerCoors Brewing Company, the second-largest beer company in the U.S. and the fourth-largest worldwide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/environmental-studies

Environmental sustainability policy has failed due to focusing on symptoms rather than the root cause problems. Through significant research and a detailed roadmap for how to achieve sustainability by 2050, Buffington provides a realistic, game changing path forward that is both good for the environment and the economy. Dr. Jack Buffington received a Ph.D. in Supply Chain Management from the Lulea University of Technology in Sweden, and a Post-Doctorate at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, and now he is currently the Program Director/Professor for the Supply Chain Management program and the Denver Transportation Institute at the University of Denver. Jack has published over twenty peer-reviewed journal articles and seven books before this one. Jack's current research efforts are focused on Africa, which he believes is the epicenter of where environmental innovation must be fostered. And he is also Sustainability Director at First Key Consulting, a global brewing consulting firm. Jack is collaborating with innovators in supply chain, sustainability, and healthcare across the planet. Before these roles, Jack was responsible for supply chain logistics for MillerCoors Brewing Company, the second-largest beer company in the U.S. and the fourth-largest worldwide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/economics

Environmental sustainability policy has failed due to focusing on symptoms rather than the root cause problems. Through significant research and a detailed roadmap for how to achieve sustainability by 2050, Buffington provides a realistic, game changing path forward that is both good for the environment and the economy. Dr. Jack Buffington received a Ph.D. in Supply Chain Management from the Lulea University of Technology in Sweden, and a Post-Doctorate at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, and now he is currently the Program Director/Professor for the Supply Chain Management program and the Denver Transportation Institute at the University of Denver. Jack has published over twenty peer-reviewed journal articles and seven books before this one. Jack's current research efforts are focused on Africa, which he believes is the epicenter of where environmental innovation must be fostered. And he is also Sustainability Director at First Key Consulting, a global brewing consulting firm. Jack is collaborating with innovators in supply chain, sustainability, and healthcare across the planet. Before these roles, Jack was responsible for supply chain logistics for MillerCoors Brewing Company, the second-largest beer company in the U.S. and the fourth-largest worldwide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science-technology-and-society

How Pennant Moldings Uses AI and Traditional B2B MarketingB2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast with Donna PetersonIndustrial marketing isn't like selling shoes or software. It takes time, trust, and a strong understanding of how real relationships drive long-term results.In this episode, I sit down with Brian Contini, VP of Sales and Marketing at Pennant Moldings, to hear what's actually working for their team right now. We talk about how they're combining traditional methods—like trade shows and in-person visits—with smart use of AI to support research, improve outreach, and build stronger customer connections.Whether you're in metals, plastics, or any industrial space, this episode is full of practical takeaways you can use right away.Top 5 Topics We Cover:Why traditional marketing still works—and when to use itHow Pennant is using AI to streamline sales researchWhat's working in email marketing todayThe importance of knowing your audience in technical industriesHow to maintain trust while integrating new tools like AIWhat You Can Do Today:Revisit your email outreach—are you focusing on the recipient's challenge first?Identify one traditional tactic (like trade shows or phone calls) that deserves renewed attention.Choose one AI tool that could save you time with research or outreach—start testing it in a small way.Talk to your sales team: Where do they feel AI supports their efforts—and where does it get in the way?Let's keep the conversation going:How are you helping your industrial brand stand out and build stronger relationships?Leave a comment, send me a message, or reach out at dpeterson@worldinnovators.com. I'd love to hear what's working for you.If this episode helped you in any way, consider leaving a quick review. It helps us continue sharing real strategies that support industrial brands doing meaningful work.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software companies sell a simple premise: if you can manage customer data, you can grow your business. But capitalizing on that promise is complicated, as any company struggling with CRM implementation knows.  Kristen Thom, senior vice president of customer experience for White Cup, has an easy fix for this persistent CRM pain point. She helps distributors reframe their focus, emphasizing actionable information over team micromanagement. Jason caught up with her to discuss White Cup's powerful CRM+BI solution and the revolutionary ways that the company incorporates AI to capture hidden market share while improving long-term customer relationships. CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH KRISTEN  LinkedIn White Cup *** *** For full show notes and services visit: https://www.distributionteam.com  Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth, and achieve personal goals.    This episode was edited by The Creative Impostor Studios  Special thanks to our sponsors for this episode: Profit2, helping distributors charge the right price; and INxSQL Distribution Software, an integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.  

Last August, Sana Biotechnology opened a new 80,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in an old AT&T call center in Bothell, Washington. The Seattle-based startup, which manufactures engineered cells used as medicines for cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune disease patients, had been working on the project for more than a year. The facility was expected to create hundreds of new jobs and bring manufacturing in-house.

The NHL's newest team announced a lawsuit against a bag manufacturer over a trademark dispute. The controversy involves the Utah Mammoth hockey team and a hockey equipment bag maker named Mammoth Hockey, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

Goodee's founders built a global home goods marketplace with purpose, curated design, and a 4.5% return rate by helping customers buy better.For more on Goodee and show notes click here. Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

When it comes to global logistics, it seems no news is good news. If a transoceanic journey of goods goes without a hitch, you never hear about it.But when things go wrong, they can go very wrong – and we've seen that play out in several dramatic fires in the past few years that have resulted in high profile tales of doomed cargo ships.Most recently, an incident involving the cargo carrier Morning Midas led to millions in losses after a fire broke out and the ship sank off the coast of Alaska with more than 3,000 vehicles on board. At issue was concern over the electric and hybrid electric vehicles, and suggestions that the fire broke out on the deck with the EVs.

