Speaking of Supply Chain

Every system integrator, software vendor, and blue-sky strategy firm now calls itself a supply chain consultancy. Before you sign anything, it's worth asking who actually gets paid once you say yes. In this episode, Christine Barnhart is joined by Jorge Motje, Chief Growth Officer for Miebach globally, and Nick Banich, Chief Revenue Officer for Miebach North America, to dig into Gartner's first-ev...

For years, outsourcing came down to a cost decision. Run the numbers, pick a provider, move on. The easy math no longer holds: companies are outsourcing more than ever, and most of them still aren't happy with the result. In this episode, Ellen Wood sits down with Bernd Müller-Dauppert of Miebach, who co-authored the firm's new outsourcing study, Outsourcing Under Pressure. He makes the case that...

Everyone is talking about warehouse automation. Far fewer are talking about whether they actually need it. The headlines suggest warehousing is racing toward dark stores, lights-out operations, and full robotics. The reality on the ground is quieter and a lot more careful. Companies are introducing automation in stages, weighing real labor and service pressures, and sometimes discovering that the...

Risk used to be something pharmaceutical companies responded to. Now it is something they have to design for. For decades, pharma optimized for scale and cost. APIs and starting materials moved to India and China, manufacturing capabilities in Europe quietly disappeared, and intense price pressure became the unquestioned baseline. Then came the Suez blockage, COVID, tariffs, and conflict-driven di...

Companies have invested in planning systems, AI, and better data. So why does planning still not translate into performance? The problem is not the technology itself. It is how design, planning, and execution have been treated as three separate disciplines for decades. Each has its own tools, its own teams, and very little connection between them. Your planning system is excellent at holding your...

Most companies know they have a planning problem. The question is whether they are solving the right one. It is easy to blame the technology, push for an APS upgrade, or chase the latest AI tool. But too often, the real issues sit underneath: outdated parameters no one has reviewed in years, data that does not reflect reality, and planning processes that never connect to execution. In this episode...

Modex is full of innovation. The hard part is knowing what actually works. With thousands of exhibitors, live demonstrations, and bold promises on every aisle, supply chain leaders are not short on ideas. What they need is clarity on which technologies are ready for real operations and which ones are just show floor excitement. In this episode, Ellen Wood is joined by Miebach colleagues Bastian Hi...

Behind every supply chain transformation are the people willing to challenge what is possible. From digital innovation to operational strategy, the leaders making the biggest impact are not just solving today’s problems. They are building the teams, tools, and mindsets that will define the future of the industry. In this episode, Ellen Wood speaks with Miebach colleagues Julian Maasmann and Nuria...

Trade show season is full of bold claims. But what actually sticks? Each year, LogiMAT showcases award winning robotics, AI powered systems, and next generation warehouse concepts. The real question is not what looks impressive on the show floor, but what proves durable, scalable, and commercially viable years later. In this episode, Ellen Wood talks with Sascha Kalytta, Senior Consultant at Mieba...

Speaking of Supply Chain is entering a new chapter. As the industry evolves, the conversations shaping it need to evolve too. This episode marks an important moment for the show and for how real world supply chain insight gets shared. In this episode, Ellen Wood welcomes Christine Barnhart as the new co host of Speaking of Supply Chain. Christine shares her unconventional journey across engineerin...

Fast and free delivery is no longer a competitive advantage. In 2026, it is simply the minimum. What separates retail leaders now is how well they balance speed, cost, and flexibility across an explosion of channels and customer expectations. In this episode, Ellen Wood sits down with Rob Hahn, COO of Pattern, alongside Miebach’s Julian Osorio, to break down what winning direct to consumer fulfill...

Supply chains generate more data than ever, yet decisions still lag behind. As AI adoption accelerates, many organizations struggle to turn insights into action at the pace operations demand. The real challenge is not collecting data, but knowing what to do with it in the moment that matters. In this episode, Ellen Wood talks with Bekbolat Abdikanov, Generative AI Solutions Lead at Miebach, about...

Fashion supply chains are being forced to move faster, smarter, and with far less margin for error. Between demand volatility, rising return rates, and shifting trade policies, brands can no longer rely on outdated operating models to compete. In this episode, Ellen Wood is joined by Julian Osorio and Carlos Oropeza to break down key findings from Miebach’s North American Fashion Benchmarking Stud...

