Art of Supply
Art of Supply, hosted by Kelly Barner, draws inspiration from news headlines and expert interviews to bring you insightful coverage of today’s complex supply chains.
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A Procurement Crime at Intel: Loopholes and Lessons Learned
06/26/2025
A Procurement Crime at Intel: Loopholes and Lessons Learned
While true crime has gained traction as a genre in the literary world, it's not often we see it applied to procurement. Yet, a fascinating and unsettling procurement fraud case has recently come to light within Intel Israel's operations. Every criminal investigation seeks to uncover means, motive, and opportunity, and this case checks all three boxes, with implications that go far beyond one company. Just a few weeks ago, a story broke that uncovered an alleged scheme in which a now-former employee, Natalia Avtsin, and a component supplier, Yefim Tsibolevsky from Energy Electronics 2000, teamed up to steal roughly 3 million Israeli shekels (NIS), or about $842,000 USD. Although the case is still ongoing and has yet to see its day in court, it poses a lot of questions for procurement teams across the globe. In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner covers: How Avtsin and Tsibolevsky pulled off this alleged fraud The process loopholes and absent oversight that allowed them to get away with it for so long The many lessons procurement can take from this case regarding checks and balances, pattern detection, and technology use Links:
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Prioritizing Dispute Prevention Over Problem Solving
06/19/2025
Prioritizing Dispute Prevention Over Problem Solving
After spending years reviewing business books, Kelly Barner knows how to recognize authors who truly move the needle–and Kate Vitasek is one of them. Her latest work, Preventing the Dispute Before It Begins: Proven Mechanisms for Fostering Better Business Relationships, co-authored with James Groton, Ellen Waldman, and Allen Waxman, takes on a surprisingly neglected topic: dispute prevention. While this topic can be applied to procurement, it’s also very human, looking at business relationships from their most troubled moments and aspiring to lay out a plan as well as offering up resources to help teams and individuals stay away from the trouble. In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner takes on her first audio book review and covers: The difference between handling conflict and proactively preventing issues in the first place How certain language, particularly within contracts, can lay the foundation for disputes even before they happen Who peacekeepers are and the role they have in strategically averting crises Links:
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High Velocity Lessons on Lobbying and Trade with Samir Kapadia
06/12/2025
High Velocity Lessons on Lobbying and Trade with Samir Kapadia
“In this climate of being a trade professional in Washington, expect to be in an Uber for about half of the day and then the other half of it sitting in rooms making cases of why people either should be not paying tariffs or how other people should be paying tariffs.” - Samir Kapadia, Managing Principal at Vogel Group and Founder and CEO at India Index Supply chain professionals have always had to keep a close eye on trade–both the policies and the geopolitical happenings that affect it. But with tariffs launching trade-related topics to the top of the news cycle repeatedly since January, all of us - supply chain professionals and otherwise - have learned something new. One person who spends a majority of his time right in the thick of it all is Samir Kapadia, Managing Principal at Vogel Group and Founder and CEO at India Index. Samir and Kelly Barner have discussed global sourcing and tariffs in the past, but in this interview they take a broader approach, exploring how trade policies and lobbying intersect and what they really mean in today's volatile geopolitical environment. In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Samir shares his expertise about the: Nuances of trade relationships between companies and governments Factors that influence trade agreements and tariffs Types of lobbying methods that influence and shape trade practices Links:
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Tariffs as a Girder for Domestic Fabricated Steel W/ Stephen Capone and Hollie Noveletsky
06/05/2025
Tariffs as a Girder for Domestic Fabricated Steel W/ Stephen Capone and Hollie Noveletsky
“We need to be able to tolerate this uncertainty and the fluctuations that we're undergoing right now and keep our eye on the long term goal of strengthening American manufacturing.” -Hollie Noveletsky, Owner and CEO of Novel Iron Works While many consumers and business owners feel uneasy about the Trump Administration’s use of tariffs, there is at least one group that views them as essential: steel fabricators. Hollie Noveletsky, Owner and CEO of Novel Iron Works, and Stephen Capone, President of Capone Iron, have personally felt the negative impact that foreign competition and a lack of fair trade have had not only on their own businesses but on their overall communities. As Section 232 tariffs help incentivize domestic steel fabrication, they feel a sense of hope in protecting the security of American jobs and infrastructure. In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Hollie and Stephen share their perspectives on: The importance of maintaining, growing, and preserving domestic steel fabrication capabilities Competition–and the factors that impact it–between between fabricators in New England and internationally Advice Hollie and Stephen have for decisionmakers who feel wary about impending tariffs and what this really means for the country Links:
