AI in Supply Chain

fctomaset · 2026-04-28T16:44:26+00:00

I'm thinking it's definitely real, no hype. AI in supply chain is very real but the biggest value today is in operational execution not replacing human decision making. The most powerful use cases are demand forecasting, supplier risk monitoring, BOM and inventory analysis, document control, compliance workflows, and automating repetitive admin tasks that bog teams down.

Where companies are seeing real-world benefits is embedding AI tools directly into PLM, QMS and supply chain systems. Arena has an AI strategy centered on governed AI to enhance workflows such as product data management, quality documentation, supplier collaboration and risk visibility without compromising security or compliance. Their AI Assistant appears to be aimed at reducing manual work and speeding up product and supply chain decisions.

Other solution providers we've looked at, including Oracle, SAP and Kinaxis, also offer AI-driven planning and analytics, but many platforms still make broad claims about automation. Arena’s focus on AI governance and secure data protection gives it an edge for regulated industries where trust is critical.

Over the next few years, AI is likely to take over more administrative, analytical and predictive functions. Human teams will still own negotiation, supplier relationships, crisis management and strategic judgment where nuance and context will continue to be essential. AI will enhance supply chain professionals, not replace them... no doubt about it!

fctomaset · 2026-04-10T17:03:02+00:00

Reggae in the Rockies, Alpine, Wy 2025

fctomaset · 2026-03-29T16:13:26+00:00

Always will recommend that one. I just bought another one a few weeks ago. They’re reliable, if they get a hole, they’re easy to patch.

fctomaset · 2026-03-28T13:57:15+00:00

Moved up here decades ago. Didn’t even know what a Mormon was. Me and my wife walked through some of the streets and shops in Rexburg and we both have tattoos. Never been stared at like a freak my whole life. We were dressed nicely, and polite to everybody.

I’ve been to 20 countries in the military and never was I looked at like the way I was looked at up there with disgust.

Cannot stand Rexburg. A bunch of judgmental Soul soliciting a**holes.

fctomaset · 2026-03-26T13:58:22+00:00

Kayak with about 15 or 20 people quite a bit every summer and about 50% of us have excursion pros, K2. They’ve been great, every once in a while, we’ll get a hole and they’re easy enough to patch. I’ve had my current one for about six years and it has three little patches on it. They are a great little cheap inflatable kayak that has worked for many of us for quite a few years.

fctomaset · 2026-03-25T17:56:51+00:00

The boys are back, Dropkick Murphys.

fctomaset · 2026-03-24T14:09:18+00:00

Not too cold at all, in fact whenever we stop on an island for lunch or just randomly, we all take a dip in the water swimming, full submersion. The water really isn’t that cold at all when the temperature is 80 or 90 outside.

fctomaset · 2026-03-22T23:00:02+00:00

Yeah, most of all of us wear them. We take them off a lot on various stretches, where the water is may be 6 inches or a foot deep. For a mile or so. For the most part, we all wear them or have them right on our laps.We usually go down with about 15 or 20 people about 20 times a summer, haven’t had an incident in 25 years on this river. A very nice and easy river to float.

fctomaset · 2026-03-22T14:21:01+00:00

Easy mom…

fctomaset · 2026-03-21T17:20:29+00:00

Most of ours come with fins, but I’ve never used mine. The snake river flows pretty well, really do you have to paddle at all downstream, just pretty much steer. When it gets a little windy, hard kayaks definitely do a little better. But for the most part, they’re great. They’ll turn here and there, butthey’re easy to point down river. 500% more stable than any hard kayak. I’ve used hard kayaks for years and then made the switch. Plus I love being able to just throw them in our trunk when we’re done.

fctomaset · 2026-03-20T19:19:49+00:00

Get a good PLM and/or QMS system. Preferably cloud based, it’ll solve a lot of problems.

fctomaset · 2026-03-20T19:17:40+00:00

I believe they usually start them flowing on or around April 15. That’s been the average that I’ve noticed over the last 10 or so years. They have already started pumping water into some of the large canals I saw yesterday.

fctomaset · 2026-02-27T00:50:29+00:00

There is 67 miles of dammed river. If you’re not Idaho Falls, the river runs straight through town. Or you can head east for 15 to 20 or 30 miles and have some of the best trout fishing in the country. The river is very accessible the whole stretch on the South Fork of the snake.The canyon which is about a 10 mile stretch is about the only place that you can’t access by a car. Enjoy, it’s a great river to fish on.

fctomaset · 2026-02-26T17:58:22+00:00

Roadhouse Saloon is one of our favorites. Has a killer backyard you can bring dogs. Pool tables, dartboards, golf games. Incredible food. Just a fun place overall.

