Strengthening the rail ecosystem: Inside Norfolk Southern’s inaugural Supplier Summit

Norfolk Southern recently convened more than 100 supplier partners in Atlanta for its inaugural Supplier Summit, bringing together the company’s leadership team and key strategic partners representing every corner of its network.

The conversation reinforced the role suppliers play as an extension of NS and how the company operates and delivers performance. The gathering also underscored the importance of suppliers to a more connected, performance-driven model focused on delivering consistent, high-quality service.

“We operate as part of a broader rail ecosystem, and our performance depends on how well that ecosystem works together,” said Norfolk Southern Vice President, Enterprise Resources Mina De Oliveira. “That means aligning upfront to anticipate change, adapt quickly, and recover when disruptions occur.”

Why it matters

Railroading has always depended on coordination across a complex network of stakeholders. Today, that coordination is more critical than ever. Customer expectations for reliability are rising, supply chains face increasing disruption, and decisions must be made faster and with greater precision.

Meeting those demands requires a more connected, disciplined, and data-informed approach that extends beyond the railroad itself and strengthens the ability to anticipate, adapt, and recover in a changing environment.

A system-wide approach to transformation

Through its PSR 2.0 transformation, NS is advancing an operating model grounded in safety, discipline, a data-driven approach, and continuous improvement, enabling faster, more informed decision-making across the system.

“The most effective transformation is the one you build continuously,” De Oliveira said. “At NS, that evolution is well underway as we eliminate waste and increase agility and flexibility by further leveraging technology and data in our operating model.”

That approach reflects a broader shift in how the industry thinks about transformation. The most effective progress comes from continuous improvement, involving partners across the ecosystem and strengthening alignment over time.

Partnership drives performance

The Supplier Summit reinforced the role of partnership in delivering performance. Suppliers are directly connected to how the system operates, marking a shift from transactional relationships to deeper, performance-driven partnerships.

The summit also created space for suppliers to share perspective on emerging challenges and opportunities across the supply chain.

Safety remains central to that effort. A safe operation is also a more efficient and resilient one. Strengthening a safety-first culture across the ecosystem helps reduce risk while improving overall performance.

Looking ahead

As the industry continues to evolve, events like this reinforce an important reality: performance in rail is driven by how effectively the ecosystem works together.

By convening supply partners and aligning around shared priorities, NS is strengthening its ability to deliver for customers and build a more resilient supply chain. It is also expanding its business by growing alongside suppliers and creating greater value for customers, stakeholders, and the communities it serves.

By Brett Willi, Senior Communications Manager

Brett Willi leads internal communications for Norfolk Southern, focusing on safety, compliance, operational excellence and employee engagement. He also oversees communications for Engineering and Mechanical. Brett joined NS in 2025, with 20 years of strategic communications, digital content, and analytics expertise.