In this episode of Leveraged Supply Chains, host Andrew Stroup sits down with Corey Apirian, Founder & CEO of Davinci Micro Fulfillment, to unpack the operating math behind profitable speed—when micro-nodes beat traditional DC/3PL shipping, and when multi-channel fulfillment (MCF) is the better call. We get into the weight/price rule of thumb (>4 lb or >$40 often pencils out; <1 lb or <$20 is no-man’s-land unless optimized), the network science of node placement (maximize 2-day, mostly 1-day, same-day in major metros by starting from carrier zones & lanes), and how “correct before commit” guides forward placement, re-slotting, and seasonality.

You’ll hear about:

• MCF vs. MFC decision logic—both viable; it depends on your business model, SKU mix, and margin goals.

• The weight/price thresholds that drive parcel cost math and channel steering at checkout.

• Network design that “follows the NFL cities” as a quick comp—grounded in carrier lanes—to compress zones and split-ships.

• Inventory turns as the anchor KPI (<3 makes MFC hard; >12 often validates multi-node).

• Buy vs. build lessons: robotics ROI vs. smaller decentralized nodes; why industrial real estate (docks/flow/pick-pack) is margin-critical; and what you can vs. can’t control.

• On-air metrics to benchmark: zones/order, avg ship distance, split-ship %, same-/next-day %, parcel $/order, pick+pack mins, break-even throughput & ramp.

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In this episode of Leveraged Supply Chains, host Andrew Stroup sits down with Dustin Rutledge, Supplier Quality Engineer at Major Tool & Machine (part of Precinmac), to unpack how a high-mix, large-format manufacturer modernized procurement and supplier quality without adding friction for suppliers. Dustin shares how the team moved from reactive email + ERP data entry to automated acknowledgments and change processing written back into Infor Visual/SyteLine, reclaiming roughly 16 hours per buyer per week and improving on-time delivery by ~1.5% YTD—while suppliers praised the email-first, no-login workflow. You’ll also hear how reclaimed time fuels more competitive quoting and dual-sourcing, and the quality metrics they track to keep programs on schedule.

You’ll hear about:

• The reality of 100+ POs in a busy week for a single buyer and the documentation load that comes with it.

• Why evaluation criteria prioritized ERP compatibility, customization, and low-friction supplier UX—and where a human-in-the-loop still matters.

• What tasks disappeared first (manual re-keying, chaser emails) and how automated follow-ups close gaps like missed acknowledgments.

• How time saved is being reinvested into competitive bidding and dual-sourcing to improve price and resiliency.

• Practical quality KPIs (e.g., nonconformances per PO line) that predict downstream effort.

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In this episode of Leveraged Supply Chains, host Andrew Stroup sits down with Melanie Baker, Director of Supply Chain at PSS Industrial Group, to unpack how AI is transforming procurement in the energy and industrial supply sector.

Melanie shares how her team moved from “chasing their tails” with constant price and lead-time changes to building a resilient, automated workflow that protects margins, reduces accounts payable exceptions, and strengthens supplier relationships.

You’ll hear about:

• The daily chaos of mismatched POs, invoices, and supplier surprises

• Why PSS abandoned EDI and embraced interactive AI-driven emails

• How “correct before commit” became a mantra for reducing AP exceptions by 50%

• The impact of automation on buyer efficiency, supplier adoption, and margin protection (8–9% lift year-over-year)

If you’re a distributor or supply chain leader looking to cut wasted hours, improve supplier collaboration, and protect profitability, Melanie’s story offers a practical roadmap for modernizing procurement.

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In this episode of Leveraged Supply Chains, host Andrew Stroup sits down with Josh Cox, Vice President of Purchasing at General Factory Supply, to explore how AI is reshaping procurement and supplier management in manufacturing.

Josh shares how his team moved away from manual, outdated systems and adopted Leverage AI, a procurement automation platform that streamlines purchase orders, improves supplier performance, and boosts on-time delivery.

You’ll hear about:

• The challenges of managing procurement and suppliers with manual processes

• Why General Factory Supply chose AI to modernize their supply chain

• Early wins in supplier performance, procurement automation, and customer retention

• How AI protects margins while driving growth in manufacturing

If you’re a procurement leader, supply chain manager, or manufacturing executive, this episode offers a playbook for using technology to cut costs, improve supplier reliability, and scale smarter.

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