In an era when most automation systems are designed in the U.S. but built overseas, Corvus Robotics is charting a different course. The company, winner of the NextGen Supply Chain Solution Provider Award for Robotics, designs and manufactures its autonomous warehouse drones entirely in America.

Co-founder and CEO Jackie Wu told Talking Supply Chain host Brian Straight that building domestically isn’t just about cost, it’s about control, innovation, and resilience. By keeping engineering and manufacturing under one roof, Corvus can respond to customer feedback quickly, make design adjustments in real time, and avoid the unpredictability of tariffs and global trade disruptions.

“Every country needs to be able to make some of its own things,” Wu said. “If there’s a will, there’s a way.”

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.

In this episode of Talking Supply Chain, host Brian Straight explores the growing importance of sustainable procurement—a practice that has quickly moved from a “nice-to-have” to a business imperative. As governments, investors, and customers increasingly demand accountability, procurement is no longer just about efficiency and cost; it is about building resilience, reducing carbon impact, and delivering long-term value across the supply chain.

Brian is joined by Dr. Luan Ho, Science Team Co-Lead at Tunley Environmental, a consultancy helping organizations embed sustainability into their procurement processes. Dr. Ho outlines Tunley’s evolution from an engineering-focused firm into a sustainability leader.

Most consumers see a box; fresh-food operators see a system. In this episode of Talking Supply Chain, Edible Arrangements’ supply chain manager Jay De Sieno breaks down why packaging is a strategic lever, not an afterthought. For a gift-centric brand, the container is the first touchpoint and a quality cue—so color, layout, and presentation must reinforce identity while safeguarding perishable product through the last mile.

Artificial intelligence isn’t just a buzzword in supply chain, it’s rapidly changing how products move from origin to destination. In this episode of Talking Supply Chain, host Brian Straight sits down with Stuart Ryan, senior vice president and general manager of the Americas for HERE Technologies, to explore how AI-powered mapping and location intelligence are reshaping transportation and logistics.

In a world filled with uncertainty—from tariffs to pandemics—many companies still rely on reaction instead of preparation. On the latest episode of Talking Supply Chain, Tom Strohl, president of Oliver Wight Americas, explains why integrated business planning (IBP) is the secret weapon for companies looking not just to survive disruptions, but to thrive through them.

“The difference between those that are successful today versus those that are not,” Strohl says, “is those that have good solid, robust planning processes that filter all the way up to the executive level of the organization.”

When hurricanes or other disasters strike, logistics become a lifeline for thousands, in some cases even millions of people. And the trucking, logistics and supply chain industries are always ready to help, often working side by side with FEMA and other organizations like the American Red Cross, to provide the supplies communities need not only to survive the immediate aftermath, but to rebuild. But, trucks don’t just arrive at the site of a disaster. They are part of a well-coordinated logistical plan and one of the key organizations involved in these efforts is the American Logistics Aid Network, or ALAN. In this 2024 Talking Supply Chain episode, ALAN Executive Director Kathy Fulton explains the process of getting aid to disaster sites, and what you need to know if you want to get involved.

The National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) system, which has provided a standardized method of identifying and classifying freight for over 70 years, is undergoing its most significant overhaul in decades. Keith Peterson, director of operations at the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), joined the Talking Supply Chain podcast to explain the rationale and impact of these changes, which officially take effect on July 19, 2025. The revised system emphasizes density-based classification, streamlining the number of commodity codes and modernizing how freight is categorized for today’s shipping environment.

Resilience. Flexibility. AI. Workforce. We talk about these themes constantly—but few companies are as intentional in connecting the dots as Schneider Electric.

Agustin Lopez Diaz, North American supply chain officer at Schneider Electric joined the  Talking Supply Chain podcast to discuss Schneider Electric’s approach to its North American supply chain.

“We are investing roughly 700 million dollars of additional investment through 2027 to really expand our capability and take advantage of the manufacturing renaissance going on in North America,” Lopez Diaz said.

Shabbir Dahod, CEO of Tracelink, joins Talking Supply Chain host Brian Straight to discuss artificial intelligence in the supply chain: where it is today, where it is heading, and how companies can position themselves to take advantage of the potential of this innovative technology.