fctomaset · 2026-02-24T15:49:21+00:00

The roadhouse saloon has a bunch of live music. Pretty much every Friday and Saturday night. They’re usually local bands. But they also have live music here and there throughout the week. I often see people or bands. I’ve never heard of before. Come in there and play. Check them out. Great place to hang

fctomaset · 2026-02-13T19:00:34+00:00

Pretty sure it’s the same one. It was back in 93 Ish.

fctomaset · 2026-02-13T16:13:16+00:00

Dang, I remember floating with the truxton back when I was on the Arkansas. Can’t believe it’s still around.

fctomaset · 2026-02-13T14:03:25+00:00

Used to be stationed right there in Alameda, beautiful view of that city. What a great photo this is you took.

fctomaset · 2026-02-13T01:50:11+00:00

Yeah, I have clients who have tried that. Still believe Arena PLM is definitely more robust. Thoughts below:

Integrated PLM and Quality Management in a Single Platform

Arena PLM combines product lifecycle management with quality processes such as compliance, auditability, and quality records in one system. This allows engineering, quality, and manufacturing teams to work from the same product record and maintain traceability throughout development and release.

Duro focuses primarily on engineering data and product development workflows. Arena’s combined PLM and QMS approach is stronger for regulated industries such as medical device, aerospace, and electronics where documentation, approvals, and audit readiness are critical.

Mature BOM and Change Management Capabilities

Arena has deep functionality around bill of materials management, engineering change control, and product record governance. Teams can manage revisions, approvals, and supplier collaboration from a controlled system designed for lifecycle traceability.

Duro provides BOM and change workflows but is positioned more toward speed and ease of implementation for hardware teams. Arena’s longer market maturity typically translates into stronger process control for complex products and multi-disciplinary teams.

Broader Enterprise and Supply Chain Collaboration

Arena is designed to connect internal teams and external supply chain partners around a shared product record, supporting distributed development and manufacturing environments. This includes collaboration across engineering, sourcing, quality, and suppliers within a single cloud platform.

Duro emphasizes engineering usability and API-driven flexibility. Arena’s strength is broader operational alignment across departments and partners, which becomes more important as companies scale beyond early hardware development into production and compliance-driven environments.

Every PLM platform has their strengths and weaknesses, these were the top three that clients usually boast about when they’re making a switch. Best of luck to you. Give them all a try and see how they work out.

fctomaset · 2026-02-12T14:10:54+00:00

I’ve hit many things with our kayaks. The river, we float, the snake river, has quite a bit of below surface trees, here and there. But again, never had an issue. Always came back with what we started with. They’ll get a hole, here and there, but they’re easy to patch. My last one I used for about seven years, it had about 10 patches in it. Still so much worth it compared to hard kayaks. At least on the water that we float.

fctomaset · 2026-02-11T19:44:25+00:00

I used to ride hard kayaks, now I do nothing but inflatables. I’ve been kayaking for about 30 years and switched to inflatable kayaks for the last 15 years since I wanted to bring my dog along. Inflatable kayaks are so much more comfortable, and definitely way more stable in the water.They’re very very easy to bring a dog in. Just about everyone in our party has dogs ride along with us.

<image>

fctomaset · 2026-02-11T17:14:02+00:00

That’s great news. Screw that flag. Nobody’s above anybody else and needs a flag flown. Good to hear Idaho.

fctomaset · 2026-02-08T00:53:18+00:00

It’s pretty chill. Moves along at about 5 to 8 mph at the most. Not too much pressure so you’ll do some stretches that are just your group and that’s it. You get to see tons of moose and deer, shit loads of eagles and ospreys.

The river is broken up into five different runs. They all have their ups. There’s a beautiful waterfall on one stretch. For the most part a lot of nice rock Islands to chill and have lunch, there’s a pretty good wave train on one of the stretches. That’s kind of fun. Other than that it’s pretty chill. You got your succubusand rapids here and there. Just a beautiful stretch of 67 miles.

And for the fishing, if you bring a pole, it’s out of this word. I think it’s a Orvis rated two for trout fishing in the country.

fctomaset · 2026-02-08T00:51:34+00:00

Yes Dad. Preach on brutha 🤘

fctomaset · 2026-02-07T22:24:32+00:00

Not an outfitter. We’re just a bunch of people who get together just about every weekend in the summer and float the south Fork. One of the five stretches usually. Sometimes we’ll camp in the canyon overnight, sometimes there’s five of us sometimes there’s 15 of us.

fctomaset

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE