Supply Chain Now – The Buzz: Leadership & Workforce Management
Date: October 3, 2025
Hosts: Scott Luton (A), Korai Kozay (B)
Featured Guest: Katie Date, Manifest (C)
Episode Overview
This episode of Supply Chain Now’s “The Buzz” explores timely workforce management trends, the transformative role of AI in supply chains (with a unique case study on ketchup production), and the shifting landscape of global AI adoption—especially in the context of Europe’s regulatory environment. The show also celebrates global Manufacturing Day and previews Manifest 2026 in Las Vegas, with special attention to the rapidly evolving cold chain sector. Host Scott Luton is joined by industry leader Korai Kozay and returning guest Katie Date of Manifest for news, analysis, and event highlights.
Key Discussion Points
[00:38] Global Supply Chain News – Highlights from the Newsletter
- Union Activity in Canada:
- Second strike by Canada Post workers in under a year.
- Boeing Turnaround:
- FAA now allowing Boeing to certify some 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner aircraft for delivery.
- White House Tariffs:
- New tariffs affecting various sectors, including heavy-duty truck imports.
- Rivian’s Disappointing Q2 Results:
- Continued challenges for the EV manufacturer.
Notable Quote:
“Almost in October already. So folks, stay tuned for a great show...” – Scott Luton [01:59]
[03:57] Kraft Heinz, AI, and the “Cookbook” Initiative
- Kraft Heinz is piloting an internal AI platform, the ‘Cookbook’, to capture 150 years of production knowledge for immediate use on the shop floor.
- The initiative aims to bridge the gap between experienced knowledge and new employees, moving from reactive to proactive operations.
- Gamification and employee engagement are central: AI isn’t for replacement but empowerment.
Notable Quote:
“It was almost like gamification... bringing the curiosity in the organization to life within the context of AI.” – Korai Kozay [03:57]
[05:18] Supply Chains and National Security
- Korai discussed giving a lecture at the George C. Marshall European Center about supply chain interdependence and NATO defense.
- Modern warfare reveals the strategic importance of resilient supply chains, especially with tech like F-35s, advanced drones, and the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
Notable Quote:
“Supply chains are critical as always, but even more nowadays when it's all about transformation with new technologies coming into our supply chains, especially from the security perspective.” – Korai Kozay [07:22]
[09:51] Guest Introduction: Katie Date of Manifest
Katie brings deep expertise from MIT’s Center for Transportation & Logistics and her continuing advocacy for women leaders in supply chain.
[10:42] Fun Icebreaker: Favorite Recent Movies
- Katie: Lilo & Stitch 2 (“...can’t wait till it comes out on Disney+ so that we can watch it, you know, 5,280 times a day.”)
- Korai: Moana (“...forced to watch Moana probably about 20 times by now.”)
- Scott: Superman (new edition, critically acclaimed in the Luton household)
[14:19] LinkedIn Workforce Confidence Survey: Leadership Trends
Key Findings:
- ~70% of US employees might leave their job due to a “bad boss”.
- 30% of individual contributors want to manage others—70% do not.
- 3 in 10 say their manager is too stressed to support them.
Insights:
- Leadership is pivotal in supply chain success or failure.
- Toxic environments are increasingly visible, especially in tech.
- Mobility in the job market is limited, amplifying the effects of poor leadership.
Notable Quotes:
- “Leadership is the hidden gear in the supply chain that keeps things moving.” – Katie Date [14:19]
- “Care about your people because they come front and center and then the technology and then the process comes correct.” – Korai Kozay [17:22]
[18:04] Kraft Heinz & AI: The Cookbook Case Study (Expanded)
- Kraft Heinz’s “Cookbook” AI aims to provide real-time, floor-level support, using tribal knowledge to respond to operator questions instantly.
- Challenges to scaling include data quality, legacy systems, and adoption.
Notable Quotes:
- “It’s about capturing that knowledge...and really putting it in the operator's hands real time.” – Katie Date [19:04]
- “This is fun to watch and interesting to see, it really needs to be two things: scalable, and then two, it has to have a business impact.” – Korai Kozay [20:23]
[21:58] Global AI Adoption: Is Europe Falling Behind?
World Economic Forum Findings:
- US leads global AI adoption in both innovation and private investment.
- EU is praised for regulatory leadership (AI Act) but lags in actual deployment and funding.
- Denmark, Sweden, and Belgium highlighted as relative leaders.
Insights:
- Katie: EU is innovative but too risk-averse, stalling progress through over-regulation.
- Korai: The complexity of EU regulation and lack of investment hold Europe back. US and China rapidly outpace Europe in producing AI models and attracting capital.
Notable Quotes:
- “Perfection often is the enemy of productivity...” – Katie Date [23:38]
- “AI is expensive...those numbers are actually explaining the lag. So it's not by surprise, it's by design.” – Korai Kozay [24:50]
[29:28] Building a Business Case for AI
- Many companies pursue AI for its own sake, without a clear business case.
- Advisors and consultancies may push hype over substance; pragmatic, value-driven implementations are needed.
