The Secret Sauce: Tips for Leaders that Want to Scale AI Effectively

AI in the supply chain has moved well beyond the pilot stage, but for many organizations, it still hasn't moved far enough.

In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott W. Luton, together with co-host Jorge Morales, Global COO of ISCEA, is joined by Prabhat Pinnaka, Lead Product Manager for Supply Chain at Lowe's Companies, Inc., and Advisory Board Member at ISCEA for a practical, been-there-done-that deep dive on AI-driven supply chain transformation. From what separates organizations that actually scale AI from those stuck in endless experimentation, to the guardrails every enterprise needs before letting AI execute autonomously, Prabhat brings a hard-won perspective from working with Fortune 50 companies across fulfillment, warehouse operations, and enterprise decision support. Jorge adds his lens on what it means to be AI-competent, not just AI-aware, and why that distinction will define the next generation of supply chain professionals.

The conversation spans the full arc: change management, data integrity, bonded autonomy, and what it looks like when AI shifts a DC manager's role from operational execution to strategic governance. If you're navigating your own AI journey or building the next generation of supply chain talent, this one's for you.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(06:03) Prabhat's career: lessons in adoption

(08:29) AI competence: finding the sweet spot

(11:26) Building AI foundations for success

(18:21) Moving AI from pilots to scale

(23:50) Recommendations vs. execution in AI use

(28:04) Establishing guardrails for autonomous AI

(33:44) Computer vision example in supply chain

(47:06) Getting AI competent in six months

Additional Links & Resources:

• Connect with Prabhat Pinnaka: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prabhat-pinnaka-a9549421/
• Connect with Jorge Morales: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgeamorales/
• Learn more about Lowe’s Companies, Inc.: https://www.lowes.com/
• Learn more about ISCEA: https://www.iscea.org/
• Learn more about SCTechShow: https://www.sctechshow.com/
• Learn more about our hosts: https://supplychainnow.com/about
• Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
• Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
• Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
• Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://supplychainnow.com/media-kit/
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• WEBINAR- From AI Pilots to Performance: How Supply Chain Leaders Are Scaling Agentic AI: https://bit.ly/49hCqIq
• WEBINAR- Amazon Supply Chain 101: Enabling efficiency and growth for businesses everywhere–and everywhere they sell: https://bit.ly/49r8N7D

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/secret-sauce-tips-leaders-want-scale-ai-effectively-1583

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