Supply Chain Management Review

This week’s Talking Supply Chain podcast tackles one of manufacturing’s most pressing challenges: bridging the divide between operational technology (OT) on the shop floor and information technology (IT) that runs enterprise systems.
Podcast host Brian Straight is joined by Fares Sakka, director of smart industry for Orange Business, who has spent his career helping companies modernize operations and bringing these two historically siloed domains together.

In this episode of Talking Supply Chain, host Brian Straight explores the growing importance of sustainable procurement—a practice that has quickly moved from a “nice-to-have” to a business imperative. As governments, investors, and customers increasingly demand accountability, procurement is no longer just about efficiency and cost; it is about building resilience, reducing carbon impact, and delivering long-term value across the supply chain.
Brian is joined by Dr. Luan Ho, Science Team Co-Lead at Tunley Environmental, a consultancy helping organizations embed sustainability into their procurement processes. Dr. Ho outlines Tunley’s evolution from an engineering-focused firm into a sustainability leader.

Most consumers see a box; fresh-food operators see a system. In this episode of Talking Supply Chain, Edible Arrangements’ supply chain manager Jay De Sieno breaks down why packaging is a strategic lever, not an afterthought. For a gift-centric brand, the container is the first touchpoint and a quality cue—so color, layout, and presentation must reinforce identity while safeguarding perishable product through the last mile.

Artificial intelligence isn’t just a buzzword in supply chain, it’s rapidly changing how products move from origin to destination. In this episode of Talking Supply Chain, host Brian Straight sits down with Stuart Ryan, senior vice president and general manager of the Americas for HERE Technologies, to explore how AI-powered mapping and location intelligence are reshaping transportation and logistics.

In a world filled with uncertainty—from tariffs to pandemics—many companies still rely on reaction instead of preparation. On the latest episode of Talking Supply Chain, Tom Strohl, president of Oliver Wight Americas, explains why integrated business planning (IBP) is the secret weapon for companies looking not just to survive disruptions, but to thrive through them.
“The difference between those that are successful today versus those that are not,” Strohl says, “is those that have good solid, robust planning processes that filter all the way up to the executive level of the organization.”

When hurricanes or other disasters strike, logistics become a lifeline for thousands, in some cases even millions of people. And the trucking, logistics and supply chain industries are always ready to help, often working side by side with FEMA and other organizations like the American Red Cross, to provide the supplies communities need not only to survive the immediate aftermath, but to rebuild. But, trucks don’t just arrive at the site of a disaster. They are part of a well-coordinated logistical plan and one of the key organizations involved in these efforts is the American Logistics Aid Network, or ALAN. In this 2024 Talking Supply Chain episode, ALAN Executive Director Kathy Fulton explains the process of getting aid to disaster sites, and what you need to know if you want to get involved.

The National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) system, which has provided a standardized method of identifying and classifying freight for over 70 years, is undergoing its most significant overhaul in decades. Keith Peterson, director of operations at the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), joined the Talking Supply Chain podcast to explain the rationale and impact of these changes, which officially take effect on July 19, 2025. The revised system emphasizes density-based classification, streamlining the number of commodity codes and modernizing how freight is categorized for today’s shipping environment.

Resilience. Flexibility. AI. Workforce. We talk about these themes constantly—but few companies are as intentional in connecting the dots as Schneider Electric.
Agustin Lopez Diaz, North American supply chain officer at Schneider Electric joined the  Talking Supply Chain podcast to discuss Schneider Electric’s approach to its North American supply chain.
“We are investing roughly 700 million dollars of additional investment through 2027 to really expand our capability and take advantage of the manufacturing renaissance going on in North America,” Lopez Diaz said.

Shabbir Dahod, CEO of Tracelink, joins Talking Supply Chain host Brian Straight to discuss artificial intelligence in the supply chain: where it is today, where it is heading, and how companies can position themselves to take advantage of the potential of this innovative technology. 

In this episode of the In Transit podcast, host Vishnu Rajamanickam from The Logistics Report sits down with Colby Porter, lead analytical content manager at Sayari, to unpack how businesses can uncover hidden risks and strengthen their sourcing strategies using public records and trade data.
Porter walks us through how Sayari’s “outside-in” approach—leveraging data from over 250 jurisdictions—helps shine a light on murky supplier networks, especially in high-risk regions like Xinjiang. He explains how public corporate and customs records can expose concealed ownership chains, forced labor risks, and tariff vulnerabilities, arming compliance teams with the tools they need to act fast and decisively.

Kathleen Chan, founder and CEO of global sourcing and manufacturing platform Calico, joins Rosemary Coates of the Reshoring Institute on this episode of the Frictionless Supply Chain podcast to discuss the state of global manufacturing.

Guest: Rosemary Coates, president and founder of the Reshoring Institute
President Donald Trump views tariffs as a way to boost American industry and create manufacturing jobs. But can it happen? That is being hotly debated these days.
One of the people that has some unique insight into this conversation is Rosemary Coates. Coates is the founder and executive chairman of the Reshoring Institute, president and founder of Blue Silk Consultant, a columnist for Supply Chain Management Review, and host of the Frictionless Supply Chain podcast. She has spent much of her career working with companies that engage with China and other nations. And for the last 11 years, has led the Reshoring Institute in assisting businesses that are looking to bring manufacturing back to the U.S.