The past is always present at Industrial Supply Company, thanks to a treasure trove of historical documents dating back to 1915. While the Utah-based company's century+ heritage is impressive, Jessica Yurgaitis has no intention of dwelling in the dust of the organization's bygone era, even if the history major in her loves posting those old handwritten letters and sales slips.  We're revisiting Jason's conversation with this fourth-generation president about balancing respect for family legacy with a desire to launch the company into a thoroughly modern future. *** CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JESSICA LinkedIn *** Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth, and achieve personal goals.    This episode was edited by The Creative Impostor Studios  Special thanks to our sponsors for this episode: Moblico, helping businesses do more business on mobile devices; and INxSQL Distribution Software, an integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.  

This episode is sponsored by XPLUS. On this episode we are diving into key changes in license enforcement in Dynamics 365 F&SCM with Bartosz Szpiech, vice president of product at XPLUS. We begin by discussing what has changed in the licensing model from AX 2012 to Dynamics 365 and how it is changing in the coming months in ways that will have important implications for customers still planning a move from on-premises to cloud, as well as for existing D365 customers. And while many customers will be able to adapt without too much disruption, there will be scenarios in which organizations could face a major impact to license costs and user management. We also discuss how security setup projects have evolved and how user security governance, or USG, can support license optimization and compliance going forward. Resources: D365 Licensing Guide - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/licensing/product-licensing/dynamics365 USG - YouTube 1 hour walkthrough -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XOugnAmFi8 USG Masterclass - 2 hours material with registration from Executive Automats -  https://www.executiveautomats.com/dynamics-365-fscm-security-masterclasses Technet -  https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ Contact Bart - Bartosz.Szpiech@xplusglobal.com   

How can we balance performance and purpose to sustain growth? Well, look no further than a successful non-profit for the answer to that! And while your organization may sell anything from software to shoes to services, you can indeed leverage a clear, co-created purpose to ignite performance. And you can embrace empathy for employees or customers who are nothing like you in order to do it.Today, Shilpa Alva shares the powerful childhood experiences that led her to this work, with a stopover in corporate America, where the skills she learned now serve her very well in the non-profit world. We discuss what her shift from corporate culture to the non-profit world was like, and how she balances mission with results, like 70% growth! She talks about values versus process and why values light the fire, so your people will achieve results. Shilpa shares how they co-create solutions with local partners, gathering input from everyone to get the most impactful ideas, and offers a great model for clearly communicating back those final decisions to increase buy-in. To access the episode transcript, please scroll down below.Key Takeaways:We are all part of a shared humanity and are way more alike than different. Exposure to different perspectives can help build your empathy muscle.Partner with the community, don't just assume you know what is best for the community.The organization and structure that got you to where you are today is not going to be the same one that gets you to your wildest, most audacious goals.Bring all stakeholders in your ecosystem together in the vision to make your goals a reality. "You keep your values and your foundation strong so that it doesn't shift. But then you use those values to guide you in achieving your goals." — Shilpa Alva Episode References: Joy McBrien of Fair AnitaThe Empathy Edge podcast: Heather Hiscox: The Surprising Empathy Gap in Social Impact That Hinders ChangeFrom Our Partner:SparkEffect partners with organizations to unlock the full potential of their greatest asset: their people. Through their tailored assessments and expert coaching at every level, SparkEffect helps organizations manage change, sustain growth, and chart a path to a brighter future.Go to sparkeffect.com/edge now and download your complimentary Professional and Organizational Alignment Review today.About Shilpa Alva, Founder & Executive Director, Surge for WaterShilpa Alva is the founder and Executive Director of Surge for Water, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the cycle of poverty through access to safe water and sanitation solutions. Since its founding 15 years ago, Surge has impacted hundreds of thousands of people in 12 countries. Shilpa's journey didn't start in the International Nonprofit world. After graduating from Johns Hopkins University with a Chemical Engineering degree, she joined the corporate world and earned her MBA from the Carlson School at the University of Minnesota. After a successful corporate career in Supply Chain Management, she made the bold choice to follow her purpose and live fully in alignment with it. She went from running the organization on nights and weekends to going all the way in!Connect with Shilpa Alva Surge for Water: surgeforwater.org LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shilpa-alva-858b841 Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaWe would love to get your thoughts on the show! Please click https://bit.ly/edge-feedback to take this 5-minute survey, thanks!

Whether you're building relationships or just booking freight, this episode with the amazing couple from Cowtown Express Logistics, Colby and Raegan Baskin, is full of insights on how to build long-term success in the industry! Colby and Raegan unpack how they've evolved from a family-run straight truck operation to a high-integrity, full truckload freight brokerage focused on open deck freight, why they made the tough but necessary call to exit their 60-truck asset side to protect safety and values, how they scaled their brokerage with a people-first culture, and why their business strategy is all about doing the right thing, even when it's not the easy thing!   About Colby and Raegan Baskin Colby and Raegan bring a unique blend of operational expertise and strategic leadership to Cowtown Express Logistics. Colby, CEO, earned his degree in Supply Chain Management from TCU in 2010. He began his career as a truck driver, gaining valuable hands-on experience before stepping into leadership. He went on to own and operate a fleet of 60 trucks, managing everything from business development to truck maintenance and driver hiring. Today, he leads Cowtown Logistics with a practical, grounded approach. Outside of work, he enjoys working out, cooking for his family, self-development, and learning how to grow a LinkedIn audience to create both personal and professional growth opportunities. Raegan, COO, graduated from TCU in 2009 with a degree in Biology. She previously served as VP of Training at PhysAssist Scribes, where she led a team that trained over 4,000 medical scribes annually. Now, she focuses on operational growth, team development, and customer success at Cowtown Logistics. Outside the office, she enjoys yoga and spending time with their two children—Vivian (11) and Will (8). Together, they combine real-world experience with executive vision to drive Cowtown's continued growth and culture.   Connect with Colby and Raegan Website: https://www.cowtownexpress.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colby-baskin-207089118/ / https://www.linkedin.com/in/raeganbaskin/  