Safety isn’t just a compliance checklist anymore. As regulations shift and oversight relaxes, companies are being challenged to uphold their own safety standards while keeping operations running at full speed. The question is, how do you protect people and productivity at the same time? In this episode, Ellen Wood talks with Justin Malone, Director of Field Safety at Miner, about how organizations...

The loading dock is finally getting an upgrade. For decades, it has been one of the biggest bottlenecks in logistics, slowing operations, increasing risk, and putting extra strain on warehouse teams. But what if the dock could become one of the fastest and safest parts of your operation? In this episode, Ellen Wood talks with Mason Cole from Slip Robotics about how their five-minute trailer loadin...

Tariffs. Talent gaps. Tech hype. As 2026 approaches, supply chain leaders face a new wave of disruption from shifting trade policies to automation investments that don’t always deliver. The challenge is not how to avoid volatility, but how to turn it into an advantage. In this episode, Ellen Wood talks with Steve Shebuski, Managing Director of Presales Solutions at MCA Connect, about how smart sce...

Cybersecurity is no longer a side issue for supply chains. As global logistics becomes more connected and digitally dependent, protecting data and operations from cyber threats has become mission critical. In this episode, Ellen Wood sits down with Caleb Mattingly, CEO of Secure Cloud Innovations, to unpack the evolving risks facing logistics networks. From compliance pressures to insider threats...

The bottleneck isn’t the problem. The problem is building a system where that bottleneck shouldn’t exist in the first place. In this episode, Ellen Wood sits down with Brent Hagan, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Lob, to unpack how teams can reach Amazon-level speed without locking themselves into Amazon-level infrastructure. They break down why “postage is a pass through” is a costly myth, how zone...

The warehouse labor gap isn’t going away. Turnover is high, workers are hard to find, and the demand for faster fulfillment keeps climbing. Robotics and AI aren’t just about efficiency anymore—they’re reshaping how companies keep people safe, engaged, and focused on the work that matters. In this episode, Ellen Wood sits down with Dr. Jan Zizka, CEO of Brightpick, to explore how automation is tran...

Your tech is not the problem. The quiet misalignment between execs, IT, and the warehouse is what sinks ERP, MES, and AI projects. Ellen Wood sits down with Chris Carter, a four-time best-selling author and one of America’s top 10 industry influencers, to unpack how small communication misses become million-dollar delays. They share real stories from SAP and WMS programs where leaders pushed ahead...

In today’s fractured trade environment, agility can’t come at the cost of reliability. When tariffs shift overnight, supplier networks change fast. Procurement leaders need more than spreadsheets and site visits to keep up. Building trust at scale is no longer just a compliance challenge—it is a growth strategy. This week, host Ellen Wood speaks with Sid Malladi , CEO and Founder of Nuvo , about h...

Workplace injuries cost U.S. companies over $160 billion a year - and much of that risk hides in plain sight. Traditional safety programs rely on after-the-fact reporting and limited oversight, leaving logistics teams reactive rather than proactive. This week, host Ellen Wood speaks with Jack Braniff of Voxel AI about how logistics and warehouse operators are using computer vision and existing sec...

Maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) have long been treated as an afterthought in supply chain strategy—fragmented, underfunded, and largely invisible to executive planning. But ignoring MRO means leaving millions on the table and risking critical breakdowns across procurement, inventory, and execution. This week, host Ellen Wood speaks with Paul Noble, Chief Strategy Officer and Co-founder o...

Disruption is now a constant in freight and logistics. From shifting trade policies to strained infrastructure and rising security threats, supply chains face pressure on all sides. The companies that stay ahead are the ones using real-time data to stay flexible, responsive, and resilient. This week, host Ellen Wood speaks with Maneet Singh , Chief Information Officer and Chief Digital Officer at...

Labor shortages, high turnover, and outdated training methods are holding back warehouse and distribution center performance across the supply chain. As logistics operations grow more complex, many teams still rely on static SOPs and outdated LMS systems, leaving managers unequipped to coach and retain their teams effectively. This week, host Ellen Wood speaks with Tim Regnier, CEO and Founder of...