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Semiconductor CHIPS, Checks, and Challenges
05/29/2025
Semiconductor CHIPS, Checks, and Challenges
“Even though the world’s advanced economies are largely considered post-industrial, chipmaking is an area where domestic manufacturing is now being treated as a high priority for economic and national security reasons.” Jon Martin, Writing for the ‘More than Moore’ substack The CHIPS and Science Act, which took effect in August of 2022, is an ambitious Federal program that will inject $52.7 Billion into U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, research and development, and workforce training. As we look back nearly 3 years later, there has been more talk than action, but no one party or entity bears all of the blame. Forming productive partnerships between the public and private sectors is always complicated - even when everyone’s interests seem to be aligned, and a change of Administration has also brought changes in how the program will be run. In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner reviews the law as an example of joint public-private reshoring: Reviewing the commitments that have been made to date Unpacking the roadblocks to progress that we’ve seen so far Considering what the Trump administration is doing to facilitate the process of rebuilding semiconductor manufacturing capabilities in the United States Links:
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How U.S. Tariffs Are Reshaping Global Freight feat. Judah Levine
05/22/2025
How U.S. Tariffs Are Reshaping Global Freight feat. Judah Levine
Global supply chain leaders and consumers alike have watched for months as the U.S. tariff rollercoaster starts and stops, impacting imported goods. While these policy changes are expected to directly impact supply chains, what about their impact on the cost and availability of freight? As companies hold their breath and wait to see if and/or when their imports will be subjected to tariffs, many have been doing their best to plan as far ahead as possible and get stock in well before seasonal demand hits. Even so, concerns still exist over tariff timelines and the availability and cost of domestic goods. Most preparation comes down to data–which is where this episode’s guest comes in. Judah Levine, Head of Research at Freightos, recently joined Kelly Barner to offer his insight into what he and his team are seeing in the ocean and air shipping market. In this episode of Art of Supply podcast, Kelly and Judah cover: The strategy shippers are taking in response to tariffs The extended impact these trade wars will have on global shipping The challenges brought on by the pausing of de minimis exceptions Links:
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Supply Chains & Second Chances: Human Trafficking Aftercare
05/15/2025
Supply Chains & Second Chances: Human Trafficking Aftercare
In recent years, a lot of work has been done to raise awareness about the massive problem of human trafficking as well as to start to attack that problem. In this week’s episode of Art of Supply, Kelly Barner interviews two women engaged in an important part of that fight through an organization called Gift of Freedom: Sharon Siar and Nicole Glenn. Sharon Siar is the Founder and President Gift of Freedom, and she is also the Vice President and CFO at Talon Freight Services Nicole Glenn, is a Board Member for Gift of Freedom, the Founder and CEO of Candor Logistics Management, and a host of the Ladies Leadership Coalition Podcast. Unlike organizations focused on raising public awareness, or rescuing victims of trafficking, Gift of Freedom is focused on aftercare. They provide the funding for counseling, a need that can extend years or even decades after a rescue is complete. Even though this is a hard topic to hear about, it is a challenging reality for far too many people - children especially - in the United States and around the world. In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Sharon and Nicole share their perspectives on: Why aftercare counseling has been overlooked as an area of need in the past The connection between human trafficking and supply chains Why social statistics fail to capture or represent the scope of this problem Links: on LinkedIn on LinkedIn
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Building a U.S. Solar Supply Chain
05/08/2025
Building a U.S. Solar Supply Chain
“Between 2008 and 2013, China’s fledgling solar-electric panel industry dropped world prices by 80 percent, a stunning achievement in a fiercely competitive high-tech market.” - John Fialka, Scientific American In March, Corning, Suniva, and Heliene announced a partnership that will allow them to build a U.S. supply chain for solar panels, from polysilicon to wafers to cells to panels. In a global solar industry worth $100 Billion, the opportunity is massive, but so is the risk. The path to the present moment is littered with companies who failed operationally or found themselves tangled up in controversy because they were trying to compete with China on cost. With a history of tariffs, concerns about forced labor, and imbalances between supply and demand, the solar supply chain offers many lessons for other manufacturers looking to reshore. In this episode of Art of Supply, Kelly Barner examines: Unique challenges facing the solar supply chain and how they ironically created an additional incentive for this partnership Why it is essential that more than just final assembly take place in the United States The role of government incentives and regulations in making this possible Links:
