Today's News
Direct vs. Indirect Distribution Channels: Understanding the Differences
Learn MoreDistribution channels are essential in business, serving as the routes that products and services take to move from producers to consumers. The efficiency of a distribution channel directly impacts a company’s ability to meet customer demands, manage costs, and maintain competitiveness in the market. Selecting the right distribution channel is important for making sure that […]
Lean Six Sigma in Supply Chain: Definition, Importance, and Implementation
Lean Six Sigma blends rigorous quality controls with strategies to cut inefficiencies, making it a top choice for improving supply chain operations. It roots out waste and enhances product consistency by merging the strengths of Lean methodologies and Six Sigma principles. This approach not only sharpens competitive edges but also ensures products and services meet […]
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.
A Career Path Hidden in Plain Sight: 3PL Warehousing
Why should logistics professionals consider a career in 3PL warehousing? Here are the benefits and one logistics company president’s story.
Global Online Shopping Revolution: How Online Retailers Can Thrive
Now that ecommerce is a global phenomenon, what can online retailers do to captivate shoppers, ensure repeat purchases, and tap into new revenue streams? The latest Online Shopper Trends Report by DHL reveals the trends that small and medium-sized businesses cannot overlook.
What Song or Lyric Best Describes Your Supply Chain Experience or Approach?
From Beatles classics to pop hits, here are the tracks that capture supply chain professionals’ experience and work approach. Tune in:
Alternative Routing: Go Another Way
In the face of constant supply chain disruptions and unexpected events, shippers must be ready to reroute at a moment’s notice. Finding the road—or waterway— less traveled can sometimes make all the difference for transportation success.
Demand-Driven Supply Chain: Definition, Benefits, and Implementation
A demand-driven supply chain offers significant strategic advantages in today’s competitive market. By focusing on customer demand and leveraging real-time data, businesses can achieve increased customer satisfaction, reduce lead times, and optimize operations planning.
FCL vs LCL: Understanding the Differences
Selecting between Full Container Load (FCL) and Less than Container Load (LCL) is a strategic decision that impacts every aspect of international shipping.
2024 Inbound Logistics Top 100 Truckers
Inbound Logistics’ annual Top 100 Truckers list helps identify carrier partners that can best fuel your diverse and demanding needs, especially in today’s challenging and ever-changing business climate.
Beyond the Rack: Retail Supply Chain Strategies That Work
In the challenging retail sector, supply chain efficiency can be the difference between succeeding and just barely hanging on. From weaving together disparate systems into a single information flow, to ensuring products appear effortlessly on shelves, to fulfilling online orders with lightning speed, here’s how thriving retailers rack and roll.
How Does Integrated Business Planning (IBP) Drive Supply Chain Efficiency?
6 ways that Integrated Business Planning (IBP) improves supply chain efficiency.
Featured Articles
Consumers Want More Action on Sustainability
Learn MoreThe 2022 Retail and Sustainability Survey from global business applications firm CGS illustrates the demand for sustainability, even at the cost of losing expedited shipping times.
What’s the biggest supply chain silo?
Readers shine a light on the most significant information lapses and data gaps in the supply chain, from transportation siloes to the lack of visibility into suppliers.
Higher Transport Rates on the Horizon
Fuel surcharges, market forces, and easing truckload growth rates are driving up parcel and LTL rates, says Cowen/AFS’s 2022 Freight Index.
What pandemic-era adjustment will have the greatest supply chain impact?
The acceleration of digital twins. The ability to digitally model a company’s manufacturing and distribution network will allow it to quickly assess the impact of large and small disruptions and take appropriate actions. —Allen Jacques Industry Thought Leader Kinaxis The use of data analytics to help suppliers really understand consumer behavior. Suppliers decided to eliminate […]
NOTED: The Supply Chain In Brief
The latest mergers & acquisitions, logistics contracts, sustainability initiatives, humanitarian logistics efforts and more. Good Works The Coca-Cola Company, based in Atlanta, donated $1 million to the Technical College System of Georgia Foundation’s Commercial Truck Driving Program. The donation funds driver training programs and helps ensure more drivers are in the pipeline to fill trucking […]
Supply Chain Helps Meet ESG Goals
As corporations become increasingly focused on ESG initiatives, their supply chain and logistics partners respond with tools and services designed to help them grow sustainability and other goals.
2022 75 Green Supply Chain Partners
Inbound Logistics editors select 75 companies going above and beyond to prioritize green initiatives and help global supply chains become more sustainable. These companies are dedicated to developing and implementing best practices that leave a positive footprint on the world.
Chemical Logistics: Critical Challenges Drive Creativity
Chemical shippers and their partners keep critical shipments moving safely and efficiently—refining their strategies and getting creative despite considerable challenges. Here’s how leading providers formulate solutions for the chemical industry.
Vertical Focus: Footwear
China SC Woes Have Footwear Industry Tied In Knots The impact on the supply chain from lockdowns in China was a major themefor footwear retailers in the first half of 2022. Largely reporting lower-than-expected earnings, many major footwear brands pointed a finger at the lockdowns to explain their disappointing performance levels. Strict and extended COVID-19 […]
To Efficiently Unload Trucks, You First Need to Dance: A Winning Collaboration Between DHL Supply Chain and Boston Dynamics
Boston Dynamics has established a reputation as one of the most innovative and advanced robotics companies in the world. Much of this reputation has grown through the many videos of its dancing robots. And, while the videos are fun, they also serve a very real purpose in spurring innovation and advancing robotic technology. The videos, […]
Supply Chain Knowledge Center
Direct vs. Indirect Distribution Channels: Understanding the Differences
Learn MoreDistribution channels are essential in business, serving as the routes that products and services take to move from producers to consumers. The efficiency of a distribution channel directly impacts a company’s ability to meet customer demands, manage costs, and maintain competitiveness in the market. Selecting the right distribution channel is important for making sure that […]
Lean Six Sigma in Supply Chain: Definition, Importance, and Implementation
Lean Six Sigma blends rigorous quality controls with strategies to cut inefficiencies, making it a top choice for improving supply chain operations. It roots out waste and enhances product consistency by merging the strengths of Lean methodologies and Six Sigma principles. This approach not only sharpens competitive edges but also ensures products and services meet […]
Demand-Driven Supply Chain: Definition, Benefits, and Implementation
A demand-driven supply chain offers significant strategic advantages in today’s competitive market. By focusing on customer demand and leveraging real-time data, businesses can achieve increased customer satisfaction, reduce lead times, and optimize operations planning.
FCL vs LCL: Understanding the Differences
Selecting between Full Container Load (FCL) and Less than Container Load (LCL) is a strategic decision that impacts every aspect of international shipping.
How Does Integrated Business Planning (IBP) Drive Supply Chain Efficiency?
6 ways that Integrated Business Planning (IBP) improves supply chain efficiency.
Contact Manufacturing Explained: Benefits, Tips, and Challenges
Contract manufacturing plays a key role in modern supply chains. It can enable businesses to focus on core competencies while leveraging specialized expertise and cost efficiencies. This strategic outsourcing approach enhances operational flexibility and positions companies to scale rapidly in response to market demands.