China Plus One: Strategies for Global Supply Chains with Jeff GoldsteinWelcome to another episode of the Asia Business Podcast. Today, we are joined by Co-Host Chris DeAngelis are privileged to welcome Jeff Goldstein, a friend of the show and an expert in supply chain management, sourcing, and contracting in Asia. As the founder and president of Onward Global, Jeff offers invaluable insights into the intricate dynamics of Asian supply chains.Introducing Jeff GoldsteinVisit Onward GlobalJeff Goldstein is a seasoned professional with 15 years of experience in China, overseeing supply chains and founding Onward Global—a consulting and contracting partner specializing in sourcing and supply chain management across Asia. His experience spans multiple countries, including Cambodia, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Indonesia, which provides him with a unique perspective on the evolving landscape of global supply chains.The Impact of COVID-19 and TariffsIn today's episode, Jeff delves into the challenges posed by recent global events, such as COVID-19 lockdowns and increasing tariffs, which have magnified the importance of effective supply chain management. These disruptions have underscored the need for businesses to diversify their supply chains to mitigate risks associated with over-dependence on China.Exploring the China Plus One StrategyJeff highlights the significance of the "China Plus One" strategy, where businesses look to expand their manufacturing and supply chains beyond China to other countries. This approach not only helps in risk management but also in leveraging the varied advantages offered by different regions in Asia. However, Jeff warns that this strategy requires substantial time, resources, and a strong alignment within the company to be successful.Country-Specific Opportunities and ChallengesDrawing from his extensive travel and work across Asia, Jeff shares insights into the specific opportunities and challenges faced by businesses in different countries. For instance, while India presents exciting opportunities due to its raw materials and English-speaking workforce, it also poses challenges related to regulatory barriers and a long-standing focus on the domestic market.The Role of Chinese Factories in Southeast AsiaIn an interesting turn, Jeff uncovers the industrious nature of Chinese businesses that have succeeded in establishing operations in Southeast Asia. These businesses demonstrate remarkable agility and a capacity to set up fully operational factories in countries like Indonesia within just one year, highlighting the dynamic nature of the Asian manufacturing landscape.Overcoming Quality Control ChallengesJeff emphasizes the importance of quality assurance and its critical role in ensuring the success of supply chain operations. He explains how recent economic pressures have increased the risk of corner-cutting in Chinese factories, which reinforces the need for stringent quality control measures and robust contract management.Building a Resilient Supply ChainFor businesses looking to optimize their supply chains, Jeff advises adopting a holistic approach that encompasses risk management, quality assurance, and strategic diversification. He advocates for businesses to be proactive, invest in building local teams, and develop strong relationships with suppliers to ensure sustainable growth.Final Thoughts and Contact InformationFor businesses striving to navigate the complex world of Asian supply chains, Jeff Goldstein stands out as a knowledgeable guide. To learn more about how Jeff and his team at Onward Global can support your business, please visit onwardglobal.com or reach out directly via email at jeffrey@onwardglobal.com.We thank Jeff for sharing his expertise with us, shedding light on strategies that can help businesses thrive in today's challenging environment. Stay tuned for more episodes of the Asia Business Podcast, where we continue to bring insights from leaders who are shaping the future of business in Asia.Timestamps00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:43 Jeff Goldstein's Journey in China01:22 Current Trends in Supply Chain Management02:57 China Plus One Strategy03:59 Challenges and Opportunities in Diversifying Supply Chains13:27 Quality Control and Assurance in Manufacturing24:48 Customs Inspections and Transshipment Risks25:40 Verification and Trust in Supplier Relationships26:16 Challenges of Shifting Supply Chains to Southeast Asia27:00 Impact of US-China Tariffs on Factories30:14 Legal and Ethical Considerations in Supply Chain Management31:28 Client Pain Points and Supply Chain Solutions37:07 Cultural Differences in Factory Management43:31 Podcast Wrap-Up and Contact Information ProducerJacob ThomasFollow UsLinkedInApple Podcasts

From time to time, we'll re-air a previous episode of the show that our newer audience may have missed. During this episode, Santosh is joined by Dr. Tom Goldsby, Chair of Logistics at the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee. Santosh and Tom discuss the complexities of supply chain management and other important topics. Tom shares his background, the growth of the University of Tennessee's supply chain program, and the importance of nearshoring and agility in today's volatile environment. They also explore the evolution of parcel logistics, the challenges of last-mile delivery, the impacts of AI on supply chain innovation for the future, and more.Highlights from their conversation include:Tom's Background in Supply Chain and Logistics (1:22)The Impact of Nearshoring (6:41)Geopolitical Considerations (9:38)Agility in Supply Chain (13:04)Adapting to Pandemic Challenges (16:16)Parcel Logistics Evolution (19:49)USPS incentives and parcel network changes (23:25)Walmart's last mile and returns strategy (24:01)Rapid fire Segment: AI, Port of Baltimore, and Trucking (25:09)Final Thoughts and Takeaways (28:24)Dynamo is a VC firm led by supply chain and mobility specialists that focus on seed-stage, enterprise startups.Find out more at: https://www.dynamo.vc/

