The Buzz: AI, Copper, Drone Delivery, and the Future of Supply Chain Leadership
From shifting commodity markets and explosive data center growth to drone delivery and AI-enabled workplaces, supply chain leaders are navigating change from every direction.
In this episode of The Buzz, powered by Toyota Automated Logistics, Scott Luton and Dr. Rod Thomas are joined by Hans Kremer, partner and co-founder of Inchange, to unpack the latest supply chain headlines and explore what professionals and organizations need to thrive in a rapidly evolving business environment.
The discussion shifts to professional development, where Hans shares why companies need to stop training in silos and create more cross-functional learning experiences. The group also explores lifelong learning, the value of hands-on operational experience, and why AI should be viewed as a capability multiplier, not simply a tool for cutting costs or increasing efficiency. They close with powerful insights on leadership, trust, empathy, and creating environments where people can succeed.
Key Takeaways:
Successful change starts with the people doing the work. Find true advocates early, listen carefully to resistance, communicate the “why” repeatedly, and give teams the time and resources needed to implement change.
Supply chain has become a strategic differentiator. Competition increasingly happens between entire supply chain ecosystems, not simply individual companies.
Tomorrow’s supply chain professionals need more than technical expertise. Strategic inquiry, discernment, judgment, adaptability, communication, and influence will become increasingly important as AI expands access to technical capabilities.
Copper and other critical resources could become major constraints on AI and electrification growth. Data centers, infrastructure investment, geopolitics, tariffs, and limited natural resources are creating complex global supply challenges.
Professional development needs to become cross-functional. Giving employees opportunities to experience sales, operations, supply chain, finance, and other perspectives can help break down silos and improve organizational performance.
AI should make people more capable, not simply more efficient. Organizations that use AI only to automate existing tasks may miss its greater potential to enable employees to solve problems and perform work they could not previously do.
Leadership is about enabling the success of others. Strong leaders remove obstacles, protect their teams, model the right behaviors, build mutual trust, and create an environment people want to follow.
This episode brings together timely supply chain news with practical lessons on leadership, learning, technology, and organizational performance. Whether you’re preparing your workforce for AI, navigating major market shifts, developing the next generation of supply chain talent, or simply trying to become a stronger leader, Hans, Rod, and Scott offer actionable perspectives you can put to work right away.
Additional Links and Resources:
Toyota Automated Logistics: https://toyota-automated-logistics.com/
With That Said: https://bit.ly/WTS-8-August-2026
Leading Beyond The Next Disruption: https://bit.ly/Mourad-Tamoud-SE
Rod's LinkedIn Post: https://bit.ly/The-Perfect-SC-Manager
Han's LinkedIn Post: https://bit.ly/Hans-Music-Stories
Copper jumps to its highest level ever. What the metal is telling us: https://cnb.cx/4cvTGv8
Congo Issues Immediate Copper and Cobalt Ban as Smelters Pay Miners for Feedstock: https://bit.ly/DRC-Bans-Some-Exports
Caterpillar sales surpass $20B as data center generators take off: https://bit.ly/CAT-has-big-2Q2026
DoorDash Takes to the Sky With Its Own Drones: https://on.wsj.com/4ccxIx7
Inchainge: https://inchainge.com/
The Readiness Rules: https://now.supplychainnow.com/the-readiness-rules
Connect with Hans on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanskremer/
Connect with Rod on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rod-thomas-a409a41/
Upcoming Live Programming: https://supplychainnow.com/upcoming-live-programming/
Supply Chain Now Resource Hub: https://supplychainnow.com/resource-hub/
Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
WEBINAR- From Disruption to Stability: Building Resilient Logistics Solutions in a Rapidly Changing Global Market: https://bit.ly/3TguZMt
WEBINAR- SAP AI Inside the Supply Chain: From Silo to Orchestration: https://bit.ly/4bvpz6K
This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Rod Thomas, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/buzz-ai-copper-drone-delivery-future-supply-chain-leadership-1622
The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.