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Manufacturing Labor Market Insights in an Uncertain World
05/01/2025
Manufacturing Labor Market Insights in an Uncertain World
Economic commentators often look at consumer spending as a barometer for confidence and outlook - how good or bad financially do individuals and families think the broader economy is, and how profitable it will be for them? The same can perhaps be said for companies and hiring managers. How confident are they that they will be able to keep people employed in uncertain times, and what skills are they most eager to invest their scarce dollars in? In this week’s Art of Supply interview, Kelly Barner speaks with Christine Corson, Managing Director of Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Engineering Recruitment at DSJ Global. She is focused on manufacturing labor at the management level in a way that allows her to form her own opinion of industry outlook, confidence, and planning horizon. In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly and Christine discuss: The current supply of - and demand for - manufacturing labor Whether hiring is being impacted by the uncertainty around tariffs Her advice for the candidates hoping to secure mid- to high-level positions in manufacturing companies Links:
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Beef with the Big 4: McDonald’s vs. the Meat Monopoly
04/24/2025
Beef with the Big 4: McDonald’s vs. the Meat Monopoly
In October of 2024, McDonald’s sued four of the world’s largest meat producers – Tyson, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef Packing – for allegedly conspiring to inflate the price of beef by creating artificial scarcity in the market. This is not the first time McDonald’s has sued these meat producers, and it is not the first time these meat producers have been sued. Over 200 cases have been brought by restaurants, retailers, wholesalers, and ranchers. Some are still pending and others have been settled - with high payouts but no admission of wrongdoing. In this week’s episode of Art of Supply, Kelly Barner reviews the case McDonald’s is making against the Big 4: The price setting power associated with controlling 80 percent of the U.S. beef market The complexity associated with trying to track cost and price data in a highly concentrated market Why being the largest beef buyer in the world isn’t enough to tip the scales in McDonald’s favor Links:
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In Defense of Lean Thinking with Thomas Goldsby
04/17/2025
In Defense of Lean Thinking with Thomas Goldsby
Everything runs in trends, supply chains included. What was once considered a critical strategy can be cancelled in a heartbeat if conditions change - only to be rediscovered and reapplied to great advantage a couple of years later. In this week’s Art of Supply interview, Kelly Barner welcomes back Professor Thomas Goldsby. Tom is the Dee and Jimmy Haslam Chair of Logistics at the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He is also the Co-Executive Director of their Global Supply Chain Institute. Tom rejoins the show to make a case in support of lean thinking and just-in-time inventory management. With reshoring becoming an increasing part of the supply chain conversation, the timing may just be right for lean thinking to rebound and once again occupy its rightful place in the supply chain strategy toolkit. In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly and Tom discuss: How we need to understand lean thinking before we can apply it successfully Whether companies are starting to apply lean thinking again, or just discussing it How our supply chains would change if we optimized them to create customer value Links:
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Scope 3 Showdown: Green Century v. Ford
04/10/2025
Scope 3 Showdown: Green Century v. Ford
On May 8th, at Ford Motor Company's annual shareholder meeting, they will face a proposal focused on how they report their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on their way to being carbon neutral by 2050. The proposal was made by Green Century Capital Management, a sustainability-focused activist fund that regularly challenges recognizable companies about their emissions reduction efforts, using the threat (or promise?) to mount a shareholder vote if necessary. Companies like Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and McDonald’s have faced similar challenges, all intended to change how they manage their Scope 3 emissions. The Ford Board of Directors has advocated for shareholders to reject the proposal, saying it is unnecessary and expensive to create another report in addition to their Integrated Sustainability and Finance report. In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner covers: The unique requests Green Century has made of these publicly traded companies in pursuit of lower Scope 3 emissions How these companies have responded to Green Century’s ‘asks’ and proposals The idea of reporting as a weapon in addition to being a tool for tracking and accountability Links:
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LTL Shakeup: Will Amazon join the fray?
04/03/2025
LTL Shakeup: Will Amazon join the fray?
