Global Logistics—January 2012
Containers Aweigh The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) has joined the World Shipping Council, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), and the Baltic and International Maritime Council to encourage the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to amend the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS). The measure would ensure that a ship and port […]
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The Art of Integration
When supply chain disruptions occur, as they did last year during the Thailand floods, Japan earthquake and tsunami, and more, integration grows more important and grabs more attention. But the readers of this magazine have been practicing a higher form of integration for quite some time—demand-driven logistics. You try new modal mixes, new technologies, blending […]
Read MoreProtesting Economic Ignorance
I’m a big fan of freedom of speech, the right to assemble, and peaceful protest to effect change. But when exercising these rights, protesters must be aware of unintended consequences and potential collateral damage.
Read MoreEnsuring a Worry-Free ERP Implementation
The complaints most often associated with implementing an enterprise resource planning system (ERP) focus on flexibility, scalability, and upgrade and maintenance costs. To avoid snafus, do your homework before making a purchase. David F. Ross, senior manager, professional department, at APICS, The Association for Operations Management, offers this advice to guide your selection. 1. Consider […]
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John Hodge: Feeding a Need
John Hodge is director of supply chain at Prince Agri Products, a global manufacturer and marketer of trace minerals and specialty feed ingredients to the animal nutrition industry. Based in Quincy, Ill., Prince Agri, a division of Phibro Animal Health Corporation, serves manufacturers, large integrated producers, and distributors/blenders in the livestock, poultry, and pet food […]
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Global Supply Chain Strategy: Decision Points
As a former sea captain, I will never forget the first time I approached a junction buoy. This buoy is essentially a fork in the road, floating on the water, which marks where a waterway splits into two channels and indicates the preferred channel to transit. The options were: steer to the preferred channel and […]
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Responsive and Flexible Logistics Management Solutions for 2012 and Beyond
For many companies, the biggest challenge is that the world is changing, and they are asking, "How should we respond to the rapid growth in Asia and other emerging markets and manage the longer supply chains? And, how do we react to volatile fuel pricing and unpredictable demand, security issues and changing regulations affecting the […]
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The Role of Cloud-Based LTL Content in Smarter Supply Chains
Cloud computing is quickly coming into its own: Its virtual, service-oriented, location-independent architecture is used across a whole host of industries to provide on-demand content for accurate decision making. The U.S. freight industry is quickly catching on to the value of actionable content delivered via the cloud, which easily lends itself to supporting effective supply […]
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Tough Economic Times Require LEAN Logistics Solutions
With economic pressures rising, companies must seek ways to evaluate their current state, and design a future state that surpasses their strategic goals and their customers’ expectations. Manufacturers, retailers and distributors are constantly working to improve their performance in quality, cost, delivery and service. With those goals in mind, forward-thinking organizations are pursuing LEAN assessments […]
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Trends—January 2012
Supply Chain Outlook: What’s Ahead? With the drop of the ball every New Year, it’s only natural to take out the Magic 8 Ball and divine what supply chain trends loom large on the horizon. Inbound Logistics editors and writers thumbed through their notes, clicked through their digital Rolodexes, and checked with sources to ascertain […]
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A Lost Art?
Strength of will. Toughness. The refusal to be deterred from the goal no matter what impediments stand in the way. Do we have much of that in our culture today? In our leaders? In our own businesses? Retracing the Trails of the Iron Horse takes us back to a simpler time in America’s past, where […]
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Protecting Your Company Against Load Board Scams
Online load board scams have plagued the trucking industry for the past few years. Unfortunately, the lethargic economy means the problem will get worse before it gets better. Con artists are taking advantage of the fact that law enforcement has not made this issue a priority. Most scammers, in fact, are never prosecuted. On average, […]
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On a Roll: How a New Auto Plant Revived a Town
Six years ago, West Point, Ga., was on the brink of becoming a ghost town. More than 16,000 of the town’s factory jobs disappeared in the past 20 years, leading to high unemployment, a low standard of living, and a lost sense of community. But then, something amazing happened. In 2006, South Korean car company […]
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Four Simple Questions for Improved Picking Performance
The process of receiving a product into inventory is just as important as picking or removing it from inventory. A solid slotting plan for receiving and storing products in a facility supports quicker and more accurate picking. Slotting is the concept of using data analysis to assign every part a location based on its specific […]
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Online Education: An Ideal Medium for Logistics Professionals
Although continuing education offers logistics professionals many benefits, long hours, shift schedules, travel, and jobs in remote locations can make attending classes difficult. Online education has quickly emerged as a preferred learning method for logistics professionals. Today’s online classroom offers dynamic peer interaction, based more on real-world, practical applications than traditional theory. This focus enables […]
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Are You Effectively Managing Supply Chain Risk?
The events of Sept. 11, 2001, changed the way global businesses operate. The need for supply chain transparency has expanded beyond shipment tracking to include knowing trading partners’ background, the processes they handle, and the risk inherent at each stage of the supply chain from the factory floor to ultimate destination. Many regulations affect the […]
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5 Steps to Improving Food Product Traceability
Food safety represents a pressing concern for consumers and food retailers. Several high-profile incidents have cost billions due to sickened consumers, lost sales, and contaminated products. If these occurrences have taught U.S. retailers anything, it’s that the ability to react swiftly and appropriately to food-related issues is essential. The passage of the U.S. Food and […]
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How Carriers Keep Great Drivers Behind the Wheel
Motor carriers face a constant loss of qualified drivers, with some experiencing up to 150-percent turnover annually. Replacing a driver costs carriers $12,000 to $15,000 in separation, replacement, and training costs—a significant hit to their bottom line. High driver turnover also undermines carrier safety performance and customer service. To meet shipper demand, some carriers attempt […]
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Launching a Sustainability Initiative Can Be as Easy as 1-2-3
Over the past decade, sustainability has evolved from a buzzword to an established component of good business. While some organizations and industries may have operations that naturally lend themselves to sustainability efforts, all companies should be empowered to review their shipping and supply chain operations through the lens of sustainability. Sustainability programs are not one-size-fits-all […]
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Transporting Wind Turbines: An Oversized Challenge
Faced with moving enormous wind turbines hundreds of miles, energy giant enXco made waves—and saved on freight costs—with an innovative barge transport strategy.
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