For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at production@supplychainnow.com
© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In this episode of The Buzz, powered by Toyota Automated Logistics, Scott Luton and Dr. Rod Thomas are joined by Hans Kremer, partner and co-founder of Inchange, to unpack the latest supply chain headlines and explore what professionals and organizations need to thrive in a rapidly evolving business environment.
The discussion shifts to professional development, where Hans shares why companies need to stop training in silos and create more cross-functional learning experiences. The group also explores lifelong learning, the value of hands-on operational experience, and why AI should be viewed as a capability multiplier, not simply a tool for cutting costs or increasing efficiency. They close with powerful insights on leadership, trust, empathy, and creating environments where people can succeed.
Key Takeaways:
Successful change starts with the people doing the work. Find true advocates early, listen carefully to resistance, communicate the “why” repeatedly, and give teams the time and resources needed to implement change.
Supply chain has become a strategic differentiator. Competition increasingly happens between entire supply chain ecosystems, not simply individual companies.
Tomorrow’s supply chain professionals need more than technical expertise. Strategic inquiry, discernment, judgment, adaptability, communication, and influence will become increasingly important as AI expands access to technical capabilities.
Copper and other critical resources could become major constraints on AI and electrification growth. Data centers, infrastructure investment, geopolitics, tariffs, and limited natural resources are creating complex global supply challenges.
Professional development needs to become cross-functional. Giving employees opportunities to experience sales, operations, supply chain, finance, and other perspectives can help break down silos and improve organizational performance.
AI should make people more capable, not simply more efficient. Organizations that use AI only to automate existing tasks may miss its greater potential to enable employees to solve problems and perform work they could not previously do.
Leadership is about enabling the success of others. Strong leaders remove obstacles, protect their teams, model the right behaviors, build mutual trust, and create an environment people want to follow.
This episode brings together timely supply chain news with practical lessons on leadership, learning, technology, and organizational performance. Whether you’re preparing your workforce for AI, navigating major market shifts, developing the next generation of supply chain talent, or simply trying to become a stronger leader, Hans, Rod, and Scott offer actionable perspectives you can put to work right away.
Additional Links and Resources:
Toyota Automated Logistics: https://toyota-automated-logistics.com/
With That Said: https://bit.ly/WTS-8-August-2026
Leading Beyond The Next Disruption: https://bit.ly/Mourad-Tamoud-SE
Rod's LinkedIn Post: https://bit.ly/The-Perfect-SC-Manager
Han's LinkedIn Post: https://bit.ly/Hans-Music-Stories
Copper jumps to its highest level ever. What the metal is telling us: https://cnb.cx/4cvTGv8
Congo Issues Immediate Copper and Cobalt Ban as Smelters Pay Miners for Feedstock: https://bit.ly/DRC-Bans-Some-Exports
Caterpillar sales surpass $20B as data center generators take off: https://bit.ly/CAT-has-big-2Q2026
DoorDash Takes to the Sky With Its Own Drones: https://on.wsj.com/4ccxIx7
Inchainge: https://inchainge.com/
The Readiness Rules: https://now.supplychainnow.com/the-readiness-rules
Connect with Hans on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanskremer/
Connect with Rod on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rod-thomas-a409a41/
Upcoming Live Programming: https://supplychainnow.com/upcoming-live-programming/
Supply Chain Now Resource Hub: https://supplychainnow.com/resource-hub/
Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
WEBINAR- From Disruption to Stability: Building Resilient Logistics Solutions in a Rapidly Changing Global Market: https://bit.ly/3TguZMt
WEBINAR- SAP AI Inside the Supply Chain: From Silo to Orchestration: https://bit.ly/4bvpz6K
This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Rod Thomas, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/buzz-ai-copper-drone-delivery-future-supply-chain-leadership-1622
The content in this episode, including all audio, videos, visuals, and graphics, is the property of Supply Chain Now and is protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, modification, or re-uploading of this content in any form is strictly prohibited without explicit written permission from Supply Chain Now.
For licensing inquiries or permissions, please contact us at production@supplychainnow.com
© 2026 Supply Chain Now. All rights reserved.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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