Art of Supply

17/07/2025

“We got from that 189 packages to $100 Billion because we're very analytical. We understand you have to change and to change means, particularly in this day and time, to innovate, and to innovate in this day and time, it means adoption of leading-edge technology.” - Fred Smith, Founder of FedEx (1944 - 2025)

🎧 https://artofprocurement.com/blog/supply-remembering-fred-smith-fedex-founder-supply-chain-visionary

On June 21, 2025, FedEx Founder Fred Smith passed away at the age of 80. In this episode of Art of Supply, Kelly Barner looks at Fred Smith’s many contributions from five decades in business.

Reflecting on Fred Smith's legacy, the visionary founder of FedEx who transformed supply chains and logistics through innovation and perseverance. Discover how his ideas reshaped an industry.

15/07/2025

It is possible to establish simple, safe, and cost effective network security in transportation and logistics?

Yes, says Ken Rutsky, CMO at Aryaka - if you are smart about it.

In the most recent edition of the Art of Supply newsletter, Ken joins Kelly Barner to discuss the findings of a new research report on the State of Network Security in Transportation & Logistics.

You'll hear what companies are most concerned about, how they are addressing those challenges, and how the concept of a 'network's edge' continues to shift and evolve.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/network-security-transportation-logistics-simpler-smarter-barner-0etec

10/07/2025

As the world becomes increasingly digital, companies face a critical challenge: ensuring network connectivity and cybersecurity—all while staying efficient. Nowhere is this more complex than in the transportation and logistics sector.

🎧 https://artofprocurement.com/blog/supply-how-transportation-logistics-companies-are-tackling-network-security

In this week’s Art of Supply, Kelly Barner speaks with Ken Rutsky, Chief Marketing Officer at Aryaka, about their recently released Network Security Trends in Transportation and Logistics report.

Transportation and logistics firms are redefining network security, balancing mobility and protection while addressing cost and AI challenges. Discover insights from industry leaders on evolving security measures.

09/07/2025

Rather than regulating the vehicles that create emissions - because they've been knocked back by the Federal government - California is now regulating the locations vehicles visit - most often, warehouses.

The Warehouse Actions and Investments to Reduce Emissions Program (known as WAIRE) and the Warehouse Indirect Source Rule (ISR) take a new and creative approach to regulating emissions.

Depending on your point of view, they are either:

- Creating incentives for warehouses to put pressure on 3PLs to reduce their emissions, or

- Raising the operating costs for warehouses that don't reduce their customers' emissions.

In this edition of the Art of Supply newsletter, Kelly Barner looks at how indirect source rules work - and whether they will work based on California's plans for implementation and enforcement.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/california-we-cant-ban-truck-well-bill-warehouse-kelly-barner-rh20e

08/07/2025

The STCA is thrilled to announce its July Business Member Spotlight - Art of Procurement, a Shrewsbury based company owned by Shrewsbury native Kelly Barner⭐️✨

Not only is Art of Procurement a Business Member Sponsor but they have been a major sponsor of the past two Yuletide Market/Light the Common events.

Kelly Barner got a high school job at Stop & Shop on Route 9 in Shrewsbury, she never imagined she was laying the groundwork for her future career. Kelly went on to work at the company’s corporate offices in Quincy and Braintree as part of the ‘not-for-resale’ procurement team, where she was responsible for buying all of the services that make supermarkets run: window cleaning, pest control, snow removal, and more.

Today, Kelly co-owns Art of Procurement with fellow career procurement pro Philip Ideson. Art of Procurement is the leading source of trusted, actionable, peer-driven insights for forward-thinking procurement leaders. They produce 6 podcasts, including the #1 procurement podcast worldwide, and have earned 1.5 million downloads to date.

Art of Supply, Kelly’s weekly show, covers procurement and supply chain stories ripped from the headlines and has featured guests such as the Attorney General of Nebraska, a Senior Vice President at Walmart Business, and the number one trade lobbyist to India. Kelly is a LinkedIn Top Voice and was selected to participate in the LinkedIn Creator Accelerator and Podcast Academy programs, helping her build an online following nearly 30,000 strong.

But having a huge global community is a little bit like not having a community at all. When the opportunity arose to join the Shrewsbury Town Center Association – and help sponsor the annual Yuletide Market and Light the Common – it was a no-brainer. Every year when those lights go up, global work has a local and very personal impact… a gift back to the community Kelly loves so much.

You may not think about procurement and supply chain daily, although “Where is my stuff?” became a common question during the pandemic and everyone benefits from well-plowed supermarket parking lots. The work of these professionals affects every business and government entity we interact with.

Art of Procurement is proud to support the Shrewsbury Town Center Association, inviting everyone to join us in ‘imagining the art of the possible’ – locally and worldwide.

03/07/2025

In May, the U.S. Senate voted to strip California of its ability to impose tougher emissions standards on heavy duty trucks and ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035.