In this episode of Supply Chain Connections, Brian Glick speaks with Carly Monzo, founder of ExFreighters, about making freight forwarding more accessible and empowering logistics professionals with practical education and personal AI tools. Carly shares her journey from freight forwarding rookie to consultant and entrepreneur, offering a candid look at the challenges newcomers face and the critical importance of industry education.Topics discussed include: Why logistics feels more complicated than it is—and how jargon plays a role How Carly's workshops demystify freight operations and invoice auditing Strategies for preserving vendor relationships while improving freight visibility The emotional toll of burnout in logistics and Carly's own experience with it How AI “knowledge bases” can help individual operators preserve and grow their expertise The importance of gratitude and recognition in a high-pressure, problem-solving cultureAbout the Guest: Carly Monzo is a Supply Chain & AI Strategist with experience across the full spectrum of international logistics. She has worked for freight forwarders, consulting firms, and startups before founding her own fractional consulting and coaching practice, ExFreighters. There, she helps teams "speak forwarder," streamline invoice auditing, and strengthen vendor relationships. In addition to her consulting work, Carly focuses on equipping individual supply chain professionals with practical AI skills through her Substack, The Average User: Supply Chain Edition, helping them future-proof their careers and make their expertise irreplaceable.Connect with CarlyExplore ExFreightersRead The Average User: Supply Chain EditionConnect with BrianFollow Chain.io on LinkedIn

In this episode, Harish Chandramowli, Co-founder and CTO of Flaire, explores how AI is transforming the fashion and clothing industry—especially in streamlining operations and improving data management. He highlights the challenges brands face when relying on spreadsheets, and stresses the importance of data integrity for better decision-making. He also emphasizes the need for flexible pricing and the importance of adapting technology to fit each brand's unique workflows in the fashion and clothing industry. Topics discussed in this episode:  Why spreadsheets are secretly killing fashion brands' profitability. How AI is revolutionizing fashion operations. What data integrity mistakes cost fashion brands millions. Why most fashion ERP implementations fail. How to sanitize messy fashion data. What technical flexibility really means. Why pricing strategy determines software adoption. How AI visualizes complex fashion processes. What workflow understanding reveals. Why collaboration beats technology. Links & Resources Website: https://www.Flairesoftware.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scharish/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/Flaire-softwareGet access to more free resources by visiting the show notes athttps://tinyurl.com/3c2b4vj4MORE RESOURCES Subscribe to our FREE Newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommercecoffeebreak.com/ Free Store Optimization Beginners Guide: Instant PDF Download!

The growth of e-commerce continues at speed and keeping up with the demand is a challenge for any business. Companies that adapt best to the changing demands can reap the benefits like cost-savings and efficiency gains which lead to bigger and better growth. Smart load planning is a tool that warehouses can leverage to address the changing needs of e-commerce. Lori Boyer, head of Content Marketing for Easypost, shares some of her insights into how smart load planning can could revolutionize warehouse operations. FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://www.easypost.com/ WANT TO RESPOND TO THIS EPISODE? Call our Dialog Line: 888-878-3247 DOWNLOAD THE NEW INBOUND LOGISTICS APP featuring the updated and expanded Logistics Planner! Available on iTunes and the Google Play Store: bit.ly/ILMagApp  bit.ly/ILMagAppGoogle Are you a #logistics Thought Leader that would like to be featured on the Inbound Logistics Podcast?  Connect with me on X:  @ILMagPodcast Email me: podcast@inboundlogistics.com   Connect with Inbound Logistics Magazine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inbound-logistics Follow us on X: www.twitter.com/ILMagazine Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InboundLogistics Catch our latest videos on YouTube: www.youtube.com/inboundlogistics   Visit us at www.inboundlogistics.com

Today we dive into the multifaceted realm of supply chain dynamics, with a primary focus on the critical discussions surrounding sustainability and technological advancements. Welcome to The Buzz!Hosts Scott Luton and Richard Donaldson welcome special guest Heidi Benko, VP of Product Management and Strategy for Infor Nexus, to the show today. Together they discuss:Insights from the Gartner Supply Chain Top 25The impact of tariffs on US-EU trade relationsThe evolving role of technology in multi-enterprise business networksThe rapid advancements in AI and digital product passports, emphasizing the importance of connecting supply chain tiers to meet regulatory requirementsInsights to propel organizations toward more resilient and sustainable supply chain practicesJoin us as we underscore the imperative for supply chain leaders to adopt a proactive approach in an increasingly volatile environment and illuminate strategies that can empower organizations to thrive amidst the chaos of the modern supply chain landscape.Additional Links & Resources:With That Said: https://bit.ly/3IH5yyp Inside the Gartner Top 25: How supply chains are embracing the future: https://bit.ly/3TQBF1aUS companies quietly maintaining, boosting sustainability investments in 2025: report: https://bit.ly/3GSJOz8The Bridge Webinar This Friday: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/4996409/A06BB7334AB2D8676D7B5809082ACC4A?partnerref= What's the Status on Digital Product Passport Implementation? https://bit.ly/4lFpSisU.S. plays hardball on tariffs deadline as EU battles for a deal: https://bit.ly/44Iya33Globalisation is here to stay, but not as we've known it: https://bit.ly/46mg1sWConnect with Heidi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidibenko/Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richarddonaldson/Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.comWatch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-nowSubscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/joinWork with us! Download Supply Chain Now's NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVkWEBINAR- Real Stories: How an Australian Powerhouse Unlocked Millions in Capex Using Advanced Supply Chain Planning: https://bit.ly/3TsxBUFWEBINAR- Unleash Your Inner Pioneer: How to Transform How You Lead: https://bit.ly/45X3ax3WEBINAR- Still in the Dark? 4 Shipping...

