Evaluating Inland Ports
Are you considering using an inland port instead of the usual coastal port? That’s a decision many companies are analyzing as they face high fuel and transportation costs, as well as congestion at larger ports. Choosing an inland port may not work for every company, but it can help achieve greater supply chain management success […]
Read MorePrinting on the Go Can Help Profits Flow
Companies are investing in mobile computing systems at record levels to cut costs and improve efficiency in distribution, direct-to-store deliveries, and route accounting operations. Getting the most bang from these investment bucks does not necessarily depend on implementing the hottest new smart phones, software applications, or 3G wireless network services. Often, a small incremental investment […]
Read MoreWith Six Sigma, Hershey’s Kisses Errors Goodbye
To sweeten operations at its sales fulfillment warehouse, Hershey’s turns to Six Sigma. Using the rigorous process analysis methodology, the facility improves productivity and throughput while cutting labor costs.
Read MoreStakeholders Share New Value
The CEO of Procter & Gamble, A.G. Lafley, does not talk much about shareholders; instead he talks about “stakeholders.” I wondered precisely what he meant, so I did a little online research. The original meaning of the word stakeholder was a person who holds money while its owner is being determined—a trustee for a minor, […]
Read MoreA Smart-Money Move
Technology retailer CDW hit the jackpot with its new Las Vegas distribution center. The facility’s automated technology and room for expansion are a winning combination.
Read MoreTransportation Management Systems: Pulling It Together
Transportation management systems attract companies with the promise of bringing structure and efficiency to polarized processes. But it’s crucial to weigh the positives and negatives before pulling the product from a wealth of choices.
Read MoreGlobal Logistics—April 2006
Chinese Embrace Logistics Training For years, the global logistics industry has flocked to China to take advantage of its abundant cheap labor and inexpensive warehouse and manufacturing sites. China, however, has just begun to embrace the importance of logistics in its own business community."The Chinese realize they are far behind the industrialized world in terms […]
Read MoreJames Renaud: Getting Ready for Liftoff
When work goes well for James Renaud, rockets soar into space. Literally. As director of development operations for Boeing Company, Renaud is in charge of the group that builds prototypes of Boeing products, such as the Delta IV launch vehicle that blasts satellites into orbit. “Having a successful launch makes my day,” Renaud says. Renaud’s […]
Read MoreKnock on Wood Packaging Materials
Q: We are importing several containers of roof tiles from Spain. The pallets used for the shipment contain paper documents certifying that they were treated to ward off insects and other vermin. The shipment arrived at the destination port, but Customs informed us that the paper documents are not an acceptable proof of treatment. They […]
Read MoreFollow the Freight, Find the ROI
While the threat of cargo terrorism steals headlines (Dubai Ports World debacle anyone?), U.S. shippers are equally challenged by more common cargo perils such as vandalism, breakage, spoilage, transport accidents, and theft. In fact, the FBI estimates losses from cargo theft at $50 billion in the United States alone, according to Denis duNann, CEO of […]
Read MorePharmaceutical Logistics: Countering Counterfeits
To comply with a Florida regulation for tracking pharmaceuticals through the supply chain, wholesale distributor H.D. Smith implements an electronic pedigree solution.
Read MoreFreight Payment: Getting Back to Basics
At the beginning of the new millennium, many freight payment companies added the latest “whiz bang” gadgetry to their information systems or freight payment products. Now, those companies’ disappointed customers want their providers to get back to basics. Although information tools remain important, freight payment basics are now the priority. Today, shippers seek a freight […]
Read MoreTrends-April 2006
Though the hubbub has died down and the media have decamped from East Coast ports, the defunct Dubai Ports World deal is still reverberating throughout the shipping industry. Most significantly, the deal has served as an impetus for Congress to more closely examine the broader issue of port security and port operations. Capitol Hill leapt […]
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