Choosing a Warehouse Location: Look for More than Just Price
The pressure on corporate supply chains has never been greater. Major supply chain glitches can impact a company’s shareholder value by as much as 20 percent or more within six months—regardless of who is at fault—according to industry estimates. Companies feel increasing pressure to reduce inventories and increase inventory turns. And, in a post-Sept. 11 […]
Read MoreShort Sea Shipping: Long On Benefits
To help meet the current congestion crisis on U.S. highway systems and rail networks, the Department of Transportation and the U.S. Maritime Administration are promoting short sea shipping as an environmentally friendly, timely, and cost-effective way to expand freight capacity. The practice uses existing vessels and infrastructure to move freight between coastal ports, and between […]
Read MoreMulti-Enterprise Computing: Competitive Advantage for Those Who Do it Well
Logistics managers know how vital it is to keep things moving. Failure to deliver products on time, in the proper quantities, and to the right place carries very real consequences: assembly lines halt, shelves lie empty, perishable goods grow stale, and the window of business opportunity slams shut. Tangible, bottom-line metrics back up these anecdotal […]
Read MoreDistribution Takes Center Stage
A paradigm shift has occurred within the supply chain, and distribution is taking center stage. In the midst of a total revival from its undistinguished past, distribution is now more instrumental than ever to an organization’s success. Traditionally, distribution took a back seat to manufacturing and other supply chain activities—not surprising given its historical perception […]
Read MoreLTL Lowdown: Choosing a Regional Trucking Carrier
By partnering with a regional LTL carrier that understood its goals, needs, and challenges, NCH Corporation achieved elevated service levels, decreased costs, and increased efficiency.
Read MoreBuilding a Better Mousetrap (Felecia Stratton)
Striving to build a better logistics mousetrap—changing and tuning your process to balance competing demands within your supply chain system—is a tough game. It requires skill and split-second timing to orchestrate ever-morphing variables to exceed your logistics goals. And it is growing increasingly difficult. But stasis is not an option. Not with growing and changing […]
Read MoreTipping Point, Again? (Keith Biondo)
We are at a tipping point in terms of America’s ability to compete globally. Go one way and we can expand our economic growth and leverage the trend toward globalization. Go the other and we may reach a point where others drive the well-being of our economy and workers. And if it is now true […]
Read MoreMerger Combines Two Companies, Two Languages, Two DCs
To make the most of a merger, GlaxoSmithKline prescribed a new DC, new equipment, and new logistics technology.
Read MoreOptimization: Game On
Like the Mousetrap game, optimizing logistics requires precision timing, nerves of steel, and a little bit of luck to reach your goal. While you may not care about catching mice, you certainly care about speeding shipments, reducing inventory, delighting customers or just plain cutting costs. Here are the strategies of several logistics leaders who put their optimizing game face on and play to win.
Read MoreTransportation: Negotiating Contracts Without Getting Soaked
To stay competitive, companies must continue to optimize all modes of transportation. Here is a look at one particularly complex mode—ocean.
Read MoreStrategy and Process: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
As part of an ambitious optimization effort, DaimlerChrysler Corporation realigns and rebuilds its supply chain organization to kick innovation and efficiency into high gear.
Read MoreCross-Functional Teams: Petter Supply Company
An optimization project using cross-functional teams helped Petter Supply Company boost performance, reduce inventory, and cut costs.
Read MoreSpeeding the Process: The J.R. Simpot Company
To support a rapidly expanding business, J.R. Simplot used 3PLs to optimize a seamless merger and warehouse transition—while maintaining customer service expectations—all in 90 days.
Read MoreFlexibility: AM General
Cutting-edge technology helps AM General optimize supply chain operations, enhance manufacturing flexibility, and add horsepower to marketing efforts.
Read MoreScalability: Sportsman’s Warehouse
By optimizing warehouse operations and implementing an ERP system, Sportsman’s Warehouse meets aggressive growth and expansion goals.
Read MoreSupply Chain Strategies: On-Demand is In Demand
“We’ve always had a supply chain. But until fairly recently, it was an adjunct to the ‘real’ business. Something to be managed rather than used as a strategic weapon. “The supply chain was plumbing. It was back office—the unglamorous work of negotiating contracts, procuring parts, getting them to the people making the products, then loading […]
Read MoreBusiness Continuity: Ready, Set, Prepare
From labor slowdowns, port congestion, and power outages to wildfires, hurricanes, and terrorist attacks, we’ve seen no dearth of disasters that can shatter a company’s supply chain and transportation networks. Here’s how to plan for supply chain continuity—no matter what the obstacle.
Read MorePanama Gold
Increasing congestion at West Coast ports, greater demand for predictability in the supply chain, and growing capacity constraints magnify the importance of the Panama Canal as a viable alternate route. Are global shippers and supply chain partners ready to take the all-water plunge?
Read MoreThe Real Story on RFID: 5 Questions for 6 Experts
RFID experts answer your questions about compliance, ROI, costs, and implementation.
Read MoreBuild to Scale: Bringing PLM to the Masses
As globalization continues to level the playing field, smaller enterprises embrace PLM solutions as a go-to-market strategy for managing and scaling growth, and enhancing visibility and communication within the supply chain.
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