Supply Chain Now – Episode Summary

Episode: Supply Chain Spotlight: Global Economies, Tariffs, & the Power of Positive Assumptions
Host: Scott Lewton
Date: March 12, 2025

Episode Overview

In this engaging solo episode of Supply Chain Now, host Scott Lewton unpacks four central topics shaping today’s supply chain landscape:

1. Key trends in global economics,
2. Fresh market news and notes—including tariffs and logistics innovations,
3. The transformative power of mutual positive assumptions in business culture, and
4. Noteworthy upcoming industry events.

Lewton’s tone is approachable and conversational, blending data-driven insights with personal anecdotes and practical advice for supply chain professionals.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Shifts in Global Economies (01:00 – 03:50)

• Scott shares up-to-date stats on the world’s top economies, drawn from IMF data and an analysis by Visual Capitalist.

  • 2025’s Top 10 Economies (by GDP, projected):
    1. United States ($30.3 trillion)
    2. China
    3. Germany
    4. Japan
    5. India
    6. United Kingdom
    7. France
    8. Italy
    9. Canada
    10. Brazil ($2.3 trillion)

• He spotlights the remarkable growth rates over the past decade:

  • China: 74% growth (2015-2025)
  • India: 77% growth (2015-2025)
    • India is poised to overtake Japan and Germany, becoming the world’s third-largest economy by 2027.

“[T]he Chinese economy...has grown by a whopping 74%...but what you don't hear about perhaps every day is India's economy...it grew 77%, even faster than the Chinese economy from 2015 to 2025.”
— Scott Lewton (02:42)

2. Market News, Tariff Impacts & Tech Innovations (03:51 – 08:17)

• US Ports:
  Expect continued high cargo volumes in early 2025.
  • February: Expected 6.1% year-over-year increase.
  • March: Projected nearly 11% jump.
  • Elevated volumes to persist into April and May.

“Cargo volumes at US Ports are expected to remain elevated for the next three months in the face of continued tariff pressure…”
— Scott Lewton quoting Supply Chain Dive (04:08)

• Tariff Pressures & Opportunities for Technology:
  • Despite being a “tariff free zone,” Scott notes how logistics tech is stepping up:
    • Project44: Customizes systems for multinationals to weigh pre-emptive or reactive tariff strategies.
    • Resilink: AI agent helps customers understand and minimize tariff impacts.
    • Altana: Tariff simulator to quantify costs and suggest alternative suppliers.

“Tariff headaches certainly bring opportunity, especially for logistics management technology companies...”
— Scott Lewton (05:14)

• Goodyear Transformation:
  • Goodyear’s “Goodyear Forward” project aims for operational and financial overhaul.
    • Target: Double operating margin to 10%, cut costs by $1.5B, realize $2B from asset sales.
    • Emphasizes investments in AI, 3D printing for tread prototypes, and simulation tools.
  • Scott highlights the company’s cultural mantra, quoting Billy Ray Taylor:

“‘Round and black and out the back’—that’s the mantra that my friend Billy Ray Taylor...memorably shared with me a while back.”
— Scott Lewton (06:22)

3. The Power of Mutual Positive Assumptions (08:18 – 12:05)

• Personal Anecdote:
  Scott recounts a morning school car ride with his daughters, using their playful misunderstandings as a lesson on the pitfalls of assumptions.

• Key Message:
  Jumping to negative conclusions is common but counterproductive; in organizational cultures, mutual positive assumptions foster trust and effective problem-solving.

  • Scott shares a story from his food manufacturing experience: the company’s culture intentionally practiced these positive assumptions.
  • Results: Better team relationships, increased candor, stronger performance.

“One of the top principles...was this notion of mutually positive assumptions. Meaning rather than giving in to...assume the worst, especially when it comes to others...focus[ed] on doing just the opposite.”
— Scott Lewton (10:26)

• Broader Takeaway:
  This approach is especially powerful in divisive times and is vital for healthy, productive workplaces.

“Any sound, productive, positive approach to building more effective relationships...all of that is really good news to me.”
— Scott Lewton (11:57)

4. Upcoming Industry Events & Community Engagement (12:06 – 13:57)

• ProMat 2025 (Chicago: March 17-20):

  • 50,000 expected attendees.
  • Scott to host on March 17, interviewing industry leaders from companies like EasyMetrics, Bastian Solutions, Locus Robotics, Invista, BlueGrace Logistics, AutoScheduler, and the American Logistics Aid Network’s Kathy Fulton.
  • Invitation to listeners: meet Scott and the team, grab a photo, and connect in person.

• National Supply Chain Day (April 29):

  • Encourages listeners to celebrate and recognize industry contributors.
  • Supply Chain Now will host a midday live event with guests from across the industry.

“Celebrate your own corner of the world, but make sure you celebrate, make sure you recognize those folks that make it happen.”
— Scott Lewton (13:34)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I've never been mistaken in my entire life for an economist of any sort. Okay. Number two, this is going to be a tariff free zone on the podcast today. Maybe almost a tariff free zone. We'll see.”
  — Scott Lewton (01:10)

• “Does culture eat strategy for breakfast, as Peter Drucker famously once said? Well, I tend to subscribe to that theory...”
  — Scott Lewton (11:10)

• “[S]chool car line logistics—man, the gift that certainly keeps on giving.”
  — Scott Lewton (11:54)

Episode Timeline

• 01:00 — Introduction and episode topics
• 02:00 — Global economic rankings and decade growth
• 03:50 — Key stats for India and China
• 04:08 — US ports outlook and tariff commentary
• 05:14 — Logistics tech adapting to tariff complexity
• 06:22 — Goodyear’s transformation project
• 08:18 — Personal carpool story and assumption lessons
• 10:26 — Business culture and positive assumptions
• 12:06 — ProMat 2025 preview
• 13:24 — National Supply Chain Day announcement
• 13:57 — Call to action: do good, give forward, be the change

Final Thoughts

Scott Lewton delivers a data-rich, personable podcast episode that connects big-picture economic trends with the human dimension of supply chain leadership. Listeners walk away with a better understanding of global shifts, innovations in logistics tech, and the value of positivity and connection in business culture.