A few weeks ago, rumors started to swirl that Amazon might be standing up their own for-hire less-than-truckload (LTL) operation to compete with the likes of FedEx Freight, Old Dominion, XPO, and Saia. So what are these rumors based on, and how likely are they to be true? More importantly, what would such a move mean for other national LTL carriers? In this episode of Art of Supply, Kelly Barners digs into the details of this buzzworthy supply chain news story: Where the rumors started and how Amazon might take the first steps to move into the LTL space The current LTL business landscape and why Amazon making that move would be such a big deal How likely they are to be successful should they move ahead by either building or buying an LTL operation Links:
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Who owns the Panama Canal?
03/27/2025
Who owns the Panama Canal?
The Panama Canal is a 51 mile long waterway that allows ships to cut about 8,000 miles off of a trip from New York to San Francisco around the route around Cape Horn. The country of Panama owns the canal, which is operated by the Panama Canal Authority, an agency of the Panamanian government, but who owns the ports located on either side of the canal? Until now, it has been CK Hutchison, a Hong Kong based firm - raising concerns about China’s interest and influence in the supply chain critical Panama canal. On March 4th, it was announced that CK Hutchison had decided to sell two of the largest Panama Canal adjacent ports to BlackRock. In this episode of Art of Supply, Kelly Barner looks at this story up close: The critical role that the Panama Canal plays in global supply chains The details of the deal that will transfer ownership of the ports: Balboa (on the Pacific side) and Cristóbal (on the Atlantic side) The diplomatic policy shift this represents with regard to China’s presence in the area and relationship with the country of Panama Links:
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Decoding the DOGE Savings Calculator
03/20/2025
Decoding the DOGE Savings Calculator
The Department of Government Efficiency, better known as DOGE, was created by executive order on President Trump’s first day back in office. It immediately became one of the most controversial parts of the administration’s first couple of months. Love it or hate it, if you work in procurement, you have to watch what DOGE is doing. And if you can’t bring yourself to review their objectives, strategies, and tactics, you at least have to watch the DOGE savings calculator. Public-facing and deliberately bare-bones, the DOGE savings calculator provides information on savings, payments, spend, Federal workforce, and regulations. In this episode of Art of Supply, Kelly Barner takes a step back and then a close look at the DOGE savings calculator from a procurement perspective: Describing the website in detail, both for the information it contains and for what it may reveal about DOGE’s approach to driving change Comparing DOGE’s approach to savings reporting to what is used in a typical corporate procurement setting Looking for lessons and ideas that can be pulled from the public sector to the private Links:
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Investing in People-powered Safety in Food Manufacturing W/ Nathan Walts
03/13/2025
Investing in People-powered Safety in Food Manufacturing W/ Nathan Walts
“Everyone at the plant has a duty to protect the products that we're sending out to the customer. Ultimately, you really have to think about it as sort of a ‘circle of life.’ What's my responsibility with what I'm doing in this part of the process, and what’s going to happen when this product reaches the consumer?” - Nathan Walts, CEO, WorkForge The food supply chain is uniquely complex and critical, because when something goes wrong lives are at stake. Regulations and standards play an important role, but only if people follow them. It takes a lot of hiring, training, and retention efforts to manage the workforce, adding significantly to the cost of running a business. Nathan Walts is the CEO of WorkForge, a learning and development solution provider focused on the food manufacturing industry. In this episode, he joins Kelly Barner to talk about the food safety objectives producers are trying to achieve, the challenges they face, and the learning and development programs that aim to address both. Listen in as Nathan and Kelly discuss: The current state of labor in food manufacturing Education for safety, quality, and empowerment Going beyond regulatory compliance to achieve continuous improvement Links:
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East and Gulf Coast Port Strike – Part 2
03/06/2025
East and Gulf Coast Port Strike – Part 2
Back in October, when the East and Gulf coast port strike ended after 3 days, we knew there would be a part 2. Short though it was, the strike is estimated to have cost the U.S. economy $3.8 - 5 Billion per day, but that wasn’t seen as the greatest ‘cost’ at the time. With the Presidential campaign in full swing, all eyes were on the impact it might have on the candidates’ relative popularity. Now that the members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) have ratified the deal negotiated with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), we can look at that deal and the impact it will have on port operations through 2030. In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner covers the major factors at play in this collective bargaining agreement and how each played out: Automation: the issue that received the most press coverage by far Interesting comments on labor showup rates and how they relate to the ILA’s leverage in the future Changed provisions for container royalties that further tie operational efficiency to demand for labor Links:
