Supply Chain Education Remains Critical for Compliance with New FDA Sanitary Food Transportation Rule
If there’s one thing that’s crucial to the supply chain, it’s collaboration—and its importance only intensifies during times of change. Signed into law by President Obama in 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is “the most sweeping reform to our food safety laws in more than 70 years.” Designed […]
Supply Chain Be Nimble,
Supply Chain Be Quick
To deliver a seamless and positive customer experience, retailers must adopt an omnichannel mindset and ensure supply networks are nimble enough to quickly respond to consumer demand, regardless of where or how shoppers interact with their brands. Omnichannel retail is synonymous with speed—shorter product lifecycle, quicker turnaround on promotion, and faster delivery expected by customers. […]
Yone Dewberry: Engineering the Supply Chain
Yone Dewberry is chief supply chain officer with Land O’Lakes, Inc., a member-owned cooperative with operations ranging from agricultural production to consumer foods. Based in Arden Hills, Minnesota, Land O’Lakes had 2016 sales of $13 billion. Responsibilities Supply chain strategy, operations, and talent management. Experience Executive positions in supply chain with Land O’Lakes; managing director, […]
Next-Generation TMS Can Move Your Organization Into the Future – Transplace
In the ever-evolving world of drones, autonomous and electric vehicles, and a myriad of other emerging technologies, it’s important for organizations to still keep management in mind. While new technology is thrilling and can provide enhanced supply chain efficiency, lower a company’s carbon footprint and provide meaningful, actionable business intelligence, proper management of that new […]
The Advantages of Strategic Procurement – Schneider Logistics
A sound strategy is important in every industry. It’s even more important than ever when the prevailing theme includes major changes to the regulatory landscape. A driver shortage, competitive rate market, and reduction in productivity will make it more difficult for shippers to secure capacity as we progress into 2018 and beyond. Strategic procurement practices […]
From Nervous to Chill: Unlocking IoT’s Value Across the Cold Chain
One-third of the world’s food goes to waste, with most of the losses coming from spoilage on its way to being consumed. Much of the waste is due to lack of proper refrigeration. Broadening and improving cold chain efficiency would extend shelf life and increase the supply of perishable foods such as meat, fruits, vegetables, […]
How to Prepare Your Supply Chain for Inclement Weather
Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma both made landfall causing destruction and devastation in their paths. Hurricane Harvey is said to be the biggest hurricane to hit Texas in 50 years and Hurricane Irma is the first major hurricane to hit Florida since Wilma made landfall in 2005. As a result, businesses were forced to shut […]
The Economy Will Grow. Is That Bad News?
For this annual trucking issue, we surveyed both shippers and carriers on important issues impacting the trucking industry. Most importantly, we solicited their views on the state of the economy as we head into 2018. The good news: not one shipper or carrier responding to our survey thinks that the economy will head south in […]
What would you put in a logistics time capsule for people to open 50 years from now?
I’d put in a bunch of data such as the average weight of a truckload, the price of fuel, transit times, etc. so that people in 50 years could compare it to what they are doing and wonder how we survived. Kyle Merop U.S. Air Force Veteran Logistician I still have a few air waybills […]
Investing in the Right Transportation Management System
The demand for transportation management systems (TMS) is on the rise. A basic solution manages truck and carrier dispatch, fleet maintenance, driver records, billing and driver pay, and DOT compliance. Additionally, a TMS streamlines operations by optimizing carrier routes, managing customer activity, and reporting analytics. Joe Couto, chief operating officer at HighJump, outlines factors to […]
BluJay Solutions CEO Doug Braun:
Leading with Compassion and Conviction
It has been a busy year at BluJay Solutions. In 2016, the supply chain software company, known then as Kewill, acquired another technology player, LeanLogistics. In March 2017, the combined companies rebranded as BluJay Solutions and debuted an innovative new software platform model, the BluJay Global Trade Network. Soon after, BluJay acquired Blackbay, a provider […]
Global Supply Chain Risk: Don’t Wait, Mitigate
Having a global supply chain risk management strategy in place can not only increase value to your customers but also reduce your costs and increase performance. Companies globalize supply chain management to increase competitive advantage, add value to the customer, and reduce costs through global sourcing. But global supply chains also increase risks from considerations […]
Solved: Optimizing and Speeding Up Shipments to Mexico – Transplace
By partnering with Transplace, drywall and joint compound maker USG was able to reduce the delivery time of its product to Mexico from 6 weeks to 48 hours.
10 Tips for Transportation Sourcing
Follow these best practices to cut costs and avoid mistakes when choosing modes and carriers.
2017 Trucking Perspectives
Inbound Logistics’ exclusive annual trucking market research report delivers shipper and trucker insights into industry challenges and trends.
