Patricia Coan

We’re proud to celebrate another industry recognition for Supply Chain Now Founder, CEO, and Host Scott Luton – he has been named one of the ISCEA Top 10 Supply Chain Influencers of 2026. The International Supply Chain Education Alliance (ISCEA) highlights leaders who actively shape the profession by sharing research, perspectives, and practical insights that help advance the global supply chain conversation. (ISCEA) Scott’s inclusion reflects the spirit of the Supply Chain Now community: real conversations, practical takeaways, and a commitment to connecting practitioners across industries and roles. Through interviews, events, and ongoing dialogue with leaders around the world, his goal has always been to amplify voices and help move the industry forward together. We’re grateful to our listeners, partners, and guests; this recognition belongs to the entire community that shows up and shares knowledge every day. Check out the entire list and learn more about ISCEA here.

Special Guest Blog Post written by Jeff Echel and Steve Lykken with e2open   Supply chain planners in high-tech don’t just manage shipments; they’re crisis managers, data detectives, and sometimes, referees in a high-stakes game of inventory tug-of-war. Why do these planners find themselves huddled in “war rooms,” surrounded by spreadsheets and urgent emails? It starts with relentless pressure: customers expect rapid, reliable service, but the reality is a maze of long lead times, outsourced manufacturing, and unpredictable global logistics. Securing critical components can take months, and a single misstep, like overstocking or missing a shipment, can ripple through the business, impacting revenue and margins. The chaos: War rooms and spreadsheet battles Add to that, the complexity of forecasting demand. Planners reconcile noisy, inconsistent data from retailers and distributors, often with little visibility, into . Forecasts are built, torn down, and rebuilt, sometimes manually, as teams try to align bottom-up channel data with top-down financial targets. Meanwhile, supply plans are constantly threatened by shortages, excess inventory, and last-minute changes. When demand surges or supply is disrupted, channels compete for limited stock, sometimes “stealing” from each other, and sometimes winning simply by being the loudest voice in the room. All of…