Articles

How-To

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Assessing Your Provider’s Financial Stability

Danny Monson of States Logistics Services Inc. offers tips to help shippers confirm a logistics service provider is financially stable before signing a logistics service contract.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Minimizing Supply Chain Risk

The ability to minimize supply chain risk and prevent disruptions depends on strong supplier relationships and well-developed contingency plans, says Chris Cameron of Elemica.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Preparing Your Supply Chain For Seasonal Peaks

Plan for seasonal peaks by securing efficient labor, sufficient warehouse space, and reliable carriers.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Crafting Logistics Provider Contracts That Cover All the Bases

When negotiating logistics service provider contracts, shippers should ensure they are clear on payment terms and special conditions.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Improving Supplier Compliance

Developing an effective supplier compliance program requires planning and communication, writes Peter Wharton of IBM.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Cutting LTL Costs

Shippers must develop clear and effective request for pricing (RFP) processes to secure the best less-than-truckload service. Danny Slaton of SMC3 offers tips for developing better RFPs.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Transloading to Maximize Cost Savings

Transloading services transfer ocean cargo at port – without sorting it – for shipment to a single destination, such as an inland distribution center.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Complying with Export Regulations and Requirements

To successfully manage export compliance, companies must fully understand export regulations and filing requirements, advises Scott Byrnes, Amber Road.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Controlling Transportation Insurance Costs

Reduce your transportation insurance premiums by investing in loss prevention measures, partnering with reputable logistics providers, and keeping your insurer informed about your operations, says Barry Tarnef of Chubb Group of Insurance Companies.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Ensuring Routing Guide Compliance

Help vendors comply with your routing guide by including carrier contact information and other relevant freight shipping details, says Harold B. Friedman of Data2Logistics.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Determining If AS/RS Fits Your Facility

Automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) can be an efficient materials handling option for warehouses and distribution centers, but they are not right for every facility. Norm Saenz, senior vice president and principal, TranSystems Corporation, offers advice on deciding if AS/RS is right for your facility.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Keeping Shipping Costs in Check

John Haber, founder and CEO of consulting firm Spend Management Experts, offers tips for managing freight costs wisely.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Becoming a Transportation Industry Advocate

Companies can help guide legislators about laws and regulations that will impact their industry. Brian Everett of the National Shipper’s Strategic Transportation Council (NASSTRAC) recommends ways to communicate your business’s concerns to legislators.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Achieving LEED Certification

Achieving LEED certification begins with choosing energy-efficient lighting, using space to promote energy savings, and building with sustainable and recycled materials. Thomas Taylor of Vertegy offers more tips for getting your building LEED certified.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Gaining More From 3PL Relationships

Getting your money’s worth from third-party logistics (3PL) service providers requires willingness to commit to key relationships, according to these tips from supply chain consultant Valerie Bonebrake, Tompkins International.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Improving the Order-to-Cash Cycle

Improving order-to-cash cycle effectiveness requires more than speeding receivables. Scott Pezza, research analyst, The Aberdeen Group, offers advice for enhancing the overall process by focusing on long-term goals and relationships with customers.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Ensuring a Worry-Free ERP Implementation

Choosing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) vendor that addresses flexibility, scalability, and upgrade and maintenance costs can help provide a smooth solution implementation. David F. Ross of APICS, The Association for Operations Management, offers his advice on selecting the right ERP system.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Boosting Supply Chain Sustainability

Optimizing packaging, streamlining transportation, and maximizing space usage are among the ways businesses can boost their supply chain sustainability, writes Alan Amling of UPS.

Ten Tips

Increasing Warehouse Productivity

More efficient operations are the key to warehouse productivity – and, in turn, more satisfied customers, according to Kenco’s Jason Minghini.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Protecting Your Supply Chain Against Disruption

Dr. Jeff Karrenbauer of supply chain solutions provider INSIGHT offers tips for protecting against supply chain disruption.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Building Efficiency Into Your Supply Chain

Ellen Fontaine, VASCOR Ltd, offers advice for boosting supply chain efficiency.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Securing Global Supply Chains

Global shippers must be well-prepared to ensure the safety of international cargo shipments, writes Bill Anderson of Ryder System Inc.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Maneuvering Freight Through Challenging International Areas

If your business plans include shipping to areas where civil unrest or natural disasters have occurred, be flexible and make strong connections, advises Larry Wenrich, Pilot Freight Services.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Managing Fresh Produce Shipments

Shipping fresh produce requires quick movement through the supply chain to prevent product spoilage. C.H. Robinson’s general managers, Gary York, Bob Biesterfeld, and Mark Petersen, provide advice for managing produce shipments.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Optimizing Air Cargo Shipments

Scott Aubuchon of UPS offers tips to help shippers make the most of their air cargo shipments.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Reducing Ocean Freight Costs

Mark Malambri, CEVA Logistics, offers tips to help shippers reduce costs and increase efficiencies when purchasing ocean freight services.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Establishing a Successful Core Carrier Program

Charlie Hitt, 3PD Inc., offers tips for implementing a successful core carrier program.

Ten Tips

Shipping Cross-Border and Within Mexico

Troy Ryley and Jose Minarro, managing directors for Transplace Mexico, offer tips for shipping freight cross-border and within Mexico.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Discovering Savings Through Freight Payment Services

Freight payment services can make processing carrier invoices easier and enhance freight spend visibility. John Stitz of enVista offers tips on working with freight payment and auditing services.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Cutting Costs When Shipping Perishables

Avoid costly delays when shipping perishables with these tips from Crowley Maritime Corporation's Nelly Yunta and Kip Douglas

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Cutting Costs From Your Logistics Budget

Nathan Pieri of Management Dynamics provides tips for reducing logistics costs through improved supply chain management.

Ten Tips

Optimizing Global Supply Chain Management

Andrea Robinson of CargoWise provides tips on handling global supply chain management challenges.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Locating a Global Distribution Hub

10 tips for what companies should consider when locating and choosing a global distribution hub.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Enhancing Cross-docking Efficiency

Boost your cross-docking operation's throughput for more efficient one-stop shipment, with these tips from Nelson Bettencourt of CEVA Logistics.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Choosing the Right Product Packaging

Packaging decisions can be complex. Here are 10 tips on choosing the right packaging for your products.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Choosing Between Hosted And On-Demand Technology

Learn how to choose the type of technology delivery that best meets your needs.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Advance Your Career Through Online Learning

Investigate online learning, a convenient path to acquiring supply chain know-how.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Boosting Loading Dock Efficiencies

Operate your loading dock at peak efficiency with these strategies for avoiding delays, accidents, and product damage from Walt Swietlik, Rite-Hite Corporation.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Growing a Greener Warehouse

Fuel-optimized forklifts? Check. Energy-efficient light bulbs? Check. Here's your cheat-sheet for warehouse sustainability efforts, courtesy of Rajiv Saxena of APL Logistics.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Implementing an RFID Solution

Proper management and execution are key to a successful RFID implementation project for shipment tracking, according to Scott Thomas of Intel.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani

Using Social Networking for Logistics

Tim Richards of States Logistics Services offers advice on using Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and other social networking sites to enhance your supply chain.

Ten TipsDeborah Catalano Ruriani