Jose Joel Lagunas Meza

The traditional planner has long been a master of spreadsheets, manual processes, and firefighting unexpected shortages. But pandemics, geopolitical shifts, and supply shocks have exposed the vulnerabilities of this approach, and it’s accelerated the need for scale, resilience, and predictive power. AI is bringing new tools to the table, transforming planners from tactical schedulers into strategic orchestrators who can anticipate risks, align cross-functional teams, and drive long-term supply chain outcomes. 

In this session, you’ll hear how Outset Medical is leveraging AI to augment the planner’s role by exploring real-world examples on how AI forecasting tools are improving demand accuracy and inventory reduction, while still requiring human insight, creativity, and judgment to provide context and ethical guardrails. The session will highlight the new skills planners must master, including data literacy, scenario thinking, and cross-functional collaboration to thrive in the evolving digital supply chain. 

• Understand how AI transforms planning from reactive firefighting to proactive orchestration
• Learn which new skills planners need to build resilience and adaptability in dynamic environments
• Explore real-world examples of human + AI collaboration that improved forecasting and inventory management
• Gain insights on how to balance AI’s predictive power with human creativity, ethics, and business context