MIT Supply Chain Frontiers

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Oct 2026

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Thought leadership on all things supply chain from the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics.

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October 20, 2026Episode 4637 min

Sustainability Under Pressure: AI, Geopolitics, and the Path Forward

Recorded live at Climate Week NYC, this episode explores the 2026 State of Supply Chain Sustainability Report from the MIT Sustainable Supply Chain Lab at the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics. Drawing on 1,810 responses from professionals in 91 countries, the report finds that 83% of respondents rate sustainability as important to long-term business success. However, 68% report that tariff uncertainty has forced them to delay, scale back, or compromise elements of their sustainability strategies. This conversation looks at current progress, where the constraints are tightening, and why greater efficiency and intelligence do not automatically lead to a smaller environmental footprint. Moderated by report author Dr. Sreedevi Rajagopalan, the panel brings together Rachel Schwalbach of C.H. Robinson, Philippine de T'Serclaes of Dassault Systèmes, Séverine Perrin of CO2 AI, and Heather Ewing of Breakthrough. The discussion moves through four themes. On governance, the panel examines why only 51% of companies with public sustainability goals have a formal cross-functional team and only 33% have board-level oversight. On where sustainability lives in the supply chain, they discuss why it is strongest in transportation, procurement, and warehousing, and weaker in network design and capital investment. On AI, they explore how Industrial and Agentic AI are improving efficiency and emissions measurement, and why, among mature users, nearly one in three reports that total emissions have risen. On freight and warehousing, they assess why 43% of fleets still run mostly or entirely on diesel, how Europe and North America are diverging on policy and investment, and why many automated warehouses report higher energy use and waste. Read the full report here .

September 17, 2026Episode 4541 min

Making Supply Chain Resilience the Default Design: Lessons from Humanitarian Logistics

When disaster strikes, the response is far more complex than mobilizing aid and supplies. In this episode, we explore how supply chains function as critical infrastructure in humanitarian crises and why understanding them as interconnected systems of systems is essential to saving lives and rebuilding communities. Joining the discussion is Dr. Jarrod Goentzel, founder and director of the MIT Humanitarian Supply Chain Lab at the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics. Drawing on over two decades of real-world crisis response experience, from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami to the Liberia Ebola outbreak to post-wildfire housing reconstruction, Dr. Goentzel reveals why single-point interventions fail and how systems thinking transforms emergency response. The conversation spans four critical domains: the port bottlenecks that reveal hidden supply chain dependencies, post-disaster housing as an industrial manufacturing challenge, medical supply chain surge capacity during pandemics, and fuel as the foundational commodity enabling all disaster response. Dr. Goentzel also discusses the practical opportunities within the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act for building resilience by design and how communities can collectively demand supply chains that meet human needs before the next crisis.

August 20, 2026Episode 4453 min

Building Global Supply Chain Leaders: Inside the MIT Global SCALE Network

Supply chains are inherently global, shaped by geopolitical dynamics, regional market complexities, and the interconnected movement of goods across continents. As such, preparing the next generation of supply chain leaders demands immersive, culturally-grounded education that reflects real-world challenges from multiple perspectives. In this episode, we're joined by directors of the MIT Global SCALE Network's international centers: Jay Guo from the Ningbo China Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (NISCI), Chris Mejía Argueta from the Graduate Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (GCLOG) and the SCALE Network for Latin America, Daniel Prato from the Center for Latin American Logistics Innovation (CLI), Rafael de Miguel González from the Zaragoza Logistics Center (ZLC), Jan Godsell from the UK SCALE Center at Loughborough University, and Maria Jesús Saénz from the MIT Supply Chain Management (SCM) Master’s programs. Together, they explore why global education in supply chain management is essential, how regional centers drive innovation rooted in local industry needs, and how collaboration across universities worldwide transforms research into measurable impact on companies and communities.

July 21, 2026Episode 4329 min

The Latest Technology in Freight Transportation with Samsara

Freight companies face increasing pressure to adopt AI, but which technology is actually working on the road? This episode examines critical findings from ground-level freight operations, revealing why Excel remains the dominant tool despite digital transformation efforts, and why data quality, not AI sophistication, remains the biggest bottleneck constraining freight efficiency. Joining tech journalist Jason Del Rey are Dr. Angi Acocella, Research Scientist in the FreightLab at the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics, and David Gal, Vice President of Product and Engineering for Connected Equipment at Samsara, on a panel held at Samsara Beyond 2026 in Las Vegas. The conversation explores practical solutions shaping the freight industry today, including Bluetooth-enabled tracking labels for high-value shipments and how AI-powered geofencing is improving driver safety without replacing human oversight. From dynamic pricing mechanisms to how forward-thinking carriers are using AI agents to augment driver performance, this episode reveals what freight leaders should actually be investing in and where to be cautious.

June 17, 2026Episode 4246 min

Automating Warehouse Inventory with Drones: An MIT SCM Capstone Project

Warehouse automation is often evaluated through an operational lens in terms of productivity gains, labor efficiency, and accuracy improvements. Yet the environmental impact of technologies like drone-based inventory systems remains poorly understood. In this episode, we explore how a capstone project conducted with Verity, a warehouse automation company, and graduate students in the MIT Supply Chain Management (SCM) program quantified the real sustainability benefits of replacing manual forklift-based inventory counting with drones. Joining the discussion are Tommaso Portaluri, Sustainability Lead at Verity; Camilo Mora, Postdoctoral Associate at the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics (CTL); and Elisa Ruiz, an MIT SCM alum who worked on the project. Together, they reveal a surprising finding: inventory write-offs and waste reduction account for nearly 40% of post-implementation emissions savings, far outweighing energy savings alone. Through their analysis, they demonstrate how information quality and operational efficiency are intertwined levers for decarbonization, and why inventory management deserves a place at the center of warehouse sustainability strategies. You can read the full findings of the capstone project here and learn more about MIT SCM capstone projects here .