Data by the Truckload – U.S. Bank
Q: With increasing access to data, it can be difficult to hone in on the information relevant to shippers. How can they determine which data to analyze? A: Whether it’s orders, shipments, tracking and shipping status reports, or freight invoices, shippers have abundant access to data. And although technology is supposed to make it easy […]
Transportation Management at the Border – Landstar
Q: How have trends in U.S./Mexico cross-border operations shaped today’s supply chain? A: There is a continuous rebalancing that occurs within the U.S./Mexico cross-border transportation services environment. For years now, there has been an imbalance of freight shipments moving north to the United States vs. freight moving south into Mexico. Some of this is attributable […]
VMI Solutions Carried Out by 3PLs in the Life Sciences & Pharmaceuticals Industry – MD Logistics
Third-party logistics (3PL) providers specialize in maximizing their customers’ supply chain processes. Recently, 3PLs have innovated their practices to extend pharmaceutical supply chains for special projects, such as packaging and kitting. Vendor-managed inventory (VMI) is a natural evolution of these extended services. Q: What is VMI in the life sciences and pharmaceuticals industry? A: Pharmaceutical […]
Freight Bill Audit & Payment: Getting More Bang for Your Bucks
Freight transportation networks within the United States move billions of tons of goods, worth trillions of dollars. The carriers who move these goods often issue lengthy, complicated, and confusing bills for their services. To ensure shippers pay those freight bills on time—the amount they owe, but no more—many turn to third-party freight bill audit and […]
Top 6 Factors for Selecting and Implementing a WMS
Whether you are installing a WMS for the first time, or upgrading your system, this advice will guide you through successful selection and implementation.
Golf Ball Maker Hits Supply Chain Sweet Spot
Sporting goods manufacturer Acushnet took a swing at a demand-driven replenishment process for finished goods and met peak season demand to a tee.
3 Signs of a Siloed Supply Chain—and How to Fix Them
To keep up with the speed of mobile commerce and the impatience of consumers, supply chains must be faster and more agile than ever. Today’s consumers expect items to be delivered to them quickly and seamlessly no matter how, when, or where they made the purchase. Siloed supply chains can slow down the process, causing […]
The Ins and Outs of Deploying Mobile Devices Across the Supply Chain
How do you use mobile devices and apps in your distribution center or warehouse? What costs do you incur? Does your entire organization use mobile technology properly and securely? Is your voice-picking system up and running at all times? IT and line-of-business managers have a hard time getting answers to these and many other mobility […]
Supply Chain Commentary: Prepare for Mobile Commerce
E-commerce, m-commerce, and now app-commerce. Mobile commerce is expected to become a $250-billion market by 2020, with an increasing number of sales being done via smartphone apps. According to the 2017 UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper, shoppers make 25 percent of online purchases with apps, a number expected to spike quickly in coming years. […]
Supply Chain Shout Out: In Appreciation of Truck Drivers
Truck driver appreciation week ends tomorrow, Sept. 16, 2017, but appreciating truck drivers merits year-round attention. There is no better evidence of the critical role of professional drivers than during the natural events that have occurred throughout the past few weeks. Over the course of my career as a logistics analyst with a regional produce […]
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week Celebrates Our Unsung Heroes of the Road
More than 80 percent of U.S. communities depend solely on trucking for delivery of their goods and commodities. In this country, we all rely on truck drivers in some way or another. Whether it’s to enjoy basic modern conveniences, receive life-sustaining medical supplies, or keep businesses thriving, our lives depend on the transportation industry and […]
Digital Change: Realizing the Potential
Digital Transformation (DT) is coming of age. Eighty percent of respondents to a recent IFS Digital Change Survey see themselves as “enabled”, “enhanced” or “optimized” to leverage DT. More impressively, 89 percent say they have “advantageous” or “adequate” funding in place for digital projects—a clear acknowledgment that the time of disruptive technologies is here, and […]
U.S. Manufacturers Respond to Regulatory Plans
Manufacturers and wholesale distributors are optimistic about the perceived impact of the Trump administration’s plans for trade deregulation on their businesses, according to new research commissioned by business software provider Exact. Sixty-three percent of respondents anticipate that the plans will be beneficial to their businesses. Fifty percent of manufacturing respondents anticipate that the plans will […]
Supply Chain Commentary: Managing the Coming ELD Capacity Crisis
A capacity crunch, caused by the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate effective Dec. 18, 2017, is predicted by experts in logistics management, 3PLs, and truckers themselves. Only the magnitude of the shortage is challenged among experts. Some say it will be manageable, but at what cost? facts to remember Larger fleets adopting ELDs had a […]
Trucking Industry Celebrates National Truck Driver Appreciation Week
ATA Recognizes 3.5 Million Professional Truck Drivers
Low Bridge, Everybody Down!
As the historic Erie Canal celebrates its 200th anniversary, it’s also enjoying another milestone: commercial traffic volume that’s five times higher than in recent years. Built in 1817 to transport goods and people from one side of New York to the other, today the canal is primarily a recreational waterway. Commercial volume on the state’s […]