If you're into final mile logistics, LTL freight, or operations management, listen to this episode with Andrew Rodriguez of Harvey to hear his practical insights and strategies! Andrew highlights managing high-volume freight and maintaining top-tier customer service with a small team, his journey from freight brokerage into manufacturing operations, and Harvey's structured approach to daily shipping cutoffs, rural delivery coordination, vendor management, and real-time metrics to monitor booking speed, damage rates, and customer satisfaction!   About Andrew Rodriguez Andrew is the Operations Manager at Harvey Industries International, where he oversees key aspects of supply chain operations and organizational efficiency. Before joining Harvey Industries, Andrew held a territory management role at a freight brokerage firm, where he supported clients with their freight and transportation operations. This position gave him hands-on exposure to the complexities of freight logistics, allowing him to work with a diverse range of clients and freight modes. His experience provided him with a broad understanding of how transportation integrates with various business functions, including IT, accounting, customer service, and sales. Prior to his work in freight logistics, Andrew held several operations management positions across industries such as commercial property management, real estate development, marketing, sales, and startups. In these roles, he developed a strong passion for process improvement and operational efficiency, grounded in a customer-centric and results-driven mindset. Andrew joined Harvey Industries with the goal of merging his background in operations management with his experience in freight and transportation, ultimately contributing to the broader scope of supply chain operations.  

In this episode, Nick Erdmann of Vectura Risk Management is back for another insightful conversation about protecting high-value freight from the rising cargo theft threats! We dive into the harsh reality of organized cargo theft, why it's more sophisticated than most think, and how escort services are stepping up to protect high-risk shipments like pharmaceuticals and electronics! Nick walks us through real-world prevention tactics, how layered security assessments work, and why the human element remains just as important as technology. Whether you're a carrier, broker, or shipper, this episode covers what you need to know about securing freight!   About Nick Erdmann With over two decades in supply chain security, Nick serves as the Director of Business Development at Vectura Risk Management, where he specializes in protecting high-value shipments, including pharmaceuticals and electronics through advanced cargo escort services and comprehensive risk management solutions. Prior to joining Vectura, he spent 20 years at Transport Security, Inc., where he established himself as a trusted security advisor across the transportation, retail, portable storage, and supply chain sectors. Throughout his career, Nick built a proven track record of developing customized security programs that address the unique operational challenges faced by his clients. Nick's expertise spans cargo security, regulatory compliance, physical security, location-based services, GPS monitoring, and C-TPAT compliance. He collaborates closely with safety directors, loss prevention teams, security personnel, law enforcement agencies, and cargo theft task forces to implement robust protection strategies. Nick remains actively involved in transportation security associations, including TAPA and the Midwest Security Council, contributing to the development of industry best practices and innovative approaches to supply chain protection. His mission is to safeguard his clients' most valuable cargo and assets through the best layered solutions approach and exceptional service.   Connect with Nick LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickerdmann/  Website: https://govectura.com/  

AI isn't coming; it's here, optimizing behind-the-scenes tasks like forecasting, inventory management, and CRM oversight. John Long, CEO of THYNK AI, says artificial intelligence is ready to take on client-facing interactions. His company has the ultimate tool for the job: Eric, an AI-powered agent.  Jason caught up with John to discuss the evolution of the company's Thynk Agent and the cost-effective advantages it offers distributors in an increasingly competitive environment. CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JOHN  LinkedIn THYNK AI *** For full show notes and services visit: https://www.distributionteam.com Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth, and achieve personal goals.    This episode was edited by The Creative Impostor Studios  Special thanks to our sponsors for this episode: Connected Peers, providing virtual communities for wholesale distributors; and INxSQL Distribution Software, an integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.   

Our guest on this week's episode is Zac Rogers, associate professor of Supply Chain Management at Colorado State University and the lead author of the monthly Logistics Managers' Index report. This past week a number of economic numbers came out. On Tuesday, The Consumer Price Index showed some rise in inflation, a few major banks also reported solid earnings, and we saw some evidence of strong consumer spending during Prime Days. Yet all of these reports came in the midst of the ongoing tariff and trade uncertainty. Where are supply chains at and where are they going as we begin the second half of 2025? Our guest offers some expert insights.One topic we've heard a lot about lately is cargo theft. So it's not surprise that this trend is continuing, but a report that came out this week shared some new details on exactly what thieves are stealing and how they're doing it.A new study shows that companies are still focused on sustainability despite a scaling back of ESG oversight since the change of administration in Washington this year. This is a survey from sustainability ratings provider EcoVadis. The key takeaway is that 87% of companies surveyed say they have maintained or increased their investment in business sustainability efforts this year, with many saying they are doing so “behind the scenes” amid growing regulatory debate and uncertainty over the role of those corporate ESG-related programs.Supply Chain Xchange  also offers a podcast series called Supply Chain in the Fast Lane.  It is co-produced with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. A new series has just started on Top Threats to our Supply Chains. Go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and to listen to past and future episodes. The podcast is also available at www.thescxchange.com.Articles and resources mentioned in this episode:Colorado State University - College of BusinessCargo theft surged 13% across North America in Q2Report: Companies prioritize sustainability despite ESG rollbacksVisit Supply Chain XchangeListen to CSCMP and Supply Chain Xchange's Supply Chain in the Fast Lane podcastSend feedback about this podcast to podcast@agilebme.comPodcast is sponsored by: Zebra Robotics AutomationOther linksAbout DC VELOCITYSubscribe to DC VELOCITYSign up for our FREE newslettersAdvertise with DC VELOCITY