GUEST: Eric Walters, VP-Analytics & Performance, DHL Supply Chain
 
While many companies remain in the Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) pilot stage, mainstream adoption is rapidly approaching. Some companies, like DHL Supply Chain, are already incorporating the technology into everyday use, and are finding success. DHL Supply Chain’s VP-Analytics & Performance Eric Walters joins the Talking Supply Chain podcast to discuss how the company is leveraging Gen AI in real-world use cases today.

GUEST: Yikun Shao, head of B2B North American supply chain at Alibaba Group
 
The current state of the supply chain is causing a degree panic within businesses. Large enterprises may have resources and levers to pull to deal with the uncertainty, but for small and midsized businesses, those same levers may not exist.
On a recent episode of Talking Supply Chain, Brian Straight sat down with Yikun Shao, head of B2B North American supply chain at Alibaba Group, to explore how small and midsize businesses (SMBs) can navigate a changing global trade environment. Shao emphasized that SMBs are increasingly shifting toward supply chain diversification to mitigate risks tied to geopolitical disruptions, single-source dependency, and shifting consumer expectations.

GUEST: Tracey Ortiz, Director of Product Marketing, SPS Commerce
 
While much of the focus of tariffs is on the immediate cost and mitigating that impact, there are many hidden costs that come along with them, including higher warehouse rates and freight rate increases to meet customer delivery demands. SPS Commerce’s Tracey Ortiz joined the Talking Supply Chain podcast to explain the real-world impacts.

GUEST: Courtney Rickert McCaffrey, EY’s Global Geostrategic Business Group Insights Leader
 
The world is changing, and supply chains are at the front lines of that change. Whether it is trade winds blowing in new directions, tariffs on imported goods, product bans, or political leadership changes, the supply chain is expected to handle these changes smoothly and with ease, without adding cost.
How does it do that?
Courtney Rickert McCaffrey, EY’s Global Geostrategic Business Group Insights Leader, joined the Talking Supply Chain podcast to talk about the geopolitical challenges facing supply chains and how they can prepare to navigate an uncertain future.

GUEST: Luis Roman, VP MedTech Supply Chain, Johnson & Johnson
 
Supply chain digital transformations are all the rage, but for some industries, that transformation impacts more than just the supply chain. In the Medtech space, digital supply chain transformations are improving operations, lowering the bottom line, and saving lives.
To Luis Roman, vice president of MedTech Supply Chain at Johnson & Johnson, the digital journey represents more than just improving supply chain operations.

GUEST: Andy Moul, Director Warehouse & Distribution Solutions, A. Duie Pyle
 
A. Duie Pyle has an extensive warehouse operation to manage its customer’s inventory throughout. Andy Moul, director warehouse & distribution solutions, joins the Talking Supply Chain podcast to discuss the technologies and strategies that are working in today’s warehouse environment.

GUEST: Karen Murphy International Trade Advisor and Trade Compliance Expert
 
Listen as Karen Murphy International Trade Advisor and Trade Compliance Expert, and Rosemary Coates, Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute, discuss the current state of tariffs and trade.

GUEST: Jono Liu, vp of global sales & marketing at Dimerco Express Group
 
In this episode of the In Transit Podcast, Jono Liu, vp of global sales & marketing at Dimerco Express Group, joins host Vishnu Rajamanickam of The Logistics Report to discuss the complexities of evolving global trade dynamics in light of shifting U.S. trade policies.

GUEST: Andrea Klein, CEO of Rand Technology
 
In this episode, Andrea discusses her long and very successful career in technology and the changes and major shifts in the business environment, that have occurred over the past 30 years that she has been at the helm of Rand Technologies.

GUEST: Kevin Frechette, co-founder and CEO, Fairmarkit.
 
Artificial intelligence buzz gave way to Generative AI buzz which has now been overtaken by Agentic AI buzz. What does it all mean? Fairmarkit CEO Kevin Frechette joined the Talking Supply Chain podcast to cut through the buzzwords and explain where Agentic AI can help your organization.

GUEST: Peter Anderson, Global Supply Chain Lead, Genpact
 
Peter Anderson once had to move $380 million of goods to mitigate the impact of tariff. Now, as global supply chain lead at Genpact, he is sharing details on that experience and some of the strategies he employed with the Talking Supply Chain podcast audience.

GUEST: Frank Kennedy, Director of Industry Solutions, Cleo
 
For supply chains, achieving the Holy Grail of true end-to-end visibility has been out of reach for many. With supply chains stretching into dozens of countries or more, and the sheer number of suppliers surpassing tens of thousands for some firms, gaining full visibility is a daunting task.
 

GUEST: Eric Walters, VP-Analytics & Performance, DHL
 
DHL Supply Chain's VP-Analytics & Performance Eric Walters joins the Talking Supply Chain podcast to discuss how the company is leveraging Gen AI in real-world use cases today.

GUEST:  Luis Roman, vice president of MedTech Supply Chain at Johnson & Johnson
As vice president of Johnson & Johnson’s MedTech Supply Chain, Luis Roman has a front-row seat to the digital transformation of supply chains. He joins the Talking Supply Chain podcast to talk how that transformation has impacted J&J’s MedTech supply chain.

GUEST: Daniel May, Director of Procurement Talent Development for the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO)
 
May joined the Talking Supply Chain podcast to discuss the issues facing public procurement professionals and the work NASPO is doing to educate the public—including unique programs at the high school level to grow the procurement employment pipeline—on the important role these pros play in everyday life.