The Masters of Supply Chain News Digest

AI Agents Running Supply Chains: A Reality Check

In this episode, David Warrick, former Head of Supply Chain at Microsoft, sits down with Arun Kumar Bhaskara-Baba—former Chief Digital & Information Officer at Honeywell Aerospace and longtime Johnson & Johnson supply chain leader—to unpack a critical question: 👉 Are we rushing into agentic AI without thinking through the consequences? From the risk of repeating old silo mistakes to the importance of governance, architecture, and purpose-driven AI design, Arun shares a powerful framework for how supply chain leaders can adopt agents without losing control. 💡 “The old problem was data silos—now we risk creating agent silos. And this time, they act.” Tune in to hear why the answer isn’t to slow down—but to think smarter before you deploy. Subscribe to our weekly Masters of Supply Chain News Digest, featuring active and former supply chain executives who break down a recent news event and its impact on global supply chains. Let their takeaways help you form a better opinion for your own supply chain strategy.  Request to join our next invitation-only Masters of Supply Chain Roundtable, where supply chain Directors, VPs, and CSCOs share experiences and insights with each other on the latest supply chain techniques and technologies. ➡️ For our upcoming Roundtable schedule, check out www.mastersofsupplychain.com ➡️ Connect with us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/masters-of-supply-chain ➡️ For members-only content: www.circle.mastersofsupplychain.com Thanks for listening. Please like and share this episode with your supply chain colleagues. Leave us a comment below and suggest topics for discussion for our next episode.

Leading AI-Powered Supply Chains: Align, Adapt, Automate

In this episode of the Masters of Supply Chain News Digest, John Church reconnects with Rick McDonald, former Chief Supply Chain Officer at Clorox, to explore what really drives resilience, speed, and performance in today’s supply chains. They talk candidly about: - The power of true business alignment—and why most companies miss it - Why great supply chain leaders think like general managers - How planning must evolve to meet the speed of the consumer - Adaptive planning, AI, and overcoming legacy system drag - The overlooked role of change management in digital transformation - The development gap: what happens when new talent doesn’t learn from failure? Whether you’re leading transformation, revamping planning systems, or trying to build stronger commercial alignment, this episode is full of practical, strategic insight from a CSCO who’s seen it all—and isn’t done contributing. Subscribe to our weekly Masters of Supply Chain News Digest, featuring active and former supply chain executives who break down a recent news event and its impact on global supply chains. Let their takeaways help you form a better opinion for your own supply chain strategy.  Request to join our next invitation-only Masters of Supply Chain Roundtable, where supply chain Directors, VPs, and CSCOs share experiences and insights with each other on the latest supply chain techniques and technologies. ➡️ For our upcoming Roundtable schedule, check out www.mastersofsupplychain.com ➡️ Connect with us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/masters-of-supply-chain ➡️ For members-only content: www.circle.mastersofsupplychain.com Thanks for listening. Please like and share this episode with your supply chain colleagues. Leave us a comment below and suggest topics for discussion for our next episode.

Wall Street vs Supply Chains: The Cost of Listening to Analysts, Not Operators

In this episode of the Masters of Supply Chain News Digest, John Church sits down with leading economist Walter Kemmsies to unpack the economic forces shaping global supply chains in 2025. From tariff risk and port strategy to the shifting geography of global sourcing and the rise of “platform economics,” Walter shares sharp insights from decades of advising importers, exporters, and infrastructure providers. Key topics include: - The barbell strategy: sourcing and port diversification - Why LA/Long Beach isn’t always the best answer anymore - How Wall Street’s models get it wrong—and what to do instead - The role of trade policy, population decline, and small shippers - Why agility now depends on both physical infrastructure and digital platforms Whether you’re navigating tariffs, rethinking resilience, or wondering how tech will reshape logistics—this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. Subscribe to our weekly Masters of Supply Chain News Digest, featuring active and former supply chain executives who break down a recent news event and its impact on global supply chains. Let their takeaways help you form a better opinion for your own supply chain strategy.  Request to join our next invitation-only Masters of Supply Chain Roundtable, where supply chain Directors, VPs, and CSCOs share experiences and insights with each other on the latest supply chain techniques and technologies. ➡️ For our upcoming Roundtable schedule, check out www.mastersofsupplychain.com ➡️ Connect with us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/masters-of-supply-chain ➡️ For members-only content: www.circle.mastersofsupplychain.com Thanks for listening. Please like and share this episode with your supply chain colleagues. Leave us a comment below and suggest topics for discussion for our next episode.

Will AI Replace Supply Chain Leaders? Insights from 2 Food Supply Chain Executives

In this News Digest episode, John Church is joined by former Grocery Outlet CSCO Tim Scott to unpack the evolving dynamics of grocery supply chains—from the role of AI to the importance of trust-based collaboration in a hyper-competitive, low-margin world. Tim shares insights on: - Why disruptions often make collaboration harder, not easier - What makes a manufacturer a trusted retail partner - How AI can enhance—but not replace—critical human judgment - The risk of losing learning moments if automation eliminates “failures” - What the next generation of supply chain leaders will need to succeed A must-watch for anyone thinking about how to balance digital transformation, operational complexity, and human development in today’s grocery and food supply chain. Subscribe to our weekly Masters of Supply Chain News Digest, featuring active and former supply chain executives who break down a recent news event and its impact on global supply chains. Let their takeaways help you form a better opinion for your own supply chain strategy.  Request to join our next invitation-only Masters of Supply Chain Roundtable, where supply chain Directors, VPs, and CSCOs share experiences and insights with each other on the latest supply chain techniques and technologies. ➡️ For our upcoming Roundtable schedule, check out www.mastersofsupplychain.com ➡️ Connect with us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/masters-of-supply-chain ➡️ For members-only content: www.circle.mastersofsupplychain.com Thanks for listening. Please like and share this episode with your supply chain colleagues. Leave us a comment below and suggest topics for discussion for our next episode.

What’s Next in AI + Supply Chain? Plug & Play Summit Takeaways with Two Supply Chain Executives

In this episode of the Masters of Supply Chain News Digest, David Warrick and Sasha Koff reflect on their recent experience at the Plug & Play Technology Summit in California. From GenAI and fit-for-purpose solutions to the growing pains of startup–enterprise partnerships, they explore what’s truly happening in the innovation trenches. Topics include decentralized innovation, the role of functional teams, governance challenges, the value of incremental automation, and the missed opportunity for true business model redesign. AI is moving fast—but are organizations ready to think beyond automation and into transformation? Subscribe to our weekly Masters of Supply Chain News Digest, featuring active and former supply chain executives who break down a recent news event and its impact on global supply chains. Let their takeaways help you form a better opinion for your own supply chain strategy.  Request to join our next invitation-only Masters of Supply Chain Roundtable, where supply chain Directors, VPs, and CSCOs share experiences and insights with each other on the latest supply chain techniques and technologies. ➡️ For our upcoming Roundtable schedule, check out www.mastersofsupplychain.com ➡️ Connect with us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/masters-of-supply-chain ➡️ For members-only content: www.circle.mastersofsupplychain.com Thanks for listening. Please like and share this episode with your supply chain colleagues. Leave us a comment below and suggest topics for discussion for our next episode.