In an era of growing global volatility, understanding and mitigating supply chain risk is more crucial than ever. In this episode of It’s The End of The Week, Jeff Hamilton and Steve Weyer reunited for their third recording to discuss the rising challenges companies face in managing international logistics, sourcing, and trade amid unpredictable macroeconomic and geopolitical shifts.

The episode tackled the current state of global supply chains, drawing on recent client engagements, particularly a private equity project evaluating the risk profile of a highly time-sensitive, perishable product imported from South America to the U.S.

What sounds like the future of logistics—flawless robots, lightning-fast fulfillment, and precision at scale—often begins in confusion, missed steps, and last-minute scrambles. In this episode of It’s The End of The Week, Marc and Charles—two seasoned voices in the automation space—pull back the curtain on a major automation project’s final act: the critical, often overlooked phase of User Acceptance Testing (UAT).

While the industry loves to talk about robots and AI-powered logistics, this episode centered on something far more foundational—how to avoid a $100 million operational headache by doing one thing right: planning and executing UAT properly.

Watch: https://ow.ly/QT1v50VHUl0Listen: https://ow.ly/sPBp50VHUl1Read: https://ow.ly/FOHf50VHUl2

In the often-unseen world of warehouses and supply chain logistics, headlines don’t typically scream for attention. But a recent industry update from Supply Chain 24/7 caught the eye—and raised eyebrows—with a quietly sobering truth: cold storage construction starts are falling. Behind the headline lies a significant story of overbuilding, recalibration, and a slow-but-steady path back to normalcy in the industrial real estate market.

On this episode of It’s The End Of The Week, Charles Fallon and David Beaudet went behind the headlines and unpacked what the numbers—and the mood—really mean for the future of industrial real estate.

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_XluBA0LX0

Read: https://lidd.com/industrial-real-estate-boom/

Building a new distribution center (DC) or implementing a new system involves numerous steps, each requiring careful attention. These phases, whether physical or digital, follow a similar process and require thoughtful planning, testing, and collaboration. On the latest episode of It’s The End of The Week, Raphael Leite-Corthesy and Mathieu Galipeau break down the critical stages involved in both the physical and digital implementations, drawing insights from both system and facility considerations.

L'automatisation devient rapidement une nécessité pour les entreprises qui souhaitent rester compétitives dans un monde de plus en plus axé sur la technologie. Alors que l'intelligence artificielle (IA) vole souvent la vedette dans les discussions sur l'innovation, c'est l'automatisation - en particulier la robotisation des tâches - qui mérite une attention particulière, notamment dans la gestion des opérations et la stratégie d'entreprise. Face aux pressions croissantes liées à l'intensification des opérations et à l'amélioration de l'efficacité, les entreprises doivent s'interroger : devons-nous automatiser ? Et plus important encore, quand devrions-nous commencer le processus ? Cette semaine, Raphaël Leite-Corthésy et David Beaudet se sont réunis pour parler de l'automatisation et de son impact sur l'industrie de la chaîne d'approvisionnement.Contactez-nous !

Businesses, especially those in manufacturing, distribution, and retail, are increasingly dependent on technology to drive efficiency and profitability. However, many of these businesses struggle with integrating the various systems they use to run their operations smoothly. This is where a digital transformation roadmap becomes a vital tool.

Simon Dubuc, Director of LIDD’s Digital Transformation practice, joined LIDD President Charles Fallon to talk about why digital transformation is crucial for businesses and how it can be implemented effectively.

Read more: https://lidd.com/planning-a-digital-transformation-roadmap/

The world of international trade has been in a constant state of flux, especially in recent weeks. The onset of new tariffs, shifting regulations, and evolving trade agreements have left businesses grappling with uncertainty. In this environment, understanding every facet of your supply chain is more crucial than ever. Steve Weyer, President of GSCC Inc., joined Jeff Hamilton on the podcast to discuss the latest developments and provide insight into what companies can do to navigate these challenges.Watch: https://youtu.be/DNfpDTuGVGE

Read: LIDD.com/insights

Check out our other episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@LIDDConsultants

Join Charles & David as they discuss the massive increases in energy consumption brought forth by AI - and whether the world is ready to build the infrastructure required to match demand. Tune in for a discussion on DeepSeek AI, Project Stargate, Three Mile Island, and much more!

Read: LIDD.com/insights

In this week’s podcast, Emilio Colangelo, a seasoned planning expert, and Vivi Tran Lynch, a strategy and operations expert, share valuable insights on how retailers can improve their supply chain planning, particularly during peak seasons like Black Friday, Cyber Week, and Singles Day. As these events approach, retailers often find themselves facing a range of challenges around inventory management, demand fluctuations, and agility in decision-making. They discuss how advanced technologies can empower organizations to respond quickly and effectively when things don’t go as planned.

This week, Charlie Baker, Senior Operations Analyst at Stonewall Kitchen, shared his wealth of knowledge gained over 23 years with the company with LIDD President Charles Fallon. As Stonewall Kitchen has evolved from a small, local operation into a leading specialty food manufacturer, Charlie has witnessed and contributed to its dynamic growth. His deep understanding of supply chain management, operational efficiency, and seasonal planning offers valuable insights for anyone involved in business operations.