On this episode of The Buzz, we tackle a word that might define 2026 for supply chain leaders: velocity. Not just speed for speed’s sake, but smarter, faster, more confident decision-making in a world shaped by tariff volatility, regulatory shifts, and rapidly advancing AI. With insights from industry veterans Paul Noble and Nick Dippolito, we unpack what it really takes to lead through uncertainty. Grab your coffee and settle in - welcome to The Buzz, powered by EasyPost!

As trade policies continue to shift, including recent tariff developments and Supreme Court rulings impacting international commerce, supply chain leaders are facing mounting pressure to respond quickly without sacrificing accuracy. This episode explores the rising importance of “decision velocity” and why organizations must modernize their data, governance, and verification processes to compete effectively.

A major focal point of the conversation is ISO 25500 and its role in strengthening data verification and reliability across supply chain networks. We also explore the double-edged sword of artificial intelligence: while AI unlocks powerful operational efficiencies, it also introduces new risks, including impersonation fraud and malicious activity. The takeaway? Standards, smarter systems, and stronger supplier verification are no longer optional, they’re foundational.

Tune in and learn:

1. Why decision velocity is becoming a defining competitive advantage in modern supply chains
2. How evolving tariff regulations and trade rulings are reshaping global operations
3. What ISO 25500 means for data verification, trust, and interoperability
4. The role AI plays in improving efficiency — and how it can also introduce fraud risks
5. Why supplier verification systems are critical to preventing impersonation and bad actors
6. How to build proactive risk management strategies that maintain agility amid volatility
7. What forward-thinking leaders are doing now to future-proof compliance and operations

If you're leading operations, procurement, logistics, compliance, or enterprise technology strategy, this episode offers timely insights you can put into action immediately. In a climate where uncertainty is constant and reaction time matters more than ever, strengthening your standards, accelerating your decision-making, and investing in smarter verification systems may be the difference between disruption and resilience.

Additional Links & Resources:

1. Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
2. Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
3. Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
4. Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk

This episode is hosted by Scott Luton and Karin Bursa and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com

Returns are no longer just a headache, they’re a strategic opportunity. As the circular economy gains momentum, reverse logistics is quickly becoming one of the most important levers in modern supply chains.

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton and Deborah Dull are joined by Scot Case, Vice President of Sustainability at the National Retail Federation (NRF), and Tony Sciarrotta, Senior Director of Reverse Logistics and Circularity at NRF, to share key insights from the NRF Rev event and discuss why reverse logistics deserves a seat at the strategy table.

The conversation explores how resale, repair, and recycling are moving into the mainstream, and why returns should no longer be treated as a cost center. From the surge in e-commerce returns to increasing legislative pressure through extended producer responsibility, the group breaks down how these forces are changing retail and supply chain operations.

Deborah adds perspective on how technology improves visibility and accountability across the returns process. Together, the guests outline practical ways companies can turn reverse logistics into a competitive advantage while improving customer experience and advancing sustainability goals.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(02:31) Meet the guests: Scot Case and Tony Sciarrotta

(06:31) NRF’s sustainability mission: Business value meets reverse logistics

(10:46) RLA + NRF: Bringing returns out of the “dark side”

(15:22) Macro trends shaping reverse logistics: Reuse, resale, repair & more

(20:40) Tariffs, EPR laws & the circular economy’s next push

(24:52) Inside NRF Rev: The reverse logistics & revenue “revolution” event

(26:05) NRF Rev: Bringing reverse logistics into the spotlight

(27:32) Why retailers are the center of the returns universe

(28:18) Refurbished products mindset shift: The ‘restaurant fork’ story

(29:24) Deborah’s practitioner lens: Why this conference matters

(31:00) Key takeaways: Collaboration, EPR, and no single silver bullet

(34:04) Urban mining & the resale economy (and why brands must engage)

(36:32) What’s next: NRF working groups, global scale, and policy influence

(40:16) Remade in America: A story-driven podcast on ‘where returns go’

Additional Links & Resources:

1. Connect with Scot Case: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotcase/
2. Connect with Tony Sciarrotta: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-sciarrotta-235570/
3. Connect with Deborah Dull: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahdull/
4. Learn more about the National Retail Federation (NRF): https://nrf.com
5. Learn more about NRF Rev:

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: