Devising a Logistics Budget
A logistics budget that is off the mark can cause problems, as well as lost profits. If you don’t plan properly, logistics costs can spiral, leading to an end-of-fiscal-year disaster. Here are 10 tips for devising your logistics budget, from Michael Bravo, senior director of finance, APL Logistics America. 1. Watch the calendar. When it […]
Read MoreNew ‘Lifestyle’, New Logistics Challenges
The proliferation of “lifestyle centers”—one of the biggest trends to hit retail real estate in decades—is having a significant effect on retailers’ logistics and distribution networks. Lifestyle centers—typically 150,000 to 575,000 square feet in size—are vibrant, upscale, Main Street-style shopping areas with aesthetic extras such as plazas, fountains, decorated walkways, and landscaping. They are often […]
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2005: Happy or Unhappy Anniversary?
Last year marked the anniversary of several laws and events that revolutionized transportation regulation in the United States: The 10th anniversary of the Interstate Commerce Commission’s (ICC) demise. The 25th anniversary of deregulation in the railroad industry. The 25th anniversary of partial deregulation in the motor carrier industry. The 28th anniversary of deregulation in the […]
Read MoreThe New Reality of Hosted Solutions: Less Can Be More
Technological complexity, rapid change, and escalating IT costs are forcing fleet managers to examine the way they collect and manage driver, vehicle, and delivery information. As a result, a new fleet management model is emerging. Increasing numbers of small and mid-size businesses are evaluating the benefits of using a hosted solution to ease the headaches […]
Read MoreCrafting a Strategy to be Proud of
Hammered by pressure from Home Depot, cabinet maker Mill’s Pride overhauls its logistics strategy, and shuts the door on untimely deliveries and customer complaints.
Read MoreLessons From the Neanderthals
What do global trade, cavemen, and a TV commercial have in common? Stay with me. Did you catch the FedEx ad about a caveman using Brand X Pterosaur to ship an important stick? Instant classic! The commercial humorously shows that good transportation was as important then as it is now. Oddly enough, new research by […]
Read MoreMaterial World Goes High-Tech
American Mills weaves together an inventory management system to improve DC operations and speed its home textile products to store shelves.
Read MoreIndia: Asia’s New Frontier
Global pioneers are peeking around China’s corner and beyond the Himalayas into Asia’s next major logistics hotspot—India.
Read MoreCuring Health Care’s Ills
SYMPTOMS: hemorrhaging costs, swollen inventory, impaired visibility & tracking, technological paralysis. DIAGNOSIS: unhealthy supply chain management and related complications. RECOMMENDED TREATMENT: take control of costs, exercise better visibility, optimize infrastructure…and call me in the morning.
Read MoreNebraska: America’s Emerging Logistics Center
Strategically positioned in the center of the country, with a business-friendly climate and well-educated workforce, Nebraska offers an ideal location for transportation, logistics, distribution, and warehousing companies. The state has become a manufacturing growth center and an emerging distribution hub.
Read MoreGlobal Logistics—March 2006
3PLs Manufacturers Eyeing Eastern Europe Go east—to Eastern Europe, that is—has become the new mantra for multinational manufacturers looking to establish low-cost production sites. The accession of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia to the European Union (EU) has opened up new growth opportunities in the region. […]
Read MoreShane Grutsch: Oil’s Well That Ends Well
If your next order of french fries, chicken nuggets, or onion rings is cooked to a golden crisp, you might have Shane Grutsch of Restaurant Technologies Inc. (RTI), Minneapolis, to thank. More than 10,000 U.S. foodservice establishments use RTI’s patented system to manage their cooking oil. RTI provides and maintains equipment that automatically feeds oil […]
Read MoreFostering Flexible Fulfillment
As customers pressure their suppliers to create new products, new variations of products, and new services attached to those products, the supply chain can become severely strained. It may not be enough to handle increased supply chain pressures merely by optimizing existing hardware and software solutions. An increasing need for real-time and synchronized processes exists […]
Read MoreWhere’s the Beef? Check the Onboard Tracking Unit
Vehicle location technology helps a foodservice supplier feed hungry customers, and a truck leasing firm feed customers hungry for information.
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