For the July 2025 episode, co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby spoke with Amalia Londono, EVP of end-to-end supply chain North America for Colgate-Palmolive, about trends in consumer packaged goods, delivering value to customers, using AI and technology in demand planning, and the importance of personal resiliency for up-and-coming supply chain professionals. Londono, a member of the GSCI Advisory Board, leads the North American supply chain for one of the most recognized manufacturers and distributors of household and commercial cleaning, dental, personal-care, and pet food products, operating in more than 200 countries worldwide. She has spent more than 20 years with Colgate-Palmolive, working in roles across planning, continuous improvement, specialty packaging, and procurement. Listen in for valuable insights on leadership, agility, technology, and talent development. Plus, Ted and Tom dig into the latest news about tariffs, Prime Day sales, and more. You don't want to miss it! The episode was recorded virtually on July 9, 2025. Related links:  Trump's tariffs: What's in effect and what could be in store? Five things to know about record copper prices Darrell Edwardson how supply chain leaders can plan for the unplannable UT transportation expert Alex Scott on pathways to decarbonizing the rail industry Register for the fall Supply Chain Forum, November 4–6 in Knoxville Download the white paper “Future-Ready Procurement” or read our blog series  Join the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative to explore advanced concepts in SCM with top industry experts and scholars Take one of our virtual SCM courses in Leadership (Aug. 18–Nov. 23), Finance (Sept. 15-Nov. 16), and Procurement (Sept. 15–Nov. 16). Become a Supply Chain Forum partner Subscribe to GSCI's monthly newsletter Read the Text the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management team!

Supply chains must be a product of the geography they support, leading to specific requirements around transport modes, temperature control, and even warehousing capacity. This also means that supply chain experts must be as well versed in the infrastructure and logistics of their local area as they are that of their suppliers. In this episode of The Sourcing Hero podcast, Host Kelly Barner welcomes Samah Mahdi Abdulla. Samah is a supply chain professional with over 15 years of experience and a master's degree in Logistics, Procurement, and Supply Chain Management. She is based in Bahrain and has worked in industries as diverse as retail and food production.  Shares her unique perspective on procurement and supply chain: The benefits of specialized - and continuing - education in procurement and supply chain How working from an island nation has shaped her work The speed of business in Bahrain that supply chains must be prepared to support Links: Samah Mahdi Abdulla on LinkedIn

Welcome to episode 282 of the China Manufacturing Decoded podcast from Sofeast where we take a deep dive into the logistics and product preparation differences across three major e-commerce and sales channels. Adrian and Kate from Sofeast break down how to optimize supply chains depending on whether you're shipping to retailers, selling through Amazon FBA, or running a direct-to-consumer (D2C) operation.   Show Sections 00:00 – Intro   01:12 – Retail vs. FBA vs. D2C: Channel overviews   04:23 – Retail: Bulk shipping & packaging compliance   08:06 – Amazon FBA: Labeling, penalties & alternatives   15:36 – D2C: Dropshipping from China   20:30 – D2C: Holding stock in overseas 3PLs   23:40 – Choosing the right channel by stage and volume   26:00 – Combining models: hybrid logistics strategies   28:40 – Key takeaways   Related content... Get support from Sofeast with our diverse Supply Chain Management services   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 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

It's rare to come across a company that has evolved as profitably or organically as Threaded Fasteners, Inc. While it's tempting to award all the credit to Billy Duren, president and CEO of the Alabama-based manufacturer and distributor, he'd be the first to tell you that the company's success is wholly due to the creativity of its employee-owners.  Jason caught up with Billy to learn more about the organization's dynamic growth and its legacy of innovation, both of which were made possible by a succession plan that centered around an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH BILLY  LinkedIn Threaded Fasteners, Inc. Nuts & Bolts Of Leadership *** For full show notes and services visit: https://www.distributionteam.com Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth, and achieve personal goals.    This episode was edited by The Creative Impostor Studios  Special thanks to our sponsors for this episode: Profit2, helping distributors charge the right price; and INxSQL Distribution Software, an integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.  

In this powerful and inspiring episode of RIANOUTLOUD!, Rian-Louis sits down with Derek Ford Jr., the visionary founder and CEO of Carter Wear—a multinational apparel brand revolutionizing undergarments for men and women with bold, body-positive designs. With customers in over 120 countries, features in Men's Health, product placement in Nordstrom, and growing retail presence across the Northeast, Carter Wear is more than fashion—it's a movement.Before building this globally recognized brand, Derek held leadership roles in project, financial, and operations management at institutions like JP Morgan Chase, the Department of Defense, and Accenture. He holds degrees in Financial Management, Economics, and Marketing, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Supply Chain Management & Logistics, with plans to expand into Real Estate Development.But beyond the resume is a heart for purpose: Derek is a classically trained musician, a devoted community advocate, and a passionate volunteer for LGBTQ+ causes and youth financial literacy.

