Madame Ambassador Hilda Suka Mafudze

At the Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit in Denver, Scott Luton caught up with Rob Haddock, a seasoned supply chain practitioner and advisor with Demand Chain AI, to discuss the persistent planning challenges organizations face—and why maturity, discipline, and optimization still matter more than buzzwords. Demand Chain AI blends consulting services with advanced supply chain technologies, focusing on optimization across trade promotion management, demand sensing, supply planning, and detailed production scheduling. Haddock’s role centers on helping organizations strengthen business processes—particularly sales and operations planning (S&OP), performance reporting, and the practical application of technology to improve execution on both the demand and supply sides.   A Practitioner’s Perspective on Planning Gaps Haddock’s perspective is shaped by decades spent inside large, sophisticated supply chain organizations. Early in his career, he worked within an iconic, global beverage company where advanced planning environments were already in place—though, in hindsight, he admits those tools were sometimes underutilized. Today, Haddock spends much of his time working with small and mid-sized organizations that haven’t been as fortunate. In many of these environments, planning maturity is still low, foundational practices are missing, and—unsurprisingly—Excel remains the primary planning tool. “Basic business practices that have been around since the 1990s…

Whether you’re a seasoned supply chain professional or a newcomer, keeping up with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices is essential for maintaining a competitive edge. One of the most effective ways to do this is by tuning into podcasts that focus on the industry. Here, we introduce three influential podcasts: Supply Chain Now, Logistics with Purpose, and Digital Transformers. Let’s explore each of these supply chain podcasts, covering their topics, episode formats, and why they should be on your must-listen list. Three Supply Chain Podcasts to Keep You Informed We’re spilling the tea on the best supply chain podcasts you need to know. Be sure to check out these three favorites of ours, wherever you get your podcasts. 1. Supply Chain Now Where to listen: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now/ Hosts: Scott Luton and various others Podcast Description We may be a little biased but Supply Chain Now is a leading podcast that provides comprehensive insights into global supply chain performance. Hosted by Scott Luton and his team of industry-veteran co-hosts from companies like Amazon, P&G, and Nordstrom, this podcast covers a wide range of topics, including logistics, transportation, technology, and innovation. Supply Chain Now has been featured in the Apple Podcasts…