Archive: Dec 2009

Selecting the Right Port for Your Transport Needs

Ports around the country vie to be the first choice for shippers’ supply chains by providing a wealth of intermodal connections, capacity, and distribution facilities. Various member seaports of the American Association of Port Authorities offer the following strategies for selecting a port to fit your specific shipping needs. 1. Consider proximity.You can cut transportation […]

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On the Road to Recovery: Strengthening Our Transportation Infrastructure

Although the Dow was recently flirting with 10,000, there is no celebration on Main Street. This is a jobless economic recovery, and without job growth there will be no sustainable economic recovery on either Main or Wall Street. Compounding the loss of jobs is the explosive economic growth of China and its ominous effect on […]

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Felecia Stratton

Less Lip Service, More Customer Service

When times are good, everyone says they are focused on customer service, but admittedly some of that is lip service. When times are bad, are carriers and service providers truly focused on providing you good customer service, or are they cutting customer service corners? Are you as concerned about customer service these days, or is […]

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Snapshot: Footwear

Dealing with shifts in global manufacturing, limited product lifecycles, and inventory complexity keeps the footwear supply chain on its toes.By Cindy H. Dubin Apparel trends change rapidly, and each season spawns a new look. This is particularly true for footwear, a category of seemingly endless variety. From shearling-lined suede boots and bejeweled strappy sandals to […]

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Where Are They Now? A Reader Profile Reunion

Time flies, and careers evolve quickly. Since 2002, Inbound Logistics’ Reader Profile column has introduced readers to more than 90 colleagues who work in logistics and supply chain management. Many of those professionals have since moved on from the jobs they held when we visited with them. Others still hold the same positions but have seen significant changes in their work. Let’s catch up.

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Global Logistics—December 2009

Electronics Manufacturing Switches Current Outsourcing manufacturing to China remains a viable strategy for many global companies. But the country’s developing economy, expanding consumer base, rising labor costs—and increasing global competition—has some industries reconsidering where they source product. Labor costs, total landed costs, and insourcing by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are slowing the migration of high-tech […]

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Rich Becks

Eco-operation in Action: Collaborating to Achieve Green Goals

As a company with tens of thousands of suppliers around the globe, Walmart’s bold move to promote a sustainability index has planted new seeds across entire industries. It’s a significant event for manufacturers, and has caused many businesses to take notice of new customer aspirations and re-think their supply chain designs. Walmart’s efforts to reduce […]

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Terri Sheely: Ready for Ignition

One tricky aspect of Terri Sheely’s work is the way her company, Altronic, manages inventory. “We don’t carry a lot of finished products,” says Sheely, purchasing and traffic manager at the Girard, Ohio, firm that makes ignition systems and digital instrumentation used in large engines that pump natural gas. But when a customer places an […]

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Trends

Pacer International and Union Pacific (UP) have entered a multi-year arrangement that allows the intermodal company continued access to the railroad’s network. That’s welcome news to some rail users. Foremost, the announcement puts to rest speculation about the company’s tenuous financial position. Pacer will use the $30-million cash infusion received as part of the deal […]

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