Max and the SupplyChainHeroes

In this episode of Max and the Supply Chain Heroes Max tries to de-mystify the topic of artificial inteligence in combination with supply chain issues. Due to Corona safety measures he is doing so by remotely interviewing Dexin Luo, an acknowledged expert in Supply Chain Management and artificial intelligence. Together they analyse ways to apply AI to the supply chain in a hands on way. Ludwig Meister themselves are currently taking first steps in using machine learning for ERP purposes, but Max is eager to learn about next steps towards AI usage. If you like to know how to explain AI on a cocktail Party, listen to today's podcast episode. Transcript and links can be found below. And as always: we love to hear from you. Leave your comments, suggestions, criticism at [email protected].

On the occasion of a US visit to the MDM award ceremony for Ludwig Meister, Max Meister took the opportunity to arrange two podcasts with Andrew Larson, the family entrepreneur in the third generation. In this, second podcast, Andrew Larson and Max discuss the topic of Traction and EOS. The fascination about the book of the same Name (link below) and the topic is another common feature of the two. In the case of Gustave A. Larson, Traction or EOS is deeply anchored in the management of the company. How? More about this in this podcast episode. Enjoy listening to today's podcast episode.

On the occasion of a US visit to the MDM award ceremony for Ludwig Meister, Max Meister took the opportunity to arrange a podcast with Andrew Larson, the family entrepreneur in the third generation. Less the circumstance of parallelism in matters of family business 3rd generation, but the exciting and stringently implemented management methods of this HVAC and refrigeration distributor from Minnesota are the subject of this podcast. And the fact that Andrew Larson and his team have found techniques to generate additional value in the supply chain. It goes so far that they offer active and above all successful strategy and digitalisation consulting for their customers. In another podcast, which we will release shortly, Andrew Larson and Max discuss the topic of Traction and EOS. The fascination About the book of the same name and the topic is another common feature of the two. In the case of Gustave A. Larson, Traction or EOS is concretely anchored in the management of the company. How? More about this in our next podcast episode. But for now enjoy listening to today's podcast episode. Transcript and links can be found below. And as always: your opinion please. We welcome comments, suggestions, criticism at [email protected].

On the occasion of a visit by Tom Gale, CEO MDM from Denver / Colorado, USA to Ludwig Meister, Max seized the opportunity to question this proven distribution expert in 3 consecutive interviews. After the two podcasts already published here, in the first Tom asked Max about his assessments of the market and the development of Ludwig Meister and in the second Max asked Tom to current trends and developments in the US market around the technical trade and the supply chain, we are reaching interview No. 3 now. This third part is about an analytic software developed by MDM - unfortunately only for the US market so far- but very interesting as it helps to highlight and leverage regional / local sales potential. Enough said, enjoy listening to today's podcast episode. Transcript and links can be found below. And as always: your opinion please. We welcome comments, suggestions, criticism at [email protected]

On the occasion of a visit by Tom Gale, CEO MDM from Denver / Colorado, USA to Ludwig Meister, Max seized the opportunity to question these proven distribution experts in 3 interviews. After the already published crossover podcast, in which Tom Max has asked about his assessments of the market and the development of Ludwig Meister, we are now turning "the pike". Max asks Tom about current trends and developments in the US market around the technical trade and the supply chain. What are the challenges, what is Tom's view of Amazon's business development and, most importantly, what kind of learning is there for Europe and Germany? How far ahead are the US in developments? In a third part of this talk between Max and Tom, which we will be releasing in a few weeks, it is then about an analysis software developed by Tom - so far unfortunately only for the US market, but highly interesting, as they show regional / local sales potential and helps lift. But now have fun listening to today's podcast episode. Transcript, translation and links can be found below. And as always: your opinion please. We welcome comments, suggestions, criticism at [email protected]

MDM from Denver in Colorado, USA honored Ludwig Meister with the Digital Innovator 2019 Award in June 2019. Ludwig Meister received this award in recognition of "initiatives that show thinking and acting at the next level of digital development," says MDM in its explanatory statement. " Beginning with the installation of an automated storage system, this Munich-based distributor has taken a systematic approach to data-management and digitizing business with profit-accelerating consequences." Back in 2018 Max Meister was invited to a talk at an MDM Summit in Denver to present Ludwig Meister's digitization strategy. Already at this time Tom and Max arranged a crossover podcast, i.e. an appointment where both interview each other. During a visit of Tom Gale in April of this year in the rooms of Ludwig Meister in Dachau they found the time. Here, on the occasion of this week's awards ceremony in the US, the part in which Tom Gale talks to Max about the numerous small steps that Ludwig Meister has take since project start 2009 towards digitization. Part 2 and 3 of the interview, in which Tom questions Tom Gale about supply chain developments in the US and a special analytics offer from MDM, will be published shortly in this podcast. For today, enjoy listening to Part 1. And as always, we welcome your comments and / or suggestions.

IBT Industrial Solutions is one of the Top 50 Industrial Suppliers in the USA. With over 40 warehouses in the Mid-West of the USA and 70 years of successful history, IBT is one of the players in the area of conflict between the „800 Pound gorillas“ of the Industry and numerous small Shops. And an interesting counterpart in terms of differentiation strategies.. At a visit a couple of years ago I had the chance to get to know IBT a little bit closer. And learning during that visit, that they not only operate successfully in the market, but also follow some unusual paths, like their own HD-film Studio to produce training materials. Talking to Anthony Akin, Director Marketing and eCommerce at IBT, I not only learn more about the background to this decision, but a lot about positioning issues in competition: e.g. customer-loyalty strategies via competitive factors like product consultancy and technological expertise. Proximity and emotional link up with clients. And as a direct result the needs and challenges for personnel development of the sales teams. Furthermore I was interested in his judgement re the Internet of Things and the role of distribution in this area. And last but not least I gained insight into his experience regarding the process of EDI/OCI link-up of IBT clients. Enjoy listening.

Parker is one of the largest manufacturers of drive and control technology in the world – with a focus on the areas of hydraulics and pneumatics, filtration, sealing technology, climate control and aerospace. With nearly 57,000 employees, Parker Hannifin operates from Cleveland Ohio in 50 countries worldwide. Ludwig Meister is a certified Parker hose assembly and connector technology supplier due to its equipment, workmanship, testing, documentation, education and training. Over the years we have built up a very close, co-operative connection between Ludwig Meister and Parker Hannafin. On the sidelines of a Parker Hannifin management visit to Dachau, I had the opportunity to talk with Brian Snow, General Manager of Global Services at Parker, about the idea and development of the Parker tracking system and how to share it in the wider context of the Internet of Things (IoT) technology. Enjoy listening.