The Supply Chaney Podcast
Learn from the experience and expertise of people across the supply chain industry, from those who drive results today to those innovating for a better tomorrow. The podcast supports Supply Chaney’s mission to be a connected, creative, and capable supply chain resource and a respected member of the supply chain community.
The Supply Chaney Podcast
Ep. 111 - Supply Chain Visibility with Tom Strain
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In this episode, Tom Strain from Surgere shares his journey from a childhood fascination with technology to leading innovative supply chain visibility solutions. We explore the evolution of data, AI's role in transforming industries, and the importance of human wisdom in leveraging technology effectively.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Tom Strain and Surgere
02:30 Tom's childhood, sports, and early interests in technology
04:07 Growing up in Youngstown, Ohio, and family values
05:04 Tom's education and early career at General Motors
06:57 Transition to healthcare and international experience
08:48 Return to automotive industry and software leadership
12:14 First car stories and early influences
14:03 Reflections on Y2K and technological challenges
17:49 Insights on data, AI, and the future of technology
23:08 The concept of knowledge, wisdom, and AI's role
25:11 Tom's role at Surgere and supply chain visibility
28:08 Managing large data volumes and AI automation
31:02 The evolution of AI in supply chain solutions
32:51 Defining supply chain visibility and its significance
36:03 The future of AI, data, and human wisdom in business
36:58 Closing thoughts and key takeaways from Tom
Surgere is the official sponsor of The Supply Chaney Podcast for 2026. Surgere’s singular focus is building AI-powered, frictionless supply chains that result in real time, end-to-end visibility with 99.9% accuracy for partners and customers.