The Chain Podcast

Leading Manufacturing Through Change, Data and Talent with Tsubaki Nakashima

We're joined by Nashay Naeve, President of the Engineered Plastic Components Business Unit at Tsubaki Nakashima, to explore what it takes to lead manufacturing organizations in an era of constant disruption.
Nashay shares how global experience — from living and working in China to leading teams across Europe and the U.S. — has shaped her leadership philosophy.
Together, we discuss how:
Manufacturers can move from reactive decision-making to proactive, data-driven operations.
Why upskilling frontline teams is just as critical as investing in digital transformation.
How sustainability can become a true competitive differentiator.
The conversation also covers career advice for early professionals, mentorship for women in supply chain leadership, and how organizations can plan long-term while staying agile in the face of today’s volatility.
 
Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. 
For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast

The Future of Manufacturing with the Reshoring Institute

Founder and Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute, Rosemary Coates, joins us to unpack what’s truly happening beyond reshoring.
You’ll hear why much of the work described as “coming back” to the U.S. was never here to begin with, where nearshoring to Mexico fits, how friend‑shoring actually plays out and why automation and skills will define the next decade.
We dig into China “decoupling” realities, tariff whiplash, the rise of C‑suite supply chain strategy and what leaders, policymakers and the next generation of professionals must do now.
You’ll learn:
Clear definitions: reshoring vs. nearshoring vs. friend‑shoring
Why automation, data and AI change the talent equation
The hard parts of leaving China: contracts, IP risk and regulatory permissions. 
Practical steps executives can take now to build a resilient supply chain
Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. 
For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast
 
 

How IoT is Transforming the Cold Chain with SmartSense by Digi

In this episode of The Chain, Guy Yehiav, President of SmartSense by Digi, joins us to explore how IoT, AI and real‑time sensing are reshaping the cold chain.
 
From preventing foodborne illness and reducing waste to improving healthcare safety and unlocking full supply chain visibility, Guy shares how data-driven monitoring and predictive analytics are helping organizations build resilience, consistency, and customer trust across every link of the supply chain.
 
Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. 
For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast
 

Tariffs, Talent and Uncertainty: What Supply Chains Learned in 2025

We revisit the past year of tariff policy and its ripple effects across global supply chains.
 
Our guest, supply chain expert Alastair Charatan, returns to discuss what predictions held up and what surprises emerged from the predictions we made back in January.
 
We unpack why large‑scale reshoring hasn’t materialized, how shortened planning horizons complicate capital investment and why a “carrots over sticks” industrial strategy beats blunt trade instruments.
 
Listen and learn:
Why you need to invest in scenario planning tools
lock capacity early when bottlenecks loom, and
prioritize workforce development to work alongside automation and co-bots. 
Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. 
For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast
 

AI, Talent and Sustainability: 2026 Supply Chain Trends

Join Abe Eshkenazi as he welcomes Scott Luton, founder and CEO of Supply Chain Now, for a dynamic conversation on the future of supply chain management.
Fresh from the annual conference in Columbus, they give a sneak peek into the top trends shaping 2026, including the rise of artificial intelligence, workforce transformation, and the growing impact of climate and circularity.
Scott shares insights on the human-machine dynamic, the evolving skills gap and why investing in people is key to overcoming today’s challenges. Whether you’re an early-career professional or a seasoned leader, this episode offers actionable advice and inspiration for navigating the fast-changing supply chain landscape.
Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. 
For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast

Blockchain-Driven Supply Chain Transformation with Vinturas

In this episode of The Chain, we sit down with Ronald Kleijwegt, CEO of Vinturas, to explore the future of supply chain visibility, traceability and collaboration.
Ronald shares insights on how blockchain and AI are transforming global supply chains, the importance of connecting every tier of suppliers, and how technology can help organizations respond to disruptions — from tariffs to cyber threats.
Discover how leading companies are leveraging data to design agile, resilient supply chains and why cross-functional collaboration is essential for success in today’s volatile environment.
Get the latest tips for improving your supply chain visibility by downloading our whitepaper. 
Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. 
For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast

Revolutionizing Returns with LiquiDonate

In this episode of The Chain Podcast, we dive into the future of returns and the creation of a more sustainable and socially conscious supply chain. Our host, Abe Eshkenazi, is joined by Disney Petit, the CEO and founder of LiquiDonate. Disney shares her extensive experience working with tech companies to implement social impact programs and discusses how LiquiDonate is revolutionizing the returns process.
Discover how LiquiDonate leverages existing business models and evolving technologies to reduce landfill waste and enable circularity by connecting retailers' excess unsold and returned inventory to nonprofits. Disney explains the shocking reality that about 80% of returned products end up in landfills and how LiquiDonate's innovative software helps reroute these items to nonprofits, upcyclers, or recyclers.
We also explore the environmental impact of returns, the inefficiencies in reverse logistics and the role of e-commerce in complicating the returns process. 
 
Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. 
For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast

The Future of Supply Chain Leadership

Join host Abe Eshkenazi and Dr. Zal Phiroz, professor of supply chain management at Harvard University.
Dr. Phiroz shares his unique journey from computer science to supply chain. We explore the evolving role of the Chief Supply Chain Officer, the balance between technology and critical thinking and the preparedness of the next generation of supply chain leaders.
Whether you're a seasoned professional or a student entering the field, this episode provides an important look at how academia is shaping the supply chain industry. 
Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. 
For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast
Register for CHAINge now and join supply chain leaders from around the globe at ASCM's transformative supply chain conference. Get $200 off by using code PODCAST200

Tariff Tightrope: Navigating the New Global Supply Chain

The global supply chain is walking a tariff tightrope, and the impact is reaching far and wide.
Join us as we unravel the complexities of current trade negotiations and their direct effects on everything from consumer prices to long-term business strategies.
David Stephen Jacoby, a leading supply chain expert, cuts through the noise, revealing how tariffs are reshaping industrial manufacturing, sparking inflationary cycles and forcing companies to rethink their very approach to sourcing and supplier relationships. 
Listen to the podcast, then find out more from Jacoby's book, Trump, Trade, and the End of Globalization.
Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. 
Check out our Tariff Tracker and start navigating tariffs with confidence.
For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast
Register for CHAINge now and join supply chain leaders from around the globe at ASCM's transformative supply chain conference. Get $200 off by using code PODCAST200

Ulta Beauty's Supply Chain Glow-Up

ASCM CEO Abe Eskenazi sits down with Heather Lane, VP of Supply Chain Strategy and Systems at Ulta Beauty.
Learn how Ulta Beauty navigated a massive supply chain transformation, accelerated by the pandemic's e-commerce boom. Heather shares insights into their innovative three-tier distribution model, featuring regional distribution centers, fast fulfillment centers and their groundbreaking market fulfillment centers.
You'll also learn about the cutting-edge autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) making their operations safer and more efficient, and how their S/4HANA ERP implementation built the foundation for this agile, omnichannel approach.
Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org.
For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast
Register for CHAINge now and join supply chain leaders from around the globe at ASCM's transformative supply chain conference.