Last month, Bristlecone co-hosted the 2025 Rutgers Supply Chain Analytics Institute Annual Conference. Nearly 300 attendees from leading companies and universities gathered for two days of honest conversations and big ideas, all centered on one of the most urgent topics in our industry: how AI is helping build resilient, adaptive, and intelligent supply chains.
I had the chance to moderate a panel on “How AI is Shaping Manufacturing Industries.” It was a great discussion featuring insights from Dorman Products, Carpenter, Rutgers University, and Bristlecone. What stood out was how practical the conversation was. These were real stories about how AI is changing not just the work itself, but how people think, plan, and solve problems on the shop floor. The session was dynamic, occasionally humorous, and full of takeaways that felt relevant and actionable.
Across the Aisles: Key Takeaways from the Conference
Throughout the two days, a few common themes echoed across industries and functions:
1
Next Gen AI is no longer on the horizon; it is here now. From predictive maintenance to smarter inventory planning, organizations are already seeing measurable results.
2
Talent is at the heart of transformation. Upskilling, change management, and cross-functional collaboration emerged as top priorities.
3
Data is the most valuable raw material in today’s supply chains. Companies are investing in platforms that help legacy systems and emerging technologies work together to unlock value.
4
Students and young professionals are eager to engage. Many spoke about their excitement in seeing AI applied to real-world supply chain problems and their interest in future careers in this space.
5
The biggest question is not whether AI will replace humans. It is whether we are ready to work alongside it. One comment captured this perfectly: “AI won’t replace you. But someone using AI will.”
Bristlecone’s Perspective
At Bristlecone, we know supply chains do not wait for the future. They are constantly evolving to meet what comes next. And AI is a big part of that evolution.
What we are seeing now is not about experimenting with AI in isolated pockets. It is about making it work for the business through faster planning cycles, smarter operations, and better alignment of people and technology. When we design solutions, the goal is simple: deliver outcomes that matter.
Our clients are not wondering if they should use AI. They are asking how to use it in a way that makes sense for their teams, their operations, and their customers, and how to do it responsibly without losing sight of the bigger picture.
That is what excites me most. It is not the tech itself. It is what we can solve with it, and how we help people lead through the change.
A Space We Need and Are Building
One thing became abundantly clear at the conference: there are very few, if any, dedicated platforms that focus purely on the intersection of AI and supply chain. That is precisely the gap Bristlecone set out to address when we teamed up with Rutgers. This was not just another event. It was a deliberate move to build the forum the industry has been missing.
And we are not stopping here. We are laying the foundation for an ongoing platform that brings together the brightest minds in AI and supply chain. Practitioners, academics, technology leaders, and future talent can come together to exchange ideas, challenge the status quo, and shape what comes next.
At Bristlecone, we are not passively participating in this space. We are claiming it. Leading it. Owning it. The stake we are putting in the ground is clear. This conversation needs leadership, and we are stepping up to drive it. Not because it is easy, but because it is necessary. And right now, no one else is doing it with this level of clarity, purpose, and conviction.
A Time to Listen, Learn, and Lead
If there is one thing this conference reinforced, it is that none of us are doing this alone. The best ideas came from listening to peers, students, customers, and partners across the industry. Building supply chains that are resilient and ready for what comes next requires all of us—companies, universities, technology providers—working together.
I walked away from Rutgers feeling energized. Not just by the innovations being discussed, but by the openness of the conversations and the shared sense of purpose in the room.
There is a lot of work still ahead. But if this event was any indication, the people driving this transformation are more than ready for it. And at Bristlecone, we are proud to be in the thick of it. Not just watching change happen but helping to lead it.
Michael Leen
VP, Sales & Marketing
Bristlecone
