Supply Chain Now — The Buzz: Exploring the Technologies Transforming Operations Today
December 12, 2025 | Hosts: Scott Luton & Richard Donaldson | Special Guest: Gary Bennett (Chief Integrated Supply Chain Officer, Array Technologies)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Buzz focuses on the technologies, trends, and innovations reshaping global supply chains as 2025 draws to a close. Hosts Scott Luton and Richard Donaldson discuss recent manufacturing reports, the importance of operational excellence, the escalating significance of circularity and technology in the supply chain, and the rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape. The episode's centerpiece is an in-depth discussion with Gary Bennett of Array Technologies, who provides insights on solar energy’s pivotal role, the onshoring of manufacturing, and the future of renewables.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Operational Excellence, Lean, and Supply Chain Collaboration

(03:30–06:30)

• AME International Conference Recap: Focused on operational excellence, cross-industry collaboration, and lean innovation. Notable for the growing importance of sharing best practices with suppliers and ensuring all parties win together.
• Quotes:
  • "Help your suppliers win, and you’re going to win too." – Mark Preston, Lean Guru (03:59)
  • "People stay quiet because we train them to. That’s a cultural issue, not a talent issue." – Cindy Hines, A.O. Smith (04:18)
  • "If we’re too proud to learn from others, we are the bottleneck." – Billy Ray Taylor, AME Board Chair (04:31)
• Circular Supply Chains: Richard notes a glaring omission of circularity in these lean discussions, stating it's necessary for future supply chain resilience, especially relevant for space-based operations and sustainability.

2. The Rise of Circularity and Sustainability in Supply Chains

(05:20–07:00; 06:00–07:00)

• Space as a Catalyst: Richard ties the necessity of circularity to future space missions: "You need a circular supply chain. There’s no resources in space for you to pull from."
• Scott highlights that while lean practices still present big opportunities, circularity will increasingly drive operational excellence and innovation.
• Both agree the concept is gaining urgency due to limited resources and the need for sustainable processes both on Earth and in space.

3. Upcoming Events & Resources

(07:30–09:00)

• Manifest 2026: Major supply chain conference to be held in Las Vegas, focusing on technology, sustainability, global trade, and more.
• Unboxing Logistics Podcast: Recommended as a valuable resource for trends, leadership stories, and practical tips; receives a "five-star rating" from Scott (09:03).
• Both events underscore the community’s commitment to ongoing learning and adaptation.

4. Technology Choices: Apple vs. PC

(11:12–15:08)

• Light-hearted debate turns to practical considerations: Gary started as a PC user due to engineering applications but increasingly relies on Apple’s integrated ecosystem. Richard notes the aviation world’s reliance on Apple devices for flight operations (ForeFlight).
• Quote:
  • "Now I use Apple... it’s really the only product that aviation uses." – Richard Donaldson (13:40)

5. State of U.S. Manufacturing—Conflicting Signals

(16:00–18:32)

• ISM vs. S&P Data: Mixed PMI indicators. ISM shows contraction in U.S. manufacturing in November 2025, while S&P Global’s equivalent suggests growth. Main consensus: high uncertainty due to trade policies and tariffs.
• Gary Bennett: “We are seeing some softness, not only in the U.S. but also globally.” (16:46)
• Richard ties longer-term optimism to population growth and rising perpetual demand.

6. Trends Transforming Manufacturing—2026 & Beyond

(19:00–22:22)

• Top trends (Deloitte Report via Marina Mayer):
  • Investment in smart manufacturing and digital tools
  • Semiconductor and data center boom
  • Advanced aftermarket services
  • Workforce upskilling and adaptive planning
• Gary on AI: “AI tools…are going to revolutionize our ability to optimize logistics, demand planning, our manufacturing process.” (20:07)
• Richard’s Key Insight: Underlying theme is technification—“We’re still kind of in baby steps of understanding what technology can even do for us.” (22:01)
• All agree the most adaptable, technology-embracing firms (and individuals) will thrive.

7. Global vs. Regional Cooperation

(23:50–26:28)

• WEF Global Cooperation Barometer: 83% of surveyed business leaders say global cooperation is declining; regional collaboration is rising.
• Gary: Array Technologies is increasingly onshoring supply chains, focusing on regional and domestic partners to mitigate risk. (24:25)
• Richard: Open-source collaboration has historically outperformed closed models and should be emulated across global business.

8. Array Technologies—Company, Culture, and Expansion

(27:59–32:04; 33:35–34:55)

• Gary’s Overview: Array Technologies builds substructures for utility-scale solar modules, enabling solar panels to track the sun and optimize energy production.
• Major expansion: New 200,000 sq. ft. facility in Albuquerque, NM (Q1 2026 launch). Focused on domestication, reducing logistics variability and supporting U.S. renewable investments.
• Quote: "Our ability to really reduce variability and serve our customers in the US is huge." – Gary Bennett (31:41)
• Major challenge: Policy uncertainty and changing incentives/tariffs.

