As supply chain technology accelerates, the ability to translate operational knowledge into scalable systems is becoming a defining advantage for both companies and early-career talent. In this episode of Supply Chain Now’s Now Generation series, Scott W. Luton sits down with Ryan Goodwin, Sr. Director of Supply Chain Technology & Innovation at Trinity Industries and an adjunct professor at Texas Christian University, alongside Titus Fagan, TCU Student Body Vice President and a third-year accounting major with a minor in energy business.

Ryan shares how his team is integrating planning, MRP, and financial data into platforms that enable faster automation and application-building, often with the help of AI and “vibe coding,” where non-traditional builders can create real tools without a formal software background. Titus brings the student lens, explaining why practitioner-led teaching changes the classroom experience, how simulation-based learning builds cross-functional thinking, and why early responsibility and collaboration are top priorities when evaluating future employers.

Together, they explore how AI can lower barriers to entry, accelerate skill development, and reduce manual work while also raising bigger questions about infrastructure, power demand, and the bottlenecks that can slow even the most innovative systems. From freight reporting automation to energy transmission constraints, this conversation connects the dots between learning, leadership, and the fast-evolving reality of global supply chains.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(00:37) The Now Generation and why TCU stands out

(02:23) Introducing Ryan and Titus

(04:20) Titus’ weather forecasting hobby

(06:28) Ryan’s board game community

(09:13) Ryan’s work at Trinity Industries

(11:32) AI, platforms, and “vibe coding”

(20:00) Bottlenecks and infrastructure strain

(27:34) A discussion on nuclear power

(28:21) Modernizing the accounting path

(30:25) Cross-functional collaboration matters

(33:30) What Titus wants from employers

(38:14) Learning through simulation games

(40:37) Why professors keep evolving

(42:49) TCU’s teacher-scholar approach

(46:53) Trade shows and career exposure

Additional Links & Resources:

1. Connect with Ryan Goodwin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryancgoodwin/
2. Connect with Titus Fagan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/titus-fagan-77b547291
3. Learn more about Trinity Industries: https://www.trin.net/
4. Learn more about TCU’s Neeley School of Business: https://www.neeley.tcu.edu/
5. Learn more about WISE by The University of Arkansas:

Today on Supply Chain Now, we explore how supply chain leaders are balancing powerful new technologies with the human expertise required to make them work. Featuring insights from Jimmy Sebastian on FourKites’ AI platform Loft — and what it means for real-world operations — welcome to The Buzz, powered by EasyPost!

Hosts Scott Luton and Rick McDonald unpack the growing convergence of AI automation and workforce strategy across the supply chain landscape. From faster workflow deployment and operational agility to the evolving labor pipeline and the surge in returns fraud, this conversation highlights why success today depends on both smarter tools and stronger people strategies. The discussion emphasizes that digital transformation isn’t replacing humans — it’s redefining how organizations empower them.

What you’ll learn by tuning in:

1. How AI workflow platforms are accelerating implementation and operational responsiveness
2. Why human capability building is just as critical as technology investment
3. What Gen Z’s rising interest in skilled trades means for future workforce planning
4. The increasing business impact of fraudulent returns — and how technology can help combat it
5. Practical ways leaders can align automation with talent strategy to build resilience

If you’re a supply chain, operations, or technology leader trying to scale automation without losing the human advantage, this episode offers timely perspective and actionable insight. Tune in to understand how to turn emerging tools and workforce trends into measurable business impact.

Additional Links & Resources:

1. EasyPost: https://www.easypost.com/
2. With That Said: https://bit.ly/WTS-15-FEB-2026
3. Never Normal Series: https://bit.ly/Never-Normal-Part3
4. U.S. Bank Podcasts: supplychainnow.com/us-bank
5. 60% of Gen Zers will pursue skilled trade work this year: survey: https://bit.ly/Skilled-Trades-Interest
6. Startup Pitches X-Rays and AI to Catch Fraudulent Returns: https://on.wsj.com/4tFwm5g
7. Valentine’s Day sticker shock: Chocolate prices are spiking: https://bit.ly/3Oh88Ox
8. ChatGPT Is Just the Beginning For Shipping: https://bit.ly/Shipping-And-LLMs-Webinar
9. Introducing FourKites Loft:

Supply chains are recalibrating, and the Middle East and Africa are investing aggressively to meet the moment.