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A Narrow Path Towards Noninflationary Tariffs
02/27/2025
A Narrow Path Towards Noninflationary Tariffs
Since President Trump took office on January 20th, speculation about tariffs has been omnipresent in supply chain planning conversations. But we do have a guide to the administration’s philosophy, A User’s Guide to Restructuring the Global Trading System, written by Stephen Miran and published by Hudson Bay Capital in November of 2024. Miran is Trump’s pick to lead his Council of Economic Advisers, and will be appearing before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs the day this episode first airs. In his User’s Guide, Miran makes the case that it is possible to use tariffs to achieve desired outcomes without causing undue harm. At the same time, he refers to the plan as a “narrow path.” In this week’s episode of Art of Supply, Kelly Barner shares her reading of the guide: Why Miran - and therefore the Trump administration - believe tariffs can be used without adding to the costs paid by U.S. consumers The difference between theoretical and actual economic scenarios, and how it makes planning a challenge The high level of interconnectedness at play in this approach, and what will need to happen for it to work as intended Links:
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Lessons in Listening from Joe Rogan and Charlamagne tha God
02/20/2025
Lessons in Listening from Joe Rogan and Charlamagne tha God
“I talk to people and I record it. That’s it.” - Joe Rogan People often say that we all need to learn to communicate better, and that is true. But we need to invest more effort on the listening side than the talking side. Joe Rogan and Charlamagne tha God are standout media personalities and cultural icons. They are also fantastic listeners and exceptional conversationalists. Their ability to prepare for and host interviews has earned them millions of subscribers and billions of downloads, making it easier to get their choice of guests. What can all professionals learn from their approach to listening and conversation? In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner dissects what makes Joe Rogan and Charlamagne tha God so effective: How they developed their unique interviewing and conversational styles The atmosphere they create for guests and the information/perspective that results An unwavering sense of authenticity and respect for their audience Links:
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Who will decide the future of EV trucking?
02/13/2025
Who will decide the future of EV trucking?
Who will decide when EV trucking goes from being an option available to anyone to an enforceable mandate that everyone must comply with? That question is at the heart of this week’s interview. Kelly Barner had the opportunity to speak with Nebraska Attorney General Michael Hilgers. His state is on the front lines of a legal effort to ensure that if regulations end up driving the EV transition, that those regulations are properly established - undertaken by elected officials with a vested interest in the people of Nebraska and the dozens of states who have stepped up to support their challenges. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the state of California, and heavy duty truck manufacturers are trying to usher in changes that will have wide-reaching impact. Will that impact be for the better or the worse, and do they have the right to proceed? Listen in for a highly engaging discussion at the intersection of the law and the supply chain: Why it is important to address the proprietary of regulations before they take effect Uncertainty caused by the current state of enforceable regulations in California The role that competition should play in a market where companies make independent decisions Links:
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Dylan v. Goliath: The Freight Essentials RICO Case
02/06/2025
Dylan v. Goliath: The Freight Essentials RICO Case
“If anyone thinks that they know it all, they're in the wrong place.” - Dylan Admire The series of relationships that make the freight industry work is like a supply chain in and of itself. Under the freight agent model, agents help shippers find capacity through brokers who hold carrier contracts, facilitate financing and payments, and carry the MC number under which the agent operates. When this model works well, everyone wins–but when it doesn’t work as all of the parties expect, the fallout can be substantial. In this week’s Art of Supply interview, Kelly Barner speaks with Dylan Admire, CEO and Owner of Freight Essentials. His company has brought two RICO lawsuits against connected brokerages, claiming multi-party intent to defraud customers and business partners through anticompetitive tactics. Listen to this episode to hear: How the freight agent model is supposed to work–and what can happen if it doesn’t work as everyone expects The current status of his lawsuits and ideal outcome Why he has made the decision to speak out when others might have stayed quiet Links:
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Misfortune on 34th Street: Accounting Issues at Macy’s
01/30/2025
Misfortune on 34th Street: Accounting Issues at Macy’s
“It is almost always the cover-up rather than the event that causes trouble.” - Tennessee Senator Howard Baker, in reference to the Watergate scandal Whether you shop at Macy’s or not, you surely know the brand. In 2023, Macy's was the leading department store in the United States by revenue, with sales of approximately $23 Billion. On November 25, 2024, Macy’s delayed an earnings announcement planned for the next day. They had discovered some “creative accounting” and wanted to conduct an internal investigation. Two weeks later, they announced that small parcel delivery expenses had been mishandled - approximately $150 Million worth. As we then learned, what started as a mistake turned into a coverup, eventually leading to a share selloff, and one accounting employee being terminated. In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner: Explains what happened and how the issue was uncovered Shares the role that the commonly-used accrual accounting method may have played Review some of the speculation that has emerged in the absence of specifics And flag ongoing concerns for the company and their auditing firm Links:
