Supply Chain Now

38 episodes scanned. 10% of ad slots promote the show's own products.

Recent Episodes

1. The Problem Store: Shipping Sherpas

   Nov 2, 2026

   This inaugural Problem Store episode on Supply Chain Now brings together three shipping panelists, Jack Mowreader, LeAnne Coulter, and Nate Skiver, to discuss the current shipping market. The conversation covers shrinking carrier capacity, a freight recession, parcel surcharge complexity, network design and carrier diversification, shipper-carrier relationships, and where AI can improve shipping decisions. Mowreader contributes a finance and audit perspective on tracking hidden shipping costs and speeding invoice processing.

2. The Buzz: Africa’s Growing Supply Chain Influence

   Oct 30, 2026

   Yaseen Ahmid and co-host Michael J. Olivier, both from South Africa, host this episode of The Buzz, a supply chain segment on Supply Chain Now powered by Altium. They cover why Africa matters to global supply chains and walk through four stories: cocoa price volatility and lab-grown chocolate, Zipline's medical drone delivery in Côte d'Ivoire, Morocco's automotive manufacturing growth, and the Lobito Corridor railway for critical minerals. The conversation also touches on AI adoption and cybersecurity, entrepreneurship and financing barriers, and whether African economies can capture more value from their resources.

3. When Yesterday's Supply Chain Playbook Stops Working

   Oct 28, 2026

   Mike Griswold, Vice President Analyst at Gartner, joins Scott Luton on Supply Chain Now to discuss whether AI is saving supply chain planners time. He argues that AI saves fragmented slivers of time rather than redeployable blocks, and that change management, workforce development, and human governance remain essential. The conversation also covers General Mills' supply chain transformation, McDonald's AI-powered drive-through system, and how supply chain education should evolve.

4. The Performance Paradox: Why Your Supply Chain Works But Still Loses Money

   Oct 26, 2026

   Mahesh Rajasekharan, President and CEO of Cleo, joins Scott W. Luton on Supply Chain Now to discuss the "performance paradox" in Cleo's 2026 global supply chain executive research, where 63% of companies say their supply chains perform as designed while 73% report losing revenue. The conversation covers the difference between integration and orchestration, the shift from systems of record to systems of action, and the role of context in turning AI signals into decisions. They also discuss the persistent gap between planning and execution, controlled delegation toward autonomous orchestration, and how to focus AI investments on measurable business outcomes.

5. The Buzz: Why Procurement Is More Important Than Ever

   Oct 23, 2026

   Ben Farrell, MBE, Global CEO of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), joins hosts Scott Luton and David Shillingford on The Buzz to discuss the evolving role of procurement and supply chain leadership. The conversation covers barriers to scaling AI, especially data quality and disconnected systems, the value of thoughtful decision-making and supplier collaboration, and CIPS' plans to modernize professional development through its "Great Conversation" initiative. Farrell also addresses procurement's need for a stronger strategic voice in business and the profession's role in climate discussions.

6. From Planning to Orchestration: The Future of Supply Chain with Kinaxis CEO Razat Gaurav

   Oct 21, 2026

   Razat Gaurav, CEO of Kinaxis, discusses how supply chain has shifted from a back-office logistics function to a boardroom priority, driven by faster change, richer data, and the need to balance cost, cash, service, and risk. He covers network-wide scenario planning, the rise of AI agents, and the evolution of planners into orchestrators who provide judgment, accountability, and relationships. The episode also addresses why supply chains will not return to a stable state and what separates leaders who will thrive from those who struggle.

7. The Visibility Illusion: Why Seeing the Problem Was Never the Same as Solving It

   Oct 19, 2026

   Dr. Glenn Richey, Harbert Eminent Scholar at Auburn University, and Matt Brolsma of SPS Commerce discuss why decades of supply chain visibility investment have not produced meaningful results. The conversation covers distinguishing visibility, transparency, and traceability, how AI can magnify weak data foundations, and a retailer that reportedly recovered $38 million through stronger supplier compliance. They also address trust in systems, adoption problems, and questions leaders should ask before buying another visibility platform.

8. The Buzz: AI Innovations, Hurricane Disruptions, and Building Resilient Supply Chains

   Oct 16, 2026

   Joanna Pachnik, founder and CEO of BlueClip, joins Scott Luton and Scott DeGroot on this episode of The Buzz alongside Dr. Rod Thomas of the University of Arkansas. The discussion covers supply chain talent development, the impact of Hurricane Melissa on energy and diesel costs, USMCA trade uncertainty, and network optimization. The conversation also addresses why AI and technology initiatives often fail to scale, with Pachnik arguing for responsible AI, data security, and partnering with people rather than replacing them.

9. Apex's Jorge Bayona on Building a Supply Chain Strategy for Latin America

   Oct 14, 2026

   Jorge Bayona, Vice President for Latin America at Apex Logistics International, discusses how companies can build Latin America into their supply chain strategies to improve agility, diversify risk, and grow. He covers his career from ADM and Deutsche Post DHL to leading the expansion of FEMSA Group's logistics division, Solistica, and building Apex's footprint across 18 countries in about two and a half years. The conversation addresses nearshoring, trade corridors, country-level differences, the roles of Miami, Panama, and Mexico as gateways, and the importance of trusted local partnerships when choosing a logistics provider.

10. Got Chips? Managing Your Electronic Component Supply Chain Risk in the Face of Global Instability

    Oct 12, 2026

    Justin Sears, Head of Product Marketing for SaaS at Altium, joins Scott Luton and Jake Barr on Supply Chain Now to discuss component supply risk in electronics manufacturing. The conversation covers tariffs, geopolitical conflict, AI data center demand for semiconductors and passive components such as MLCCs, and the hidden supplier dependencies that can halt production. The guests also argue that supply availability should shape design decisions early in product development, which Sears frames as "shift left," and discuss how Altium's sourcing, collaboration, and PLM tools support that approach.