Handled It: The Supply Chain Podcast

Managing data is hard. Drowning in it is expensive. In this episode, managing data vs drowning in it gets real as the team breaks down how dashboards, metrics, and “one more report” can either sharpen decisions or quietly replace leadership.Joe Perkins (COO) and Brent Hillabrand (President and CEO) sit down with Justin Benson (VP of Intralogistics Solutions) and Danny Saleeba (VP of Finance) to unpack why leaders hoard metrics as organizations grow, how data can create a false narrative, and where dashboards give a false sense of control. You’ll hear how “rearview mirror” reporting can derail real-time judgment, why teams chase perfect data and stall momentum, and how to decide which metrics actually matter so you can move faster with more confidence.What you’ll learn in this episode:Why leaders hoard metrics as teams scale and how it impacts trustThe difference between visibility and overload, and where dashboards cross the lineHow reports can replace the conversations leaders should be havingWhen data obscures judgment instead of sharpening itWhy dashboards can create false confidence even when “everything is green”How to spot manipulated metrics and misleading storytelling in reportingWhich decisions truly need data and which require context, values, and common senseThe real cost of waiting for perfect data in fast-moving environmentsWhen it is necessary to eliminate metrics, reports, and “needless” dataHow to build alignment on what matters so data actually drives actionDon’t risk decision paralysis, slow execution, and frustrated teams because your organization is drowning in dashboards and conflicting reports. Learn how to simplify your metrics, focus on what actually matters, and make faster decisions with clearer confidence.0:00 Introduction1:29 Why Leaders Hoard Metrics6:19 Can Data Obscure Judgment?10:56 When Does Data Drive Decisions?13:24 Dashboards & False Confidence19:14 The Cost of Waiting for Perfect Data22:37 When to Eliminate Metrics28:34 Data Overload & The 97% Stat36:53 Agree or Disagree

Over-engineering your process quietly kills performance, slows teams down, and drains morale. In this episode, we unpack the real cost of over-engineering your process and show you how complexity creeps in with the best intentions. If your systems feel heavy, bloated, or harder to use than they should be, this conversation will help you simplify without losing control.Joe Perkins (COO) and Brent Hillabrand (President and CEO) are joined by Justin Benson (VP of Intralogistics Solutions) and Ashley Watkins (Continuous Improvement Manager) to break down why leaders over-engineer as they grow, how blurred ownership hides accountability, and why complexity often breaks people before it breaks systems. From warehouse floors to back-office workflows, they share real examples of workarounds, redundant checks, siloed teams, and “no one owns it” moments—and what to do instead. If you lead operations, supply chain, or a growing team, you’ll walk away with a practical lens for removing friction and building processes that scale.What you’ll learn:Why growth often leads to over-engineering—even when leaders don’t intend itThe warning signs your system is bloated or no longer being usedHow blurred ownership destroys accountability and slows executionWhy only a small percentage of most processes truly add valueThe hidden cost of redundant checks and too many handoffsHow workarounds form—and what they reveal about broken systemsWhat breaks first under stress: people, flow, quality, or moraleHow standardization and continuous improvement actually enable innovationWhy psychological safety matters when simplifying complex systemsA practical way to strip complexity without sacrificing performanceDon’t risk burnout, turnover, and stalled growth because your processes are heavier than they need to be. Learn how to identify over-engineering early, remove what no longer serves your team, and build systems that scale without breaking.Article mentioned in the episode: https://www.itpro.com/software/software-complexity-is-burning-through-enterprise-budgets-draining-productivity-and-burning-out-employees-and-its-a-gbp32-billion-problem-that-cant-be-solved IT Pro

Automation in the supply chain can unlock speed, accuracy, and throughput, but only when the operation is truly ready. In this episode, Joe Perkins (COO) and Brent Hillabrand (President and CEO) break down what “ready for automation” actually looks like and why so many teams buy the wrong solution too early. You will learn how to spot the difference between real automation readiness and a knee jerk purchase that turns into an expensive mess.Joined by Lauren Murphy (VP of HR) and Justin Benson (VP of Intralogistics Solutions), the conversation gets practical fast: how lean fundamentals, defined processes, and frontline input change the outcome, why labor pressure pushes leaders toward shortcuts, and how automation can expose hidden process flaws instead of fixing them. If you are considering robots, software, or material handling automation to solve labor constraints, meet customer demand, or keep up with competitors, this episode gives you the decision framework to do it with confidence.What you will learn:The clearest signals an operation is ready for automationHow to avoid automating a bad process and making it worseWhy “off the shelf” fixes often fail on the floorThe hidden costs of moving too fast and how to unwind a wrong decisionWhen manual systems can still scale and when they hit the wallHow labor shortages and customer SLAs distort automation decisionsWhy involving frontline associates improves results and change adoptionHow automation can reveal bottlenecks you did not know you hadA simple way to define your baseline before choosing any technologyHow to choose automation that fits your operation, not your competitorsDon’t risk a costly automation mistake that creates new bottlenecks, erodes culture, or locks you into the wrong system. Learn how to evaluate automation in the supply chain the right way, build a clean process foundation first, and choose solutions that actually improve performance before it is too late.Article mentioned in the episode: https://www.barrettdistribution.com/most-warehouses-buy-the-wrong-robots-heres-how-barrett-avoids-that

Sixty years of change in material handling has revealed one hard truth. Most companies repeat the same mistakes, just with better technology. In this episode of Handled It, we unpack what actually drives long term success and what quietly holds leaders back. If you want practical insights on leadership, growth, automation, and operational strategy that actually work, this conversation delivers real world experience, not theory. Joe Perkins, COO, Brent Hillabrand, President and CEO, and Lauren Murphy, VP of HR, reflect on decades of evolution at Carolina Handling, from forklifts to robotics and unpack what has changed, what has not, and where companies still get it wrong.You will learn: • Why garbage in, garbage out still applies in modern automation • How growth exposes operational and leadership gaps • When speed helps and when it hurts your business • Why experience and gut instinct still matter in a data driven world • How culture, trust, and workforce shifts are reshaping material handlingWhether you lead operations, manage supply chain strategy, or are navigating automation and workforce challenges, these lessons will help you avoid costly mistakes and make smarter decisions. Do not risk repeating the same leadership errors many companies have made over the last 60 years. Learn how to build systems, teams, and strategies that last.Article mentioned in the episode: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/walmart-close-sams-club-fulfillment-center-texas-affecting-hundreds-employees-2025-06-26/

The supply chain is more connected, automated, and data-driven than ever, but most leaders still feel like they’re managing chaos instead of progress. Handled It: The Supply Chain Podcast confronts that complexity head-on.Hosted by Joe Perkins and Brent Hillabrand from Carolina Handling, each episode explores how the best operations leaders build resilient systems that can weather labor shortages, rising costs, and constant change. This show uncovers what separates reactive options from resilient ones: better processes, an engaged workforce and a future built with intention.  If you lead operations, distribution, or warehouse teams, this show gives you the conversations, frameworks, and field-tested lessons you need.