S4E5: Rethinking Supply Chain Planning with Mike Burnette, Lance Saunders, & Dan Pellathy

Forecasting has been blamed for supply chain problems for decades. But what if the real issue isn’t the forecast itself? In this episode, Tom Goldsby and Scott DeGroot speak with Mike Burnette, Lance Saunders, and Dan Pellathy about new research from the University of Tennessee’s Global Supply Chain Institute examining why forecast-driven planning continues to fall short and how leading companies are redesigning their planning processes to be more agile and responsive. The conversation explored how many organizations still rely on one-size-fits-all planning models, why improving forecast accuracy alone rarely fixes service and inventory problems, and how leading-edge companies are segmenting demand, using different demand triggers, and building capability in the supply chain instead of buffering uncertainty with excess inventory. The group also discussed planning agility, the limits of traditional ERP-based approaches, and the behavioral challenges that prevent companies from fully using advanced planning systems. Burnette, Pellathy, and Saunders's research was conducted alongside GSCI participating in the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative. Their work led to the forthcoming white paper Love to Hate the Forecast, which will be released at the Supply Chain Forum, April 21–23. The episode was recorded virtually on March 10, 2026.Related links:Read Mike Burnette's two-part blog series on the cultural roots of forecasting failures and shifting to a right-to-left planning modelDownload free white papers from UT expertsSave the date for the Spring Supply Chain Forum, April 21–23  Join the Advanced Supply Chain Collaborative to explore advanced concepts in SCM with top industry experts and scholars  Become a GSCI partner  Follow GSCI on LinkedIn  Subscribe to GSCI’s monthly newsletter   Read the latest news and insights from GSCI Text the Tennessee on Supply Chain Management team!