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton and special guest co-host Yaseen Ahmid welcome Toby Maier, CEO for Middle East and Africa at DHL Global Forwarding, for a wide-ranging conversation on what is changing trade and logistics across the region. Toby breaks down how recent tariffs are redirecting export flows into the Middle East and Africa, why GCC countries are racing to build world-class logistics hubs, and how production is shifting from Turkey toward markets like Egypt and Morocco.

They also explore what it will take to build stronger, more reliable supply chains across Africa, from investment in life sciences and healthcare infrastructure to modernized regulation that reduces delays at customs. Toby shares how DHL’s publicly announced $300 million investment through 2030 prioritizes end-to-end capability that helps medicines, vaccines, and other critical products reach communities across a fast-growing population. The conversation also tackles the practical realities of energy access, data centers, and the cost to deliver goods, plus how sustainability efforts like electrified fleets and sustainable aviation fuel can support performance and emissions goals at the same time.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(03:13) Getting to know guest Toby Maier and co-host Yaseen Ahmid

(06:05) Toby’s journey in global logistics leadership

(11:17) Trade shifts and what they mean for Africa

(15:24) DHL’s investment focus across Africa

(18:18) Infrastructure and power realities on the ground

(22:50) Building efficiency and sustainability into the network

(24:22) Renewable energy progress and practical pathways

(26:37) What commitment to sustainability looks like at DHL

(30:26) Developing talent and leadership across the continent

(40:09) Why emerging markets belong on your career map

Additional Links & Resources:

1. Connect with Toby Maier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toby-maier/
2. Connect with Yaseen Ahmid: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaseen-ahmid/
3. Learn more about DHL Global Forwarding: https://www.dhl.com/
4. Learn more about Luna: https://luna-resume.com/
5. Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
6. Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
7. Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here:

As supply chains expand across global networks, the next generation of leaders is being trained to think beyond trucks and warehouses, toward the broader constraints shaping business today. Dr. Morgan Swink, West Chair, Professor of SCM and Executive Director of the Center for Supply Chain Innovation at Texas Christian University’s Neeley School of Business, joins Supply Chain Now alongside three standout seniors, Ava Scotchie, Joshua Ahn, and Cort Comer, to share what they’re seeing in real time as they prepare to enter the industry.

In this Now Generation conversation, Scott Luton and Dr. Swink explore what makes TCU’s supply chain program so distinctive, from high-touch faculty mentorship and curriculum that mirrors real workplace ambiguity, to site visits, case competitions, and capstone projects designed to deliver real value to companies. The students share how these experiences have shaped their confidence, career direction, and readiness to lead.

They also dig into the trends these emerging professionals are watching most closely: reverse logistics and the rising cost of returns, sustainability and ethical visibility across multi-tier suppliers, and the growing energy and infrastructure demands driven by AI and data center expansion. The episode highlights how supply chain thinking is evolving, and why the leaders who can connect operations, ethics, and resource constraints will be the ones who shape what comes next.

Jump into the conversation:

00:00) Intro

(01:43) Spotlight on TCU’s supply chain program

(02:14) Meet the student leaders of supply chain

(03:32) Ava discusses her passion for supply chain

(04:05) Joshua shares his global supply chain journey

(04:36) Cort focuses on energy and supply chain

(12:10) Dr. Swink’s vision for the program

(14:26) Students discuss top supply chain trends

(23:52) Career goals and making a lasting impact

(26:33) Joshua on driving supply chain sustainability

(28:03) Career advice for aspiring supply chain leaders

(29:59) Cort on energy’s role in supply chain

(38:21) Ava reflects on TCU’s hands-on learning

(47:28) Building meaningful supply chain connections

Additional Links & Resources:

1. Connect with Dr. Morgan Swink: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-swink-8331ab11/
2. Connect with Ava Scotchie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ava-scotchie,
3. Connect with Joshua Ahn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajahn/
4. Connect with Colt Comer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cort-comer
5. Learn more about TCU’s Neeley School of Business:

Global trade policy is shifting, digital infrastructure demand is exploding, and the next frontier of supply chain operations may literally be off-planet. From tariffs to terabytes to orbiting technology, the pace of change isn’t slowing down anytime soon, welcome to The Buzz, powered by EasyPost!