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Nebraska v. California: The EV Trucking Transition
01/23/2025
Nebraska v. California: The EV Trucking Transition
“Now an unelected group of powerful actors has opened a three-front effort to transform the nation’s logistics fleet from diesel-powered to electric-powered at a breakneck pace. This terrible policy is being crafted almost entirely out of public view. Nebraska is fighting back.” -Mike Hilgers, Nebraska Attorney General (WSJ Op Ed, Jan 17 2025) If you expected the transition from diesel-powered to EV trucking to take place on the open road, think again. Instead, it looks like this systemic change will work its way through the court system. Nebraska is leading the resistance to a forced transition on multiple fronts: in the state of California, with the Environmental Protection Agency, and via an antitrust lawsuit against four major heavy duty truck manufacturers. Any regulatory changes, well intentioned or otherwise, have the potential to completely disrupt logistics and lives, and must be taken with a great deal of care and consideration. In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner covers recent developments in the EV trucking transition: Recent news that may alter the expected timeline for transitioning away from fossil fuel-powered trucking Legislative exceptions that put California in a uniquely powerful position relative to emissions regulations The odd ‘in between’ space the country currently finds itself in Links:
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The Dawn of a New Era in U.S. Trade Policy
01/16/2025
The Dawn of a New Era in U.S. Trade Policy
“India is putting their money where their mouth is. If they're able to execute upon a free trade agreement or a pseudo free trade agreement...then that would create the fluidity to buoy all of those ships in that harbor.” - Samir Kapadia - Managing Principal at Vogel Group and Founder and CEO at India Index Regardless of the topic, 2024 was filled with ‘what if’ conversations. We were waiting to find out who would win the U.S. Presidential election–and therefore whose policies would be dominating business decisions in 2025 and beyond. Of all of the conversations had on the Art of Supply podcast, one of the most compelling was with Samir Kapadia, Managing Principal at Vogel Group and Founder and CEO at India Index. He joined Kelly Barner in 2024 to share his expertise on global trade, but more specifically, how India’s ascendency as a global trading partner is being watched as companies look for alternatives to China and nations flush with Chinese investment. After such a riveting pre-election conversation, Kelly brought Samir back to bring the conversation up-to-date and get a sense of how new trade policy will impact supply chain decisions and global manufacturing potential. In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly and Samir cover how the upcoming presidential term is going to: Change the way the U.S. manages policy within the Department of Commerce and Trade and U.S. Trade Representative Use strategic tariff regimes to increase reciprocity and incentivize supply chain organizations to think differently about where they get their materials Create an opportunity for India to replace China as a major manufacturing trade partner Links:
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Reenvisioning Robotics for Warehouse Optimization
01/09/2025
Reenvisioning Robotics for Warehouse Optimization
“We have that emotional pull to group together as humans and fight the automation. The reality is you cannot have one without the other, and they are very much working together.” -Matt Naslund, Chief Commercial Officer, Mytra As businesses look to streamline operations and optimize decision-making, a combination of hardware, software, and automation offer a solution. The challenge then becomes figuring out where automation makes sense–and how quickly and heavily organizations should implement solutions that enable it. No matter the level of sophistication or maturity of an organization, automation technology is a key factor in driving efficiency and accessing data that allows them to hit business objectives related to material flows, accumulation of goods, seasonality, and more. In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner sits down with Matt Naslund, Chief Commercial Officer at Mytra, to examine: The specific challenges warehouses face in streamlining operations The necessary balance of automation hardware and software in improving operations The way warehouses can use the data that automation delivers to inform day-to-day decision-making Links:
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Re-reading Good to Great at the Start of a New Year
01/02/2025
Re-reading Good to Great at the Start of a New Year
In 2001, Jim Collins published the book ‘Good to Great.’ He was supported by a team that invested 10.5 ‘people years’ over the course of 5 calendar years to figure out what allows some good companies to become great companies. Their research revealed key findings about leadership, use of technology, building a team, company culture, and vision. In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner re-reads ‘Good to Great’ in light of 2025 business conditions: Reviewing some of the key points from the book as an introduction or a refresher Considering how they apply to work, leadership, and success in 2025 Sharing a renewed sense of energy and promise at the start of a new year Links:
