Inside the Data Center Boom and the Component Supply Ecosystem

In this episode, Todd Snow, Chief Procurement Officer and Mark Bollinger, Chief Administrative Officer at Smith, discuss how shifting global trade rules are reshaping semiconductor compliance, from export controls and tariffs to traceability and vendor vetting. They share practical ways procurement teams can stay prepared through risk-based processes, staff training and clear communication.

In this episode of Supply Chain Connect, Blue Yonder’s Puneet Saxena explains the supply chain behind keeping hyperscale data centers running – from managing critical spare parts and transportation to balancing uptime with cost. Saxena discusses how pooled inventory, real-time visibility, and connected planning and execution can help teams respond when reality diverges from the plan. The conversation also explores how these lessons apply to supply chains across industries. Visit us online at SupplyChainConnect.com!

In this episode, Supply Chain Connect breaks down the most recent $500 million federal investment from the U.S. Department of Energy, which is aimed at strengthening domestic critical mineral processing, battery manufacturing and recycling. The initiative highlights the ongoing effort to build a more resilient U.S. battery supply chain while reducing reliance on overseas sources for critical materials. Visit us online at SupplyChainConnect.com!

September brought a new wave of challenges for supply chains, from sharply higher diesel prices and changing U.S. tariffs to growing concerns over semiconductor labor and memory chip shortages. This episode breaks down the month’s key developments and what they could mean for transportation costs, trade, manufacturing capacity and the broader electronics supply chain. Visit us online at SupplyChainConnect.com!

In this episode of Supply Chain Connect, host Tyler Fussner sits down with Jan Sigmund, CEO of Log-hub, to explore how advanced analytics and optimization tools are being democratized for everyday supply chain planners. Sigmund discusses the practical roles of classical AI, generative AI and emerging agentic systems in data preparation, scenario analysis and decision support. Sigmund also shares a forward-looking view of which supply chain activities will be automated in the coming years and why human oversight will remain critical for high-impact decisions. Visit us online at SupplyChainConnect.com!

In this episode of Supply Chain Connect, Orbweaver CEO and co-founder Christopher Ciesielka unpacks the realities of digital transformation in the electronic component distribution space. Ciesielka explains why the industry still lags other sectors, the critical role of clean, evergreen part data and how APIs and automation are reshaping quoting, procurement and inventory management. He also shares a grounded view on AI, noting where it truly adds value, where its risks lie and what will separate digital leaders from laggards in the years ahead. Visit us online at SupplyChainConnect.com!

Jose Veloza, Vice President of Supplier & Market Development at Air Cost Control, joins Supply Chain Connect to unpack how the aerospace electronic component market is moving from a prolonged “reset” into a recovery. Veloza explains the indicators his team watches most closely, from lead times and OTD to flight and production rates, and how lessons from COVID are reshaping diversification, pricing and supplier relationships. Veloza also shares how AI, digital transparency and mounting geopolitical risk are redefining what it takes for distributors to stay both scalable and nimble. Visit us online at SupplyChainConnect.com!

In this episode of Supply Chain Connect, Randy Sadler, President and CEO of Weidmuller USA, breaks down how AI, automation and the data center boom are reshaping the electronic component market. Sadler explains the shift toward decentralized manufacturing, new demands from hyperscale data centers and how innovations like pre-assembled DIN rail assemblies and snap-in wiring are speeding time to market. Sadler also shares his outlook on future factory automation and what will separate leading manufacturers from the rest. Visit us online at SupplyChainConnect.com!

Electronic component distributors are under pressure to move faster, work smarter and modernize legacy systems or risk falling behind. In this episode, Rocco Troiano, President of Axiom Software, explains how AI, automation, APIs and clean data are transforming manual workflows like quoting, sourcing and requirement gathering into streamlined, high-speed processes. Troiano also breaks down the cultural and implementation roadblocks holding companies back and what forward-thinking distributors are doing differently to compete with industry giants. Visit us online at SupplyChainConnect.com!

Tom Kuhl, Vice President of Digital Experience at Murata, joins Supply Chain Connect to break down the state of electronic component manufacturing amid AI-driven demand, data center growth and ongoing geopolitical disruption. Kuhl explains how Murata uses analytics and digital tools for smarter demand sensing, inventory planning and customer engagement. The conversation also explores evolving expectations from engineers for self-service access to technical data and lifecycle insight across the supply chain. Visit us online at SupplyChainConnect.com!