In this episode, Scott Luton and Richard Donaldson break down a potential U.S.–India trade agreement and what it could mean for sourcing strategies, tariffs, and global partnerships. The conversation then turns to the rapid growth of data center infrastructure across the United States, why certain regions have become critical digital logistics hubs, and how AI is accelerating demand for computing capacity. Finally, the hosts explore a bold emerging concept: space-based data centers — and how advancements in energy efficiency, cooling, and scalability could reshape long-term supply chain strategy.

Tune in to learn:

1. What a U.S.–India trade agreement could change for tariffs and global sourcing
2. Why data centers are becoming core supply chain infrastructure
3. How AI growth is driving massive infrastructure investment
4. Why Northern Virginia leads the U.S. in data center concentration
5. The potential advantages of space-based data storage and processing
6. What these developments signal for long-term operational strategy

Whether you’re a supply chain practitioner, technology leader, strategist, or simply trying to keep pace with where operations and innovation are heading, this episode will help you connect the dots between trade policy, infrastructure investment, and the next era of global supply chains.

Additional Links & Resources:

1. Learn more about EasyPost: https://www.easypost.com/
2. Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
3. Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
4. Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
5. Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
6. WEBINAR- Supply Chain Planning Reimagined: Embedded AI that senses, explains, and optimizes: https://bit.ly/4pOGgyo
7. WEBINAR- ChatGPT Is Just the Beginning for Shipping: https://bit.ly/3YLFGq7

This episode is hosted by Scott Luton and...

Warehouse operations often highlight the gap between business strategy and execution, particularly as small and mid-sized companies grow. Challenges like fulfillment pressure, inventory inaccuracies, and manual workarounds can turn warehouses into bottlenecks that hinder organizational efficiency. When teams lose confidence in their data, scaling becomes more difficult, leaving leadership reactive instead of proactive.

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton speaks with Kurt Heusner, CEO of Endpoint Automation Solutions, about warehouse execution in the SMB market. Kurt discusses his experience with growth-focused businesses and emphasizes the importance of time-to-value, adoption, and simplicity over complexity. He explains how trust in systems affects team performance and why warehouses often reveal operational challenges first.

The conversation also addresses ERP warehouse modules versus standalone WMS solutions as complexity grows, modular implementation approaches, the ongoing significance of barcoding, and how newer technologies fit into modernization strategies. The episode concludes with insights into Endpoint’s peer communities and grant programs designed to enhance warehouse execution without disrupting daily operations.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(01:36) Meet Kurt Heusner: career and insights

(02:52) Kurt Heusner’s passion for music explained

(04:58) Kurt's journey in SMB technology industry

(06:22) Warehouse automation: SMBs’ needs and insights

(10:46) Cultural impact on technology implementation

(11:31) Serving SMBs: key challenges uncovered

(14:56) Evolution of endpoint automation solutions explained

(17:16) Modular approach to WMS for success

(19:30) Final thoughts on SMB problem-solving

(23:56) Experience and continuous learning in tech

(24:36) The history and evolution of barcoding

(26:05) Barcoding's role in modern supply chains

(29:06) Integrating technologies with barcoding in operations

(31:39) Signs your ERP system needs upgrading

(34:05) Building trust in tech and teams

(39:33) Peer communities and learning program value

(43:00) Grant programs for small manufacturers explained

Additional Links & Resources:

1. Connect with Kurt Heusner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurtheusner/
2. Learn more about Endpoint Automation Solutions: https://endpointas.com/
3. Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
4. Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
5. Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
6. Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform:

As manufacturing and supply chain industries evolve, events like MODEX 2026 are key in connecting professionals, driving innovation, and showcasing trends. With growing demands for efficiency, sustainability, and advanced tech, face-to-face gatherings offer vital opportunities to learn, compare solutions, and build relationships. MODEX stands as one of the largest platforms in North America, uniting exhibitors, educators, and live demos in a way hard to replicate elsewhere.

