GAINS On Podcast: S3 E2 – Inside Vallen Distribution’s Planning Overhaul

When Ian Edwards took over Vallen Distribution’s North American inventory planning operation, he inherited three teams in three countries, each with their own processes, habits, and ways of getting things done. His first move was to spend months listening.

GAINS On host Joe Davis caught up with Ian at the GAINS Summit 2026 in Chicago to discuss what he’s learned while bringing Vallen’s inventory teams together.

Their conversation covers it all, including…

• The hidden costs of manual workarounds
• The challenges of getting experienced planners to trust automated decisions
• Using GAINS Lead Time Prediction to question long-standing assumptions

Along the way, Ian explains why his team chose a deliberately gradual approach to making changes and what he’d tell other companies considering a similar overhaul. His biggest piece of advice? Standardize before you automate.