Supply Chain Now

The supply chain profession is changing rapidly, but are undergraduate supply chain management programs evolving quickly enough to prepare the next generation of talent? In this edition of The Bridge, academic and industry leaders take an honest look at the current state of supply chain education. In particular, we’ll conduct a frank discussion on what must change to better prepare students for the realities of today’s organizations, as well as tomorrow’s challenges. The conversation will explore a variety of angles, such as: whether traditional curricula reinforce the same functional silos companies are trying to eliminate, where the greatest gaps exist between the classroom and the workplace, and which capabilities every supply chain graduate should possess. The panel will also examine how AI is reshaping entry-level work and potentially eliminating some of the traditional “proving grounds” where young professionals learn how supply chains operate. Scott W. Luton will co-host this event with the one & only Lora Cecere; and the panel will feature an esteemed mix of leaders that have all been playing significant leadership roles in industry and academia for years, including Matt Waller, Chris Gaffney and Jake Dean. Join us for a timely discussion about the shared responsibility of…

Sneak Preview: Q3 2026 U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index Freight costs are climbing, capacity is tightening, and demand isn’t keeping pace. What’s driving today’s transportation market? In this episode, Scott Luton and co-host Karin Bursa welcome Jeff Pape, Senior Vice President, Head of Product & Marketing Global Transportation at U.S. Bank, and Eric Olson, Support Operations Director, Partnership and Business Development at Total Quality Logistics (TQL), for a live discussion on the Q3 2026 U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index. Drawing on nearly $46 billion in freight transactions, Jeff reveals how shipper spending increased by more than 30% despite marginal shipment growth, signaling a market driven by capacity constraints rather than demand. They also explore regional freight trends, from data center construction fueling activity in the Southeast to shifting import strategies nationwide. Eric shares his outlook on tightening truckload capacity, rising transportation rates, and a potentially sharper peak season. The panel emphasizes the importance of data-driven planning, proactive communication, and stronger shipper-carrier relationships to help supply chain leaders navigate uncertainty and prepare for continued volatility.   This episode is hosted by Scott W. Luton and co-host Karin Bursa. Produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton.   Additional Links &…

The Problem Store: Shipping Sherpas The shipping landscape is shifting in ways that demand attention from every supply chain leader. Shrinking carrier capacity, rising surcharges, and a freight recession stretching three years have created a market where old assumptions no longer hold and rate floors are moving in ways many shippers haven’t accounted for. In this inaugural episode of The Problem Store on Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton speaks with Jack Mowreader, a veteran CFO who has served in the role five times and spent six years in Amazon operations finance, LeAnne Coulter, former executive at Penske Logistics and Schneider Logistics who now leads Blue Wave Supply Chain, and Nate Skiver, founder of LPF Spend Management. They structure the conversation across four segments covering the macros, the setup, the operation, and the enablers, exploring how capacity constraints, parcel surcharge complexity, network design, relationships between shippers and carriers, and the accelerating pace of change are reshaping what shippers need to be doing right now. Jack, LeAnne, and Nate also weigh in on where AI can genuinely improve shipping decisions, from invoice auditing and scenario simulation to compressing the time from analysis to action. They challenge shippers to walk their own processes,…

The Buzz: Africa’s Growing Supply Chain Influence From the chocolate in your Halloween candy to the critical minerals powering electric vehicles, Africa plays an essential role in global supply chains. But as new technologies, infrastructure investments, and manufacturing opportunities emerge, the continent is moving beyond supplying raw materials to creating greater value and driving innovation. In this episode of The Buzz, powered by Altium, Yaseen Ahmid and Michael J. Olivier bring a South African perspective to some of the biggest developments shaping global supply chains. They explore why Africa matters to businesses worldwide, from fluctuating cocoa prices in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire to the rise of lab-grown chocolate and its potential impact on African farmers. The conversation also examines Zipline’s expanding medical drone delivery network, Morocco’s growing automotive manufacturing industry, and investments in the Lobito Corridor connecting Central Africa’s critical minerals to global markets. Along the way, Yasin and Michael discuss AI adoption, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, and the importance of building infrastructure and industries that allow African economies to capture more value from their resources and innovations. Key Takeaways Africa’s strategic importance: Discover why the continent’s critical minerals, agricultural exports, growing population, and entrepreneurial talent make it increasingly important to global…