In this episode, we are pleased to present a special recording from a plenary session held during the 35th annual POMS conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. This session was dedicated to commemorating a visionary in the field of production and operations management: Professor Martin K. Starr. Professor Starr, who served as president of POMS in 1995, was celebrated not only for his pioneering contributions to the discipline but also for the profound impact he had on generations of scholars and practitioners. Joining us as special guests were Gail and Loren Starr—Dr. Starr's daughter-in-law and son—who shared touching reflections on his legacy. The session took place on Friday, May 9, 2025, in the Regency Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. We hope you enjoy this memorable tribute. The session was coordinated by Dr. Kalyan Singhal, Doris E. and Robert V. McCurdy Chair in Business, Distinguished University Professor, University of Baltimore, Editor in Chief, Production and Operations Management Journal, along with Professor Nitin Joglekar, The John F. Connelly Endowed Chair in Management, Villanova University. The speakers in the session were: Professor Kalyan Singhal, Doris E. and Robert V. McCurdy Chair in Business, Distinguished University Professor, University of Baltimore, Editor in Chief, Production and Operations Management Journal. Professor Sushil Gupta, Distinguished University Professor, Department of Information Systems and Business Analytics. Florida International University, Executive Director, Production and Operations Management Society Professor Cheryl Gaimon, Esther and Edward J. Brown Jr. Chair, Regents' Professor; Georgia Institute of Technology. Professor Nitin Joglekar, The John F. Connelly Endowed Chair in Management, Villanova University Professor Subodha Kumar, Paul R. Anderson Professor, Temple University Professor Don Morrison, Professor Emeritus, University of California at Los Angeles - Comments read by Professor Sriram Narayanan, Michigan State University Professor Robert Hayes, Philip Caldwell Professor of Business Administration, Emeritus, Harvard University – Comments Read by Professor Cheryl Gaimon, Esther and Edward J. Brown Jr. Chair, Regents' Professor; Georgia Institute of Technology. Professor Christoph Loch, Professor of Operations, Information and Technology, IESE Business School, Spain. Editor-in-chief, Management Science. Professor Nada Sanders, Distinguished Professor, Supply Chain Management, Northeastern University. Professor Roger Schroeder, Professor Emeritus, Supply Chain and Operations, University of Minnesota. Professor Christopher Tang, UCLA Distinguished Professor; Edward W. Carter Chair in Business Administration, University of California at Los Angeles Professor Luk Van Wassenhove, Emeritus Professor of Technology and Operations Management, The Henry Ford Chaired Professor of Manufacturing, Emeritus, INSEAD, Paris.

Explore our Business Central on-demand training courses at https://www.learndynamics.com/  Ready to simplify your supply chain and boost efficiency? Big things are coming in the 2025 Wave 1 Release of Business Central and they're designed to help you work smarter, not harder. In this episode, we break down practical upgrades like multi-user inventory posting, reversing production consumption, Excel journal edits, and reopening finished orders. You'll also discover smarter ways to handle non-inventory costs, SKU-based standard costing, and overpicking. These features cut the guesswork, reduce manual cleanup, and keep your operations running smoothly and accurately. Tune in now to

SPECIAL INBOUND LOGISTICS VIDEO PODCAST SERIES: The 3PL space is a crowded and complex field where companies leverage whatever they can to stay competetive. Where some 3PLs focus on technology, others concentrate on service. But what can a company accomplish when they proffer a solution that considers the people providing the service as they work with the most innovative technologies to address client needs? Jim Ritchie, President and CEO of Redstone Logistics, speaks with Inbound Logistics Publisher, Keith Biondo and shares his insights into Redstone's approach to the 3PL market. See the full video here: https://www.inboundlogistics.com/video-podcasts/ FOR MORE INFORMATION: Redstone Logistics: https://redstonelogistics.com/ DO YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO THIS EPISODE? Call our Dialog Line: 888-878-3247 DOWNLOAD THE NEW INBOUND LOGISTICS APP featuring the updated and expanded Logistics Planner! Available on iTunes and the Google Play Store: bit.ly/ILMagApp  bit.ly/ILMagAppGoogle Are you a #logistics Thought Leader that would like to be featured on the Inbound Logistics Podcast?  Connect with me on Twitter:  @ILMagPodcast   Email me: podcast@inboundlogistics.com   Connect with Inbound Logistics Magazine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inbound-logistics Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ILMagazine Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InboundLogistics Catch our latest videos on YouTube: www.youtube.com/inboundlogistics   Visit us at www.inboundlogistics.com

From China to Southeast Asia: Strategic Manufacturing ShiftsWelcome to another insightful episode of the Asia Business Podcast. In this episode, we sit down with David Alexander, the CEO of Baysource Global. With an extensive footprint in contract manufacturing and consultation across Asia, David brings forward remarkable insights into the evolving landscape of global supply chains, focusing heavily on Asia's dynamic market.Introducing David AlexanderConnect with DavidVisit Baysource GlobalDavid Alexander is at the helm of Baysource Global, a company that specializes in managing contract manufacturing projects across several Asian hubs, including China, Vietnam, India, Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia. With a proven track record in due diligence, supplier selection, and organizational integrity, David and his team offer unmatched consulting services in manufacturing and quality assurance.The Changing Landscape of Global ManufacturingReflecting on his initial experiences dating back to 2005, David shares transformative moments that reshaped his understanding of manufacturing processes in Asia. From witnessing delicate manual craftsmanship in China's factories to the integration of sophisticated robotics, the contrast sheds light on technological evolution and adaptation to labor shortages today.The China Plus One StrategyThe push towards diversification has seen many companies adopt a China plus one strategy to mitigate risks associated with over-reliance on a single nation. David discusses the shift and the potential of countries like Vietnam and Cambodia as emerging manufacturing hubs, emphasizing the need for patience and strategic financial analysis given the varied readiness of these countries.Unveiling Manufacturing IngenuityDavid illuminates the ingenuity observed in factories across Asia, from innovative shipping strategies to the birth of new products leveraging existing manufacturing capabilities. His anecdotes highlight the entrepreneurial spirit and adaptability deeply embedded within the Asian manufacturing context.Challenges in Supplier SelectionIdentifying the right supplier is often fraught with challenges, compounded by cultural and operational differences. David outlines several red flags and conditions that might elude the untrained eye but can significantly impact production quality and supply continuity.Cultural Nuances in BusinessNavigating cultural nuances remains integral to establishing strong business relationships in Asia. David unpacks how countries like China, Vietnam, and India vary in their business approach and communication, offering invaluable tips for companies looking to make inroads into these markets.The Impact of Tariffs and the Future LandscapeTariff uncertainties have cast long shadows over international trade. Although the future remains uncertain, David discusses potential scenarios and the roles emerging markets like Cambodia might play in the future as cost-effective manufacturing destinations.In ConclusionDavid Alexander's insights underscore the importance of strategic planning, cultural understanding, and innovative thinking in navigating Asia's manufacturing landscape. Whether it's through diversification strategies or tapping into new markets, his viewpoints offer a roadmap for companies seeking to optimize their manufacturing operations.For more insights and consultancy services, David Alexander is reachable through LinkedIn or Baysource Global's website, where listeners can delve deeper into the strategies discussed in this episode. Timestamps00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:14 Current Supply Chain Challenges00:48 Overview of Bay Source Global01:59 Evolution of Manufacturing in Asia06:36 Innovative Solutions in Manufacturing09:48 China Plus One Strategy12:00 Evaluating Suppliers and Red Flags17:22 Cultural Differences in Business Practices25:57 Impact of Tariffs and Future Predictions30:44 Conclusion and Contact Information  ProducerJacob ThomasFollow UsLinkedInApple Podcasts

