Building AI-Ready Operations in Advanced Manufacturing
Supply Chain Now
Early Career Adventures and Forklift Stories
Garuth recalls rattlesnake wrestling, GE experiences, forklift certification, and his first roles in supplier quality and Lean Six Sigma.
Operating conditions in advanced manufacturing are changing fast as organizations push to modernize operations while navigating quality requirements, long lead times, and increasingly complex supply chains. As leaders look to apply AI across the physical world, many discover that technology alone is not enough. Success depends on strong operating fundamentals, clean master data, and a culture that aligns teams around execution, accountability, and continuous improvement.
In this episode of Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton is joined by special guest host Wiley Jones to kick off a new 2026 series, Enterprise Unleashed, powered by the DOSS team. Together, they sit down with Garuth Acharya, investor at 8090 Industries and former operator with experience across GE, SpaceX, and Blue Origin, to explore what it really takes to build AI ready operations in advanced manufacturing. The conversation examines why AI initiatives often fail in industrial environments when data hygiene is weak, and why clean, correct, actionable data and disciplined master data practices are foundational to any successful transformation.
The discussion also emphasizes practical ways AI can unlock value, from accelerating work instructions to improving shortage detection, surfacing procurement anomalies, and strengthening quality feedback loops. The panel returns to the human side of transformation: mission alignment, cross functional collaboration, clear ownership, and spending time on the shop floor before deciding what to build, buy, or partner for.
Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Intro
(00:47) Introducing the new series for 2026
(01:32) Focus on AI-ready operations and advanced manufacturing
(02:44) Special guest: Garuth Acharya
(03:31) Guru's background and career journey
(04:31) Rattlesnake wrestling and early career adventures
(06:52) Experiences at SpaceX and Blue Origin
(10:27) The importance of culture in high-stakes environments
(14:59) AI in manufacturing and supply chain
(20:10) Challenges and solutions in AI implementation
(25:17) The importance of clean master data
(26:22) Engineering and production challenges
(27:26) Operational insights and red flags
(29:47) Building a culture of clarity and ownership
(33:35) Prioritizing modernizing operations
(41:42) Advice for AI-ready operations
Additional Links & Resources:
- Connect with Wiley Jones: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wileycwjones/
- Learn more about DOSS: https://www.doss.com/
- Connect with Garuth Acharya: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garuthacharya/
- Learn more about 8090 Industries: https://www.8090industries.com/
- Connect with Scott Luton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottwindonluton/
- Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com
- Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now
- Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join
- Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
- WEBINAR- Supply Chain Planning Reimagined: Embedded AI that senses, explains, and optimizes: https://bit.ly/4pOGgyo
- WEBINAR- ChatGPT Is Just the Beginning for Shipping: https://bit.ly/3YLFGq7
This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Wiley Jones, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/building-ai-ready-operations-advanced-manufacturing-1540
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