When Yesterday’s Supply Chain Playbook Stops Working Is AI really saving supply chain teams time, or are we overlooking the human expertise needed to make it work? In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton sits down with Mike Griswold, Vice President Analyst at Gartner, to discuss the evolving role of AI in supply chain planning, the importance of workforce development, and how leading companies are rethinking their supply chain strategies. Mike brings his expertise in supply chain planning and Gartner research to a wide-ranging conversation about the challenges organizations face as they adopt new technologies, manage growing complexity, and prepare their teams for the future. The conversation covers why AI may not deliver the productivity gains many organizations expect, how skills gaps and change management affect technology adoption, and why human expertise remains essential to effective supply chain planning. Scott and Mike also examine General Mills’ ambitious supply chain transformation, McDonald’s investment in AI-powered operations, and how supply chain education must evolve to prepare the next generation of leaders.   This episode is hosted by Scott W. Luton. Produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton.   Additional Links & Resources Check out all the great…

Audit first. Source second. Many organizations start their pallet program evaluation with an RFQ or RFP. But without a clear picture of current operations, usage patterns, specification engineering, supplier performance, and site-specific needs, procurement teams often limit the value they can actually achieve. Join Supply Chain Now & Pallet Alliance for a look at why an audit-first approach to pallet procurement and management outperforms traditional sourcing events. We’ll show how comprehensive site scans, operational benchmarking, and industry data uncover opportunities an RFQ alone will miss which are often significant ones. During this webinar, we’ll show how Pallet Alliance helps companies identify: Opportunities to standardize and optimize pallet specifications across multiple facilities Redundant costs and operational inefficiencies hidden within existing programs Site-to-site performance variations that impact overall spend Freight and logistics optimization opportunities Repair, recycling, and pallet recovery improvements Supplier consolidation and strategic procurement opportunities How benchmarking first turns those discoveries into sustainable, long-term value Whether you oversee procurement, supply chain, operations, logistics, or packaging engineering, this session will give you practical strategies for turning pallet procurement from a transactional purchase into a data-driven initiative built on efficiency, cost reduction, and continuous improvement. Before you ask suppliers for pricing, make sure…

The Performance Paradox: Why Your Supply Chain Works But Still Loses Money What happens when your supply chain is performing exactly as designed, yet your business is still losing money and frustrating customers? In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton speaks with Mahesh Rajasekharan, President and CEO of Cleo, about the performance paradox behind new industry research and what it takes to orchestrate a supply chain rather than merely integrate one. Mahesh brings a PhD in industrial engineering from Texas A&M and an MBA from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, where he graduated first in his class, along with prior experience as COO of SumTotal Systems, to his role leading Cleo into a high growth, AI native supply chain orchestration company serving over 5,000 customers. The conversation covers why 63% of companies say their supply chains perform as designed while 73% lose revenue, how automation increases complexity when coordination stays manual, and why the planning and execution gap persists. Mahesh and Scott also explore the shift from systems of record to systems of action, how context turns raw AI into useful decisions, and controlled delegation toward autonomous orchestration.   This episode is hosted by Scott W.…

The Buzz: Why Procurement Is More Important Than Ever As supply chain disruptions continue, costs climb, and artificial intelligence reshapes the industry, procurement professionals are facing new challenges and opportunities. How can organizations move beyond traditional strategies to build stronger supplier relationships, embrace emerging technology, and prepare for the future? In this episode of The Buzz, powered by Altium, host Scott Luton and co-host David Shillingford welcome Ben Farrell, MBE, Global CEO of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), for a conversation about the evolving role of procurement and supply chain leadership. The discussion explores the biggest barriers to scaling AI, including poor data quality and disconnected systems, along with new research from CIPS revealing rising transportation, technology, and food costs heading into the holiday season. Ben shares why long-term supplier collaboration is essential for navigating disruptions, how procurement professionals can deliver greater strategic value, and what skills future leaders will need. The conversation also examines CIPS’ plans to modernize professional development, the growing importance of trust and ethical leadership, and why procurement deserves a stronger voice in business decision-making. Key Takeaways Rethinking supply chain priorities: Discover why recovering quickly from disruptions, making fewer decisions, and designing for…

From Planning to Orchestration: The Future of Supply Chain with Kinaxis CEO Razat Gaurav AI is changing supply chain planning, but automation is only part of the story. The next big shift? Turning planners into orchestrators. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, hosts Scott Luton and Karin Bursa welcome Razat Gaurav, CEO of Kinaxis, to explore how supply chains have evolved, why faster decision-making matters, and how AI is driving the shift from traditional planning to orchestration. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in enterprise software and supply chain technology, Razat examines the growing role of AI agents and the transition of supply chain planners into orchestrators. He also highlights why human judgment, accountability, and cross-functional collaboration remain essential as organizations adopt new technologies. The conversation offers a broader perspective on how supply chain leaders can move beyond automation to achieve meaningful business outcomes.   This episode is hosted by Scott W. Luton and co-host Karin Bursa. Produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton.   Additional Links & Resources Check out all the great resources and information mentioned during the show: Connect with Razat Gaurav Connect with Karin Bursa Connect with Scott W. Luton Learn…