9. Solar Energy’s Role in the New Energy Landscape

(32:25–39:36)

• Gary: Emphasizes "all of the above" approach to energy, but solar’s economics and speed-to-grid make it the fastest/cheapest way to add capacity.
• U.S. needs ~200 GW of new capacity by 2030, largely due to AI/data centers. Solar is vital for reaching this scale.
• Array’s new projects focus on fully domestic tracker systems, reshoring, and creating jobs across the supply chain.

10. Innovation in Solar Energy

(41:45–42:22)

• Next-gen solar: Robotics for installation and cleaning, advanced tracking systems, integration of AI for optimization.
• Innovations thought of as “science fiction” are becoming reality and set for deployment in the next 1–2 years.
• Gary: “It’s super exciting times with new innovation and new methodologies...” (41:47)

11. Space-Based Energy and Future Technologies

(43:10–44:30)

• Questions about solar energy efficiency outside Earth’s atmosphere, future use in powering data centers in space.
• The intersection of AI, data, energy, and orbital infrastructure is on the horizon.

12. Manufacturing Renaissance & 2026 Predictions

(46:05–49:24)

• Gary predicts a "manufacturing renaissance" due to onshoring, policy support, private investment, and infrastructure transformation.
• Richard sees the commercialization of space (SpaceX, AI-driven energy needs) adding to supply chain complexity and opening new frontiers.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If we’re too proud to learn from others, we are the bottleneck.”
  – Billy Ray Taylor, via Scott Luton (04:31)

• “You need a circular supply chain. There’s no resources in space for you to pull from.”
  – Richard Donaldson (06:07)

• “AI tools…are going to revolutionize our ability to optimize logistics, demand planning, our manufacturing process.”
  – Gary Bennett (20:07)

• “We’re still kind of in baby steps of understanding what technology can even do for us.”
  – Richard Donaldson (22:01)

• “Solar is the answer. We’re the fastest and cheapest methodology to bring on large volumes of electrons onto the grid in the shortest amount of time.”
  – Gary Bennett (32:25)

• “Solar energy… is going to have its own renaissance. It is the emerging winner of the renewable races over the last 30 years.”
  – Richard Donaldson (50:16)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:30 — Recap: AME Conference & Lean Insights
• 04:42 — Circular Supply Chains & Lean's Future
• 07:30 — Upcoming Events: Manifest 2026 & Unboxing Logistics Podcast
• 11:12 — Icebreaker: Apple vs. PC (Technology Choices)
• 16:00 — Manufacturing Industry Pulse: ISM & S&P Data
• 19:00 — 2026 Manufacturing Trends (Deloitte & SDCE)
• 23:50 — Global vs. Regional Cooperation
• 27:59 — Array Technologies Overview & Mission
• 31:15 — Manufacturing Expansion in New Mexico
• 33:35 — Challenges of U.S. Manufacturing Investments
• 35:14 — The Global Spread and Value of Solar
• 38:00 — Surging U.S. Energy Demand (Innovation Summit takeaways)
• 41:45 — Innovations Coming to Solar
• 43:10 — Space-Based Solar, Future Tech, and Data Centers in Orbit
• 46:05 — 2025 Manufacturing Renaissance & Bold 2026 Predictions
• 50:16 — Richard’s Key Takeaway: Solar’s Coming Renaissance

Flow & Tone

• The conversation blends practical optimism with technical depth and a touch of humor.
• Emphasis on learning, adaptability, and the inevitable centrality of technology.
• The hosts foster an engaging yet informative dialogue, accessible to both practitioners and curious newcomers.
• Audience engagement and invitations to share perspectives, reflecting the show’s community-driven ethos.

Key Takeaways

• Operational excellence, circularity, and open-source collaboration are now essential, not optional, for supply chain resilience.
• AI and digital tools are accelerating optimization in logistics, demand planning, and manufacturing. Embrace them or risk being left behind.
• Solar energy, propelled by policy, technology, and surging data center demand, is poised for a massive renaissance—Array Technologies is at the forefront.
• Domestic manufacturing and resilient regional supply chains are mitigating policy and geopolitical uncertainties—and bringing job growth back home.
• Innovation in solar (e.g., robotics, AI-driven solutions) is turning sci-fi into reality within the next two years.
• Space-based supply chains and energy collection are not far-off dreams—they’re imminent, with data centers and AI fueling the push.

Connect with the Guests:

• Gary Bennett (LinkedIn): Gary Bennett
• Array Technologies: arraytechinc.com
• Richard Donaldson (LinkedIn): Richard Donaldson

For Supply Chain Professionals

This episode is a must-listen for those seeking to understand where supply chain technology, policy, and energy intersect—and how the industry’s leaders are preparing for a world where supply chains stretch from local factories to the stars.