March 18, 2026Episode 4149 min

The State of AI in Warehousing and Omnichannel

AI is “not optional anymore” in large-scale warehouses and omnichannel operations, as it’s becoming foundational to how they function at scale. In this episode, we explore key findings from the State of AI in Warehousing Report and the 2026 State of Omnichannel Supply Chain Report, examining how companies are moving beyond pilots to real-world deployment. From inventory optimization and automated picking to real-time decision-making, AI is transforming operations as pressure grows for faster, more precise, and more flexible fulfillment. Joining the discussion are Dr. Matthias Winkenbach, Director of the MIT Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab, Dr. Eva Ponce, Director of the MIT Omnichannel Supply Chain Lab, and Alejandro Gonzalez, Software Business Unit Director at Mecalux. They break down what’s driving widespread AI adoption, where companies are seeing the fastest return on investment, and how omnichannel growth is increasing complexity across supply chains. The conversation also explores the rise of autonomous mobile robots, shifting workforce roles, and what’s next, from generative AI to agentic systems capable of real-time decision-making.

February 18, 2026Episode 4040 min

Decarbonizing Supply Chains with C.H. Robinson

As climate-related disruptions and regulatory pressures intensify, corporate sustainability is a core strategic necessity for all operations of global firms. In this episode, we discuss how companies are navigating the complex transition toward decarbonization while upholding efficiency and affordability. Joining the discussion are Dr. Sreedevi Rajagopalan and Tori Arnold from the MIT Sustainable Supply Chain Lab, alongside Rachel Schwalbach, Vice President of ESG at C.H. Robinson, and Brittany Brama, Sustainability Director at C.H. Robinson. From the complexities of Scope 3 data collection to the practical implementation of alternative fuels and "book and claim" models, they examine how their collaboration between academia and industry is turning sustainability research into measurable impact.

January 20, 2026Episode 3944 min

Beyond the Hype: Decoding AI in Supply Chains

Artificial Intelligence is frequently hailed as a transformative force for global supply chains, yet the gap between technological promise and operational reality remains a central challenge for industry leaders. In this episode, host Dr. Matthias Winkenbach, Director of Research at MIT CTL, leads a nuanced discussion on the transition from AI hype to the implementation of functional "decision technology." Joining the discussion are three researchers from MIT CTL who bring diverse perspectives to the AI landscape. Willem Guter of the MIT Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab unpacks the intersection of machine learning and traditional optimization in warehouse robotics, while Dr. Elenna Dugundji, director of the MIT Deep Knowledge for Supply Chain and Logistics Lab, explains the evolution of demand forecasting and the importance of "deep knowledge" in predictive modeling. Dr. Bryan Reimer, founder of the MIT AgeLab’s Advanced Vehicle Technology Consortium, rounds out the discussion by addressing the critical human factor in autonomous systems. Together, they examine the future of AI in sourcing and procurement, the complexities of human-AI interaction, and the necessity of building decision-support tools that are grounded in real-world application rather than speculative promise.

December 17, 2025Episode 3854 min

Why So Much Food is Lost: Inside Global Food Supply Chains

Global food systems produce more than enough to feed the world—yet nearly one-third of all food is lost or wasted. Much of that loss happens far upstream, driven by perishability, cold chain failures, infrastructure gaps, climate pressures, and supply chain inefficiencies that span continents. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Chris Mejía, founder and director of the MIT Emerging Market Economies Logistics Lab, along with Drs. David Hidalgo and Mauricio Gámez, researchers who model solutions for supply chain issues. They unpack why food supply chains are uniquely vulnerable to disruption, especially in emerging markets, and where the biggest opportunities exist to reduce loss. From circular economy models and food recovery strategies to AI-driven forecasting, optimization, and community-based distribution networks, the conversation explores how better logistics, smarter data, and cross-sector collaboration can help redesign food supply chains that are more resilient, sustainable, and equitable.

November 18, 2025Episode 3741 min

Weaponized Supply Chains: U.S.-China Trade and National Security

Rising geopolitical tensions and global trade volatility have revealed a key power struggle: supply chains are a matter of national security. This year’s annual report from the congressional U.S.–China Economic and Security Review Commission warns that China has begun weaponizing key supply chain chokepoints, from critical minerals to foundational semiconductors, creating risks that reach far beyond trade. In this episode, we’re joined by Livia Shmavonian and Josh Hodges, two commissioners of the U.S.–China Economic and Security Review Commission, along with Professor Yossi Sheffi, Director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics. They discuss key findings from this year’s report: why companies have been slow to recognize the strategic nature of their dependence on China, how subsidies and overcapacity distort global competition, and why innovation remains the United States’ greatest advantage. From U.S. manufacturing limitations to critical mineral processing to market access in China, the conversation explores what’s at stake, what must change, and how companies and policymakers can prepare for a future where supply chain strategy is inseparable from national security. You can read the full report here .