In this episode, Scott W. Luton welcomes Daniel McKinnon, Chief Exhibitions Officer at MHI, for a behind-the-scenes look at MODEX 2026. Daniel discusses how MHI supports the industry year-round through standards, safety, and workforce development, and why face-to-face events remain essential for learning and networking. He also previews what attendees can expect in Atlanta, including how MODEX brings together exhibitors, education, and live demos on a grand scale.

They also explore what's new at MODEX 2026, April 13 to 16 at the Georgia World Congress Center, including free registration, 200+ seminars, keynotes with Richard McPhail, Salim Ismail, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., and MHI Industry Night with Jim Gaffigan. Daniel shares advice for first-timers and returning attendees, from planning meetings to carving out time for networking on the show floor. He also highlights on-site experiences to recharge and connect, including lounges, food options, and the startup spotlight.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(03:00) Golf talk with Daniel

(06:28) Daniel’s role at MHI

(10:22) The importance of MODEX

(15:02) The evolution of MODEX

(18:58) What’s new at MODEX 2026

(24:22) Industry night and special guests

(26:06) Growth and exhibitors

(27:08) Experiential activations and lounges

(29:13) Event apps and navigation

(31:04) Attendee profiles and solutions

(34:24) First-time attendee tips

(38:03) Returning attendee tips

Additional Links & Resources:

1. Connect with Daniel McKinnon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-mckinnon-125691/
2. Learn more about MHI: https://www.mhi.org/
3. Learn more about MODEX 2026: https://www.modexshow.com/
4. Connect with Scott Luton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottwindonluton/
5. Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
6. Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
7. Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform:

The global supply chain landscape is shifting once again, and today, we break down the economic signals, market movements, and leadership strategies shaping what’s next. Welcome to The Buzz, powered by EasyPost!

Hosts Scott Luton and Tandreia Bellamy dive into the latest U.S. trade data, including a widening trade deficit that highlights the growing complexity of global commerce and policy. The conversation also explores renewed momentum in the warehouse market, with signs that companies are doubling down on long-term infrastructure and capacity planning. From looming shortages in critical minerals, medical supplies, and semiconductors to rising cost pressures in 2026, this episode unpacks what supply chain leaders need to be preparing for now.

The discussion continues with insights from the World Economic Forum in Davos on the challenge of scaling AI across large enterprises, revealing why technology alone isn’t enough without the right organizational design and leadership mindset. Plus, Dyci Sfregola, Founder and CEO of New Gen Architects, joins the show to share how collaboration, executive alignment, and intentional change management are key to building resilient, future-ready supply chains.

If you’re navigating uncertainty, investing in innovation, and building for long-term success, this episode delivers timely insights and practical takeaways you won’t want to miss.

Additional Links & Resources:

1. EasyPost: https://www.easypost.com/
2. National Supply Chain Day: https://streamyard.com/watch/QtED7yJ4y9qW
3. With That Said: https://bit.ly/WTS-1-Feb-2026
4. Cycle Labs: https://bit.ly/Meet-CycleLabs-At-Manifest
5. Trade deficit soared 94% in November and was higher than a year ago, despite tariff efforts: https://cnb.cx/45GYb2J
6. Prologis Revenue Climbs as Warehouse Demand Rebounds: https://bit.ly/3M7kyb1
7. Supply chain shortages: What’s at risk in 2026? https://bit.ly/Shortages-And-RisingCosts
8. Next Level Construction Management: https://amzn.to/3LXI36l
9. Davos 2026: Leaders on why scaling AI still feels hard - and what to do about it: https://bit.ly/3O4sMkJ
10. Why Can’t America Train Workers for a Trillion-Dollar Industry? https://bit.ly/Education-Problem-Reverse-Logistics
11. Connect with Dyci on...