Chris Mennona

At the Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit in Denver, Scott Luton sat down with Caglar Ozdag, a supply chain leader at ZS. Known for its deep analytics and technology expertise across industries such as life sciences, airlines, consumer goods, and agriculture, ZS has become a trusted partner for organizations looking to elevate their planning and manufacturing performance. Ozdag leads the firm’s supply chain practice with a focus on planning from detailed forecasting through detailed scheduling. As a former practitioner himself—having led planning operations at large global enterprises—he brings a grounded, real-world perspective to the challenges facing today’s supply chain leaders.   Old Problems Persist—and New Ones Are Emerging When asked about classic and emerging challenges in planning, Ozdag didn’t hesitate: firefighting isn’t going away. From supply planning disruptions to last-minute schedule changes, firefighting remains a daily reality. “Life happens,” Ozdag noted. Plans rarely match reality, and organizations must constantly adjust. But today, a new layer has been added: AI uncertainty. Everywhere he goes, leaders are asking the same questions: “Is AI the right investment?” “Will the ROI materialize?” “Are we adopting the right tools, or just chasing hype?” This blend of enduring complexity and emerging skepticism has become a defining…

National Supply Chain Day (NSCD)® returns on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 with Supply Chain Now, bringing together professionals across the industry for an annual celebration dedicated to recognizing and elevating the people, processes, and innovations that keep the world moving. Established in 2020, National Supply Chain Day® was created as a way to lift the supply chain industry up and propel it forward by spotlighting the stories, leaders, and breakthroughs that shape global commerce. What began as a single-day celebration has grown into an industry-wide movement that continues to inspire pride, visibility, and momentum across the profession. Supply Chain Now will host its annual National Supply Chain Day Livestream, led by SCN’s own Scott Luton (CEO & Founder) and Mary Kate Love (President & the visionary behind the creation of NSCD) with a keynote from Billy Ray Taylor and the announcement of two new award recipients. And, for the first time ever, organizations can officially register both virtual and in-person National Supply Chain Day events on the Supply Chain Now website. From the logistics behind everyday essentials to the complex global networks delivering critical goods worldwide, National Supply Chain Day® honors the professionals who connect the world.   Livestream Registration…