Darrell Culpepper is Vice President of Supply Chain at Integra Mission Critical, where he leads end-to-end supply chain and operations strategy. He brings over 25 years of leadership experience across aerospace, medical devices, and industrial manufacturing, including roles at Enovis, GE, and Safran. Darrell specializes in transforming complex, multi-site operations through IBP, SIOP, Lean methodologies, and strategic supplier collaboration to drive scalable growth and cost optimization. He is a former U.S. Army Captain who led global logistics operations in high-stakes environments.
Dr. Sven F. Crone is Assistant Professor in Management Science at Lancaster University and Director of the Lancaster Centre for Forecasting. With over 15 years of experience in forecasting theory and practice, he has published more than 40 scientific papers and developed award-winning forecasting algorithms. He has trained over 500 demand planners and consults with global organizations on forecasting methods, systems, and processes. Dr. Crone received IBF’s Dr. Chaman L. Jain Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.
AI is everywhere in the headlines, but what is actually happening inside demand and supply planning organizations? This townhall moves beyond marketing promises and technology providers' noise to examine how AI is truly being used today. We’ll separate practical gains from projection, explore what’s delivering measurable value, and discuss the capabilities planners must build now to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving landscape. The reality is far more interesting than the hype, and far more important.
You will learn:
- If AI is genuinely improving forecasting, responsiveness, and decision-making
- Common misuses and overreliance risks in planning environments
- The emerging capabilities planners and leaders must develop to stay ahead
- Practical signals of what’s likely coming next in AI-enabled planning