Articles
Case Studies
Bolting Ahead: Specialty Bolt & Screw Tightens its Supply Chain
Specialty Bolt & Screw, Inc. (SBS), a leading provider of fastening solutions, offers more than 15,000 SKUs across 12 locations, and manages a complex global supply chain. As a result, it required a more efficient and accurate inventory management and forecast function than it was able to achieve with its older, homegrown system.
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Automation Takes Blue Sky From Growing Pains to Growing Gains
Growing demand was an enviable problem for Blue Sky Distribution, a family-owned distributor of 3,500-plus grocery, tobacco, and other products to wholesale, big-box, and ecommerce customers across much of the western United States. To effectively onboard and serve new customers, including major grocery and convenience stores, it needed to automate several manual processes.
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Christina Nemeyer’s Unexpected Path to Procurement Success
RESPONSIBILITIES: Oversee the team responsible for establishing national account programs for indirect spend, leveraging PFG’s scale to generate value. EXPERIENCE: Senior manager, corporate strategic sourcing, and corporate sourcing manager, PFG. Fuel supervisor, Estes Express Lines. Inventory control and loss prevention supervisor, S&K Menswear. Market loss prevention manager, Shoe Carnival, Inc. Regional loss prevention analyst and […]
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From Fax to the Future: Do It Best Reinvents Its Supply Chain
Aiming to keep pace with the rapidly expanding home improvement market, Do It Best—a member-owned hardware, lumber, and building materials buying cooperative—sought to replace its outdated manual processes with a streamlined, automated system. Since providing exceptional service to its members is crucial to the cooperative’s success, Do It Best partnered with Redwood Logistics to enhance its transportation management system (TMS).
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Interview with New York & Atlantic Railway President: Riding the Rails to Economic Growth
Marlon Taylor found a career with a short line railroad too cool to resist. Today, he navigates challenges, sustainability, and innovation at New York & Atlantic Railway by emphasizing adaptability, resilience, teamwork and communication, and leading with empathy.
Read MoreLiz Minne: A Business Case for Sustainability
RESPONSIBILITIES: Shaping Interface’s global commitment to sustainable practices and environmental stewardship, as well as its mission of working to reverse global warming. This includes collaborating with stakeholders, fostering partnerships that drive positive change and impact sustainability, and remaining at the forefront of emerging sustainability trends to ensure Interface remains a pioneer in environmental responsibility. EXPERIENCE: […]
Read MoreSetting the LTL World on Fire
When she isn’t working tirelessly to drive digital transformation, help carriers transition to a digital era, and modernize the LTL freight classification system, Debbie Sparks writes children’s books to spread the word about the rewards of becoming a truck driver.
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Marcus Chung: Guiding a Sustainable Career
RESPONSIBILITIES: Ecommerce and retail operations, supply chain, sourcing, production, sustainability, and IT. EXPERIENCE: Vice president, manufacturing and supply chain, ThirdLove; director, sourcing, Stitch Fix; vice president, responsible sourcing, The Children’s Place; director, responsible sourcing, Talbots; director, sustainability, McKesson; senior manager, social responsibility strategy, Gap Inc.; consultant, CEB (now Gartner). EDUCATION: MBA, University of California, Berkeley; […]
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New ERP Smooths the Way for Skin Care Company
After an exhaustive review of its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, E.T. Browne Drug Company, the maker of Palmer’s Cocoa Butter, understood it needed to upgrade. By recommitting to SYSPRO, its long-time ERP provider, E.T. Browne was able to leverage a scalable solution that has enabled the venerable skin care company to reduce inventory and grow profits.
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Trade Tech CEO Builds a Platform for Paradigm Change
From using a typewriter and fax machine to an automated accounting process, Bryn Heimbeck has done it all. These days, he continues to strive to make all processes easier so everyone sleeps better at night.
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Reader Profile: Autonomous Trucking “Oddball” Reveals What’s Ahead for Driverless Trucks
Pivoting from entertainment to the trucking industry, Kodiak Robotics Chief of Staff Lauren Harper considers herself an oddball in autonomous trucking. While her path to her current position might be unexpected, she’s clear-sighted about her goals for driverless vehicles. She believes autonomous trucks can save lives on the road and U.S. soldiers on the ground.
Read MoreInterview with RXO CEO: Building Solutions and Relationships
Through innovation, valuable internal and external relationships, quality service, and technology, Drew Wilkerson helps keep customer supply chains moving, even during tough times.
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Inventory Tracking Solution a High-Flying Success
The meteoric rise of On, a Swiss sportswear brand, started with a shoe. But not just any shoe. The company’s signature product, with its unique cushioning system and distinctive sole design, has attracted serious runners and casual wearers around the world. Since launching its premium footwear line 14 years ago, On has expanded offerings to include apparel and accessories.
Read MoreGreg Skrovan: Doing What’s Good for Intel and for the Environment
RESPONSIBILITIES: Leads the global organization responsible for warranty and reverse logistics strategy, service delivery, customer service and fraud mitigation for all Intel products, as well as more than $1 billion in returns. Oversees management of more than 15 3PL return depots and repair centers. EXPERIENCE: Global program director, circular economy, supply chain innovation and business […]
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Partnering with Customers and Leveraging Data to Boost Health
In May 2023, Kenvue, the company behind iconic brands such as Tylenol and Listerine, spun off from Johnson & Johnson, becoming the world’s largest pure-play consumer health company by revenue. The spinoff also meant Kenvue’s leadership team had to establish strong supply chain operations as a consumer goods company, rather than as part of a pharmaceutical firm.
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American Standard: Flushed With Success
As a leading North American brand, American Standard has been offering innovative products for more than 150 years. One of its products—the humble but essential toilet—is practically synonymous with the company name.
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A Supply Chain With Beauty and Brains
While selling beauty products may seem like a straightforward endeavor, “When you talk about cosmetics, it’s a world of complexity,” says Germán Ricardo Rodríguez Parra, operations strategic planning senior manager, supply chain, for Latin American direct-sales beauty firm Belcorp.
Read MorePort Houston’s People Person
John Moseley dreams big, champions diversity, relies on constant communication, and touts relationship management as his superpower.
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Solving Problems, Improving Processes
Amy Augustine is senior director of network supply chain with UScellular, the fourth-largest U.S. full-service wireless carrier.
Read MoreOTTO Motors Founder Talks AMRs, APIs, and Entrepreneurial DNA
After starting his materials handling robotics company with just $200, Matt Rendall has learned to focus relentlessly on product and customer development, lead with humility, trust his gut, and allow his team to learn from mistakes.
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