In this episode of the Negotiate X Podcast, Jonathan Hughes, a global consulting leader at BDO USA, shares insights from over 30 years of experience in strategy, innovation, and supply transformation. He explores how collaborative conflict resolution transforms high-stakes negotiations, strengthens partnerships, and fuels innovation.  Jon emphasizes the importance of empathy, curiosity, and understanding the people behind business decisions. He also cautions against overreliance on technology in supply chains, advocating for a balanced approach that combines competitive pressure with long-term trust.  His insights offer a practical, human-centered framework for navigating complexity in today's fast-evolving business environment.  

Ever heard the phrase "chain of pain?" If you're a wholesale distributor, chances are you've experienced it via the cascading agony of outdated workflows or missed sales opportunities. Pierre Barbeau, co-founder and CEO of Moblico, returns to chat with Jason about his company's supercharged mobile technology solution to common pain points, including proprietary innovations such as unified business messaging automation, broadcast engagement strategies, and OrderAssist AI™, Moblico's advanced tool for converting unstructured orders into fast, accurate sales.  CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH PIERRE LinkedIn Moblico *** For full show notes and services visit: https://www.distributionteam.com Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth, and achieve personal goals.    This episode was edited by The Creative Impostor Studios Special thanks to our sponsors for this episode: Moblico, helping businesses do more business on mobile devices; and INxSQL Distribution Software, an integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.

Discover how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing PCB supply chain management in this fascinating conversation with Timon Ruban, founder and managing director of Luminovo in this episode of the OnTrack Podcast. From his electrical engineering background at Stanford to building Europe's leading electronic supply chain platform, Timon shares insights on solving complex procurement challenges, automating PCB quoting, and the future of AI in electronics manufacturing. Learn how Luminovo helps contract manufacturers and OEMs streamline their sourcing processes, manage supply chain risks, and get instant PCB quotes through advanced Gerber file analysis. Timon discusses the evolution from manual Excel-based workflows to AI-powered automation, strategic supplier management, and the exciting roadmap ahead including LLM integration for data ingestion and decision support.

For the June 2025 episode, co-hosts Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby spoke with Matt Stites, president of Clayton Supply and SVP of supply chain for Clayton Home Building Group, about dealing with disruptions, addressing the national housing shortage, and building growth-minded teams that pursue excellence in operations and customer service. Stites, a member of the GSCI Advisory Board, leads the supply chain for the largest builder of manufactured and modular homes in North America. He is responsible for a 1,500-person team producing internally manufactured building products, leads a sourcing organization managing a multibillion-dollar spend, and guides a materials team serving 60 manufacturing facilities. Listen in for insights on integrating your supply chain organization, driving talent-rich teams to continue innovating, and the importance of resilience, agility, and plasticity during uncertain times. Plus, Ted and Tom dig into the latest news about tariffs and inflation, trade agreements between competing nations, and more. You don't want to miss it! The episode was recorded virtually on June 12, 2025. Related links:  Inflation is holding steady as tariffs yet to hit fully Trump urges Fed to cut lending interest rates Analysts react to US-China trade agreement World Bank forecast underscores the cost of the US trade war Revenue from duties jumped to $22 billion in May UT SCM department head John Bell on securing critical minerals, like lithium, during a global trade war Ted Stank and Lance Saunders on mitigating uncertainties in CFO Brew Save the date for the fall Supply Chain Forum, November 4–6 in Knoxville Download the white paper “Future-Ready Procurement” or read our blog series  Join the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative to explore advanced concepts in SCM with top industry experts and scholars Take one of our virtual SCM courses in Leadership (Aug. 18–Nov. 23), Text the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management team!

Remember when eCommerce was going to revolutionize B2B sales? Twenty years in, only a handful of channels have capitalized on the initial promise. But distributors aren't to blame for the operational failure, says Justin Johnson, Founder of Motivate. He maintains that the major e-commerce platforms should bear the blame. They failed to grasp that most orders are placed from the job site via mobile, a recurring purchase order, or a list scribbled on a piece of drywall.  Jason spoke with Justin about his company's innovative plug-and-play order processing solution, a PO-to-cart widget that works with the software distributors already own. It can even convert images into orders with incredible accuracy. CONNECT WITH JASON LinkedIn CONNECT WITH JUSTIN LinkedIn Motivate *** For full show notes and services visit: https://www.distributionteam.com Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth, and achieve personal goals.    This episode was edited by The Creative Impostor Studios  Special thanks to our sponsors for this episode: Connected Peers, providing virtual communities for wholesale distributors; and INxSQL Distribution Software, an integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.