Notable Quotes:
- “You have to have the business case and it has to come from the top down...team is not going to be able to apply it if there’s not a strong business case behind it.” – Katie Date [29:28]
- “Return on your intentions is quite negative because your intentions were really good, but the result... is really bad. So you have to flip that.” – Korai Kozay [31:50]
[32:00] Manufacturing Day & Future Talent
- Highlighting Manufacturing Day (first Friday of October) and the American Makers documentary.
- Shoutout to the WISE Future Leaders Symposium at University of Arkansas—demonstrating the next generation’s energy and impact.
[33:00] Events and Conferences: Shop Talk, Glob Sec, and More
- Katie: Shop Talk Fall’s appetite for supply chain was “standing room only”—retailers and brands seeking deeper SCM insights.
- Korai: Defense-oriented events like Glob Sec and London Defense Conference are crucial bridges between policymakers and supply chain experts.
Notable Quotes:
- “That’s where the people are that shape the policy that you currently react to. But you shouldn’t react, you should respond...” – Korai Kozay [34:34]
[38:23] Manifest 2026 Preview, with an Emphasis on Cold Chain
- Cold Chain Pavilion: Immersive, technology-rich. Big players like Mars featured.
- Trends:
- Shift from reactive to proactive via AI and digital twins.
- Sustainability/green refrigeration, micro-cold storage closer to cities.
- Pharma: Cell/gene therapies, new ultra-cold capabilities, and research toward less temperature-sensitive drugs.
Stats:
- Global cold chain logistics market: >$436B in 2025; could reach $1.3T by 2034 [40:04].
Notable Quotes:
- “For me the most kind of intriguing thing that's happening in the cold chain is this shift from reactive to proactive.” – Katie Date [38:23]
- “Cold chain capabilities, from technology to actual pragmatic operations, is key to any economy.” – Korai Kozay [41:46]
[42:32] What Else to Expect at Manifest 2026
- Returning to The Venetian, Las Vegas, February 9–11, 2026.
- Expanded expo floor and networking experiences—“more room to have fun.”
- New Hosted Shipper Program: travel incentives to attract shippers/teams.
- Audience and speaker quality continues to be “elevated.”
How to Connect:
- Katie Date: LinkedIn (easy to find with a red blazer in her photo).
- Korai Kozay: LinkedIn (or, humorously, the customer service desk at United Airlines).
Rule of Three for Conferences:
“Three significant contacts you made, three significant follow-ups you made, and three things that you learned and three things that you should better not have done.” – Korai Kozay [45:36]
Notable Quotes (with Attribution and Timestamps)
- “Leadership is the hidden gear in the supply chain that keeps things moving.” — Katie Date [14:19]
- “Care about your people because they come front and center and then the technology and then the process comes correct.” — Korai Kozay [17:22]
- “Perfection often is the enemy of productivity...” — Katie Date [23:38]
- “Those numbers are actually explaining the lag. So it's not by surprise, it's by design.” — Korai Kozay [24:50]
- “You have to have the business case...if there’s not a strong business case behind it.” — Katie Date [29:28]
- “Return on your intentions is quite negative...You have to flip that.” — Korai Kozay [31:50]
- “Shift from reactive to proactive via AI and digital twins...a huge leap in the resilience of the cold chain.” — Katie Date [38:23]
- “Rule of three: Three significant contacts, three follow-ups, three lessons, and three mistakes.” — Korai Kozay [45:36]
Segment Timestamps
- 00:38: Industry News Briefs & Newsletter Highlights
- 03:57: Kraft Heinz and AI “Cookbook”
- 05:18: Supply Chain Interdependence & National Security (Marshall Center speech)
- 09:51: Guest Segment: Katie Date Introduction
- 10:42: Fun Icebreaker: Recent Favorite Movies
- 14:19: LinkedIn Workforce Survey—Key Leadership Findings
- 18:04: Kraft Heinz AI Platform “Cookbook” Deep Dive
- 21:58: Europe & AI: World Economic Forum Article Discussion
- 29:28: AI Implementation: Business Cases & Risks
- 32:00: Manufacturing Day & WISE Symposium Shoutout
- 33:00: Events/Conferences: Shop Talk, Glob Sec, London Defense Conference
- 38:23: Manifest 2026 Preview: Cold Chain Innovations
- 42:32: What’s New at Manifest 2026
- 46:55: How to Connect with Guests
Overall Tone
Engaging, insightful, and conversational—mirroring the dynamic and practical focus of seasoned supply chain professionals passionate about people, innovation, and community.
For Listeners
- Invest in people-first leadership.
- Ground digital transformation in clear, pragmatic business cases.
- Don’t let “perfect” stall progress—experiment and iterate.
- Keep an eye on cold chain advancements.
- Attend and engage in cross-disciplinary events—Manifest 2026 is a hot ticket!
- Leverage your network—connect with Katie and Korai on LinkedIn.
For more, visit Supply Chain Now or connect with today’s panel on LinkedIn.