🎧 https://artofprocurement.com/blog/supply-down-but-not-out-californias-fight-to-regulate-emissions

California may be down, but they are certainly not out. They are using other creative ways to regulate the emissions associated with logistics.

In this episode of Art of Supply, Kelly Barner looks at the Warehouse Indirect Source Rule (ISR) - California’s latest effort to reduce (or at least regulate) emissions by making warehouses accountable instead of fleet owners.

California's innovative emissions regulations target logistics indirectly, focusing on warehouse activities to reduce pollution and drive change. Will it succeed? Find out more in our latest blog.

01/07/2025

Digital procurement creates records of everything, making it easier to uncover unusual patterns - especially with the help of AI.
🎧 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/million-dollar-services-procurement-loophole-kelly-barner-nfwje

Intel Corporation was allegedly robbed of nearly $1M by an IT component buyer and supplier, through the traditional procurement process... $20,000 per week... for a year.

All of our technological innovations and societal progress haven’t caused human beings to be any less… um… creative in the face of shady opportunities. Future conspirators will have to be more sophisticated to take advantage of equally (or more) lucrative weak points, but I'm sure they will be willing to try.

In this edition of the Art of Supply newsletter, Kelly Barner covers a masterfully simple scheme that used a standard procurement process and poor services spend oversight to turn means and motive into ill-gotten opportunity.

26/06/2025

Just a few weeks ago, we learned about an alleged scheme between a now-former Intel Israel employee and one of their component suppliers to steal roughly 3 million Israeli shekels (NIS), or about $842,000 USD.

🎧 https://artofprocurement.com/blog/supply-a-procurement-crime-at-intel-loopholes-and-lessons-learned

In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner covers how a buyer and a supplier pulled off an alleged fraud that lasted for a year as well as the process loopholes and missing oversight that allowed them to get away with it for so long.

Uncover the details of a procurement fraud at Intel Israel, the loopholes exploited, and the lessons learned to prevent similar vulnerabilities in your organization.

24/06/2025

"Blessed are the peacemakers..." Kate Vitasek, Jim Groton, Ellen Waldman, and Allen Waxman remind us at the start of their new book.

But who are the peacemakers? Are they the people who address uncomfortable points early, avoiding disputes, or are they sitting quietly - hoping the problem will pass with time?

In this edition of the Art of Supply newsletter, Kelly Barner shares a multimedia review of “Preventing the Dispute Before It Begins: Proven Mechanisms for Fostering Better Business Relationships.”

Read, listen, or watch to discover more from this excellent book!

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/preventing-disputes-embracing-conflict-kelly-barner-98ogc

19/06/2025

Dispute resolution is a topic of great interest to procurement, but it is also very human, forcing us to look at business relationships from their most troubled moments and finding resources to help teams and individuals stay away from the trouble.

https://artofprocurement.com/blog/supply-prioritizing-dispute-prevention-over-problem-solving

“Preventing the Dispute Before It Begins: Proven Mechanisms for Fostering Better Business Relationships,” co-authored by Kate Vitasek, James Groton, Ellen Waldman, and Allen Waxman, takes on this surprisingly neglected topic.

Listen in to learn how procurement professionals can apply language, relationships, and courage to prevent disputes before they begin.

Learn how preventing disputes can foster better business relationships, reduce costs, and build stronger teams through proactive measures and emotional intelligence.

17/06/2025

Purely the domain of 'policy wonks' in the past, trade and lobbying are now a never-ending source of BREAKING NEWS! from Washington D.C.

But what does that mean a trade lobbyist's day is like right now?

To find out, Kelly Barner called up Samir N. Kapadia, Managing Principal at Vogel Group and Founder and CEO at India Index. He graciously provided a behind-the-scenes look at his average day, illustrated through stories of the companies and business owners navigating today's complex trade environment.

Read, listen, or watch for more on:
- Whether tariff exemptions are ever granted
- What lobbyists work to secure for their clients
- How to make an argument that resonates at the Federal level

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/lobbying-increased-empathy-global-trade-kelly-barner-vzeze

We couldn’t escape headlines about trade these days if we wanted to, and depending on the day and the way the winds are blowing, plenty of people would love to escape. But even with a front row seat from here in supply chain, we’re still in the audience, watching the drama play out near and far.

12/06/2025

Supply chain professionals have always had to keep a close eye on trade–both the policies and the geopolitical happenings that affect it. But with tariffs launching trade-related topics to the top of the news cycle, all of us have learned something new.

🎧 https://artofprocurement.com/blog/supply-high-velocity-and-high-volume-lessons-on-lobbying-and-trade

In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner speaks with Samir N. Kapadia, Managing Principal at Vogel Group and Founder and CEO at India Index, about the high velocity world of lobbying and trade.

Learn more about India Index here: https://indiaindex.com/

Navigating the complexities of global trade, Samir Kapadia offers insights on lobbying, trade policies, and the strategic alliances shaping today's supply chains.