In the second part of this 2 part series, host Chris Barnes sat down with Dr. Ron Ballou, Professor Emeritus of Operations at the Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University to learn more about the history of supply chain management and review some of his predictions made in 2006.
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trends
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Revolutionizing Retail Logistics: Jennifer McKeehan on Walmart’s Supply Chain Innovation
In today’s dynamic consumer landscape, it is essential for businesses to continually adapt and stay ahead of the curve to meet evolving customer demands. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, sponsored by Microsoft, we welcome back Jennifer McKeehan – an industry leader spearheading groundbreaking innovation in retail supply chain transformation. With her extensive experience at Peloton and The Home Depot, McKeehan now serves as Senior Vice President of End-to-End Delivery at Walmart, a role where she’s instrumental in shaping the future of retail. Shining a spotlight on the company’s extensive network of 4,600 US outlets, with 90% of the US population living within 10 miles of a Walmart store, McKeehan discusses several key supply chain initiatives helping to keep the organization at the forefront of the national retail market. From recently completing it’s 30,000th drone delivery to investing billions of dollars in automation to boost both the customer and employee experience, McKeehan highlights exactly how the company is pursuing mass transformation to order to help customers shop when they want, where they want and how they want. Tune in as McKeehan shares her own experience and advice on breaking into the senior leadership ranks of a global company, as…
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How AI Is Transforming Supply Chain Decision Making in 2026
Global supply chains are at an inflection point as geopolitical uncertainty collides with rapid AI advancement and rising performance expectations. Leaders must decide when to invest, where to modernize, and how to stay ahead. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton is joined by Mike Griswold, Vice President Analyst at Gartner, to reflect on insights from Manifest 2026 and the evolving role of supply chain leadership. Together, they explore practical AI adoption, the growing importance of augmentation over automation, and how supply chains are stepping into more strategic, decision-shaping roles. Scott and Mike discuss the shift from AI experimentation to real-world use cases that solve specific business problems. They emphasize the importance of integrating technology with strong processes, particularly in Sales and Operations Planning, and maintaining clarity between planning and execution. The conversation concludes with perspectives on investment timing, competitive advantage, and how leaders can confidently navigate uncertainty while building stronger, more resilient supply chains. This episode is hosted by Scott Luton, and 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 Mike Griswold Learn more about Gartner…