Supply Chain Now – Episode Summary

The NOW Generation: Discovering Hidden Opportunities in Supply Chain Management

Podcast: Supply Chain Now
Host: Scott Luton
Date: March 5, 2025
Guests:

• Kevin Lawton (Adjunct Professor, Rider University; Host, The New Warehouse Podcast)
• Aiden Clements (Junior, Rider University, Supply Chain & Accounting)
• Chase Tomlinson (Junior, Rider University, Global Supply Chain & Business Data Analytics)

Overview

This episode, part of the “NOW Generation” series, spotlights the rising stars of supply chain. Host Scott Luton welcomes Rider University’s Kevin Lawton (educator and industry practitioner), and standout students Aiden Clements and Chase Tomlinson. The conversation explores how the next generation is forging new paths, uncovering hidden opportunities, and elevating both the efficacy and sustainability of global supply chains.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introductions & Background

• Kevin Lawton’s Journey (09:07–12:58)
  • From Rider University student (entrepreneurial studies major) to warehousing practitioner, eventual fulfillment entrepreneur, podcast founder, and adjunct professor.
  • “I started in the supply chain side, actually as a temp...Worked there in inventory control...really enjoyed it—all the problem solving and figuring out inventory discrepancies…” (Kevin Lawton, 09:30)
• Student Intros & Local Flavor (04:02–08:18)
  • Aiden hails from Jim Thorpe, PA (“the small Switzerland of America”).
  • Chase is from Monroe Township, NJ (“dead center” of the state, “ton of warehouses”).

2. Hidden Concentrations & Opportunities in Supply Chain (15:43–20:07)

• Chase’s Perspective:
  • Fascination with the breadth of roles (“hidden concentrations”)—from warehousing to procurement, sourcing, and beyond.
  • “Once again, those concentrations: If you’re in warehouse, are you going to stay in warehousing, or do you move over to procurement or sourcing? And it’s just how you’re able to bounce around.” (Chase, 15:43)
• Kevin’s Response:
  • Emphasizes interconnectedness and diversity of opportunities: “There’s so many different directions you can go in...once you’re in supply chain, it’s pretty easy to shift to another part...there’s a lot of interconnectedness.” (Kevin, 17:01–18:13)
• Packaging as a Hidden Field:
  • Scott notes how packaging, with its role in sustainability and consumer experience, remains underexposed.

3. The Growing Importance of Sustainability (20:56–25:05)

• Aiden’s Insight:
  • Sustainability as essential: Reducing waste equals cutting costs; intrigued by CHEP’s circular pallet system.
  • “If you reduce waste, you’re reducing costs as well. And a big part of this sustainability, like something specifically that interested me was this company called CHEP…” (Aiden, 20:56)
• Kevin’s Take:
  • Modern sustainability as cost-saving, not just ethics. Smaller packaging = fewer trucks = less air shipped.
  • “Steps towards sustainability allow you to also decrease cost and be more efficient...reducing that air inside the shipping boxes...ultimately use less trucks because you’re shipping less air.” (Kevin, 21:59)
• Energy Reckoning with AI:
  • Scott and Kevin discuss the environmental impact of AI’s growing power consumption on supply chain and broader industries.

4. Consumer Mindset & Sustainability Choices (27:35–30:51)

• Do Students Factor Sustainability into Purchases?
  • Aiden: “If it’s only a couple cents higher...that’ll have me pick that product over something else...If it’s a couple bucks though, now we’re kind of pushing it.”
  • Chase: Praises Amazon’s order grouping and options to consolidate shipments for sustainability.
• Kevin’s Observation:
  • Applauds user agency in Amazon’s model: “Giving the power to the consumer...is a great way to start to not just do it as a business, but then start that consumer thinking a little bit differently as well.” (Kevin, 29:33)
• Call for Consumer Mindset Shift:
  • Scott: “I bet...do we really need that new pair of socks in two hours?...That’s the mindset I think we got to shift...”

5. Student Career Aspirations & The Change They Hope to Drive (31:42–37:58)

• Aiden:
  • Split between international sourcing/procurement and process improvement roles.
  • “I love solving problems...I would love to do something targeted towards sustainability—try to think of new ways to lower those costs, increase efficiency, but also do more for the environment.” (Aiden, 32:35)
• Chase:
  • Leveraging business data analytics in customer demand planning.
  • “One of the things that I’ve been really interested in is definitely customer demand...using the numbers to support and help thrive the rest of the processes.” (Chase, 34:57)
• Kevin’s Advice:
  • “Coming into the supply chain world today and not having any reference of analytics or the importance of data...is not necessarily the best position to start in.” (Kevin, 36:15)

6. The Rider University Supply Chain Experience (38:36–43:16)

• Kevin on Experiential Learning:
  • Value of seeing former students return as employers, full-circle impact.
• Chase’s Take:
  • Post-COVID era presents diverse student body and robust opportunities; values peer and faculty engagement, and resilience from “losing 10 elections” but gaining wide experience.
• Aiden on Curriculum:
  • Business foundation: “They make you take a whole course of just every single function within business...accounting, supply chain, marketing, data analytics...”
  • Required internships/co-ops give essential real-world experience: “Internships will absolutely kickstart your career in college.”

7. Eye-Opening Discussion: Returns & Reverse Logistics (44:13–46:03)

• Kevin’s Teaching Moment:
  • The outsized waste and cost of product returns often shocks students.
  • “A lot of times companies...either just going to donate it or it’s going to end up in the landfill somewhere...you get something and it’s not right and the company just says like, ‘Oh, we’ll keep it...’ because it costs them less to allow you to keep it than it’s going to cost them to bring it back, process it and get it through the return process.” (Kevin, 44:13–46:03)

8. Looking Ahead: Networking, Conferences & The Value of Community (46:46–50:18)

• Kevin’s Excitement:
  • Conferences and networking: American Supply Chain Summit, Promat, and the “Warehousing After Dark” series.
  • “That’s always exciting...continuing to pump out that next 560 episodes...Warehousing After Dark...in person at Promat...” (Kevin, 46:46–47:42)
• Scott’s Advice:
  • The power of networking is essential—“You gotta dig your well before you’re thirsty.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you reduce waste, you’re reducing costs as well.” —Aiden Clements, 20:56
• “There’s so many different directions you can go in [in supply chain]...once you’re in, it’s pretty easy to shift to another part...there’s a lot of interconnectedness.” —Kevin Lawton, 17:01
• “Giving the power to the consumer...is a great way to not just do it as a business, but start that consumer thinking a little bit differently.” —Kevin Lawton, 29:33
• “Internships will absolutely kickstart your career in college.” —Aiden Clements, 43:11
• “You gotta dig your well before you’re thirsty. And that really applies to networking, because you’re going to need it sooner than you think...” —Scott Luton, 48:18

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Kevin’s background & podcasting journey — 09:07–12:58
• Student intros and local pride — 04:02–08:18
• Hidden concentrations in supply chain — 15:43–20:07
• Sustainability focus and innovations — 20:56–25:05
• Consumer mindset on sustainability — 27:35–30:51
• Student aspirations & impact — 31:42–37:58
• Returns and reverse logistics — 44:13–46:03
• Rider University’s program highlights — 38:36–43:16
• Advice on networking and career growth — 46:46–50:18

Conclusion

This episode is a rich, candid exploration of where supply chain is headed, as seen through the eyes of those inheriting its future. With an emphasis on adaptability, sustainability, and the power of hands-on learning, the panel underscores that the “NOW Generation” is ready—and already making waves.

Call to Action:
Support, empower, and engage the upcoming generation of supply chain professionals—they’re poised to transform the industry.