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.

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: 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.