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Supply Chain Stories to Watch at the Start of 2025
12/26/2024
Supply Chain Stories to Watch at the Start of 2025
Many of the supply chain news stories we covered in 2024 look ready to carry right over - or even rise to the top - as we start a new year. Some of these stories are likely to re-emerge with the incoming Trump Administration, while others are ready for a change in direction thanks to geopolitics. Supply chain professionals that already have an eye out for breaking news will be best positioned to respond as needed. In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner highlights five 2024 news stories that are likely to remain topical in the new year: The global distance traveled by raw materials and finished products compared to their value Red Sea tensions and the need for ocean freight to find a new (safer) path to travel The EV trucking mandate rolled out by the EPA under the Biden Administration De minimis shipping provisions that have created a ‘maximus’ problem An as yet unresolved organized labor contract governing operations at East and Gulf Coast ports Links:
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Solving Supply Chain Puzzles: Insights from a Year of Interviews
12/19/2024
Solving Supply Chain Puzzles: Insights from a Year of Interviews
This year on Art of Supply, we welcomed a fantastic group of guests. Each interview episode creates two kinds of challenges: asking questions worthy of the guest’s expertise and capturing a conversation that lives up to audience expectations. Looking back on the interviews we ran in 2024, there are a few key messages that stand out, as individual points of view and what they collectively offer supply chain professionals as we move into 2025. Don’t ever make a decision solely on short term cost. Victor Suarez: Former Lead Vaccine Program Manager for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine in Operation Warp Speed at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Founder and Principal Growth Partner, Blu Zone Bioscience & Supply Chain Solutions, LLC Make sure you understand the underlying economics of any strategy you plan to implement. Thomas Goldsby: Dee and Jimmy Haslam Chair of Logistics at the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Co-Executive Director of their Global Supply Chain Institute Knowing how to be an effective problem solver - even in difficult circumstances. Ashley Hubka: Senior Vice President and General Manager at Walmart Business In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner shares excerpts of the three interviews and comments on how they connect. Links:
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Supply Chain Forecast: Volatile with Tim Richardson
12/12/2024
Supply Chain Forecast: Volatile with Tim Richardson
“I think if you could summarize what the trend is going to be in the future - It's going to be volatile. That's the trend.” - Tim Richardson, Founder and CEO of Iter Consulting In order to be influential with the C-suite, someone must have experience and expertise in a given subject. They must do detailed technical work and analysis to prepare their strategy recommendations and to be ready to answer questions. They must have a strong grasp of their domain, no matter how complex it is - but they have to be able to communicate all of that simply. Otherwise, the desired support may be withheld, and the desired outcomes may never be realized. In this week’s episode of Art of Supply, Kelly Barner welcomes Tim Richardson to the podcast. Tim is the Founder and CEO of Iter Consulting, a global team of experts with supply chain and manufacturing experience helping companies transform their operations - and their results as well. In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Tim and Kelly discuss: The power of effective supply chain modeling How supply chain leaders can position for economic and ecologic success Forward looking trends that all business should be prepared to address Links:
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In Defense of Outliers
12/05/2024
In Defense of Outliers
“Polling is a science of estimation, and science has a way of periodically humbling the scientist. So, I’m humbled, yet always willing to learn from unexpected findings.” - J. Ann Selzer, President and Owner, Selzer & Company Data and analysis are at the heart of nearly everything attempted in modern business. And while human skill is critical in the process of converting data into insight, human nature may ultimately determine whether the effort can be successful. This episode is about ‘herding,’ a polling practice that combines analytical rigor and human nature in a fascinating way. But this episode is not about politics. It is a story about data and how humans anticipate the others will respond to the data they present, and how that becomes a self-driven feedback loop that is put into practice before the data is ever shared. No one wants to be an outlier. No one wants to be wrong. But if someone isn’t wrong, no one can be right. In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barners dives into the practice of herding among pollsters and what it tells us about our relationship with data: The statistical truths that hold, regardless of how complex an analytical project is The challenges pollsters face, and how they inevitably end up affecting analytical results - for better or worse How all of this intersects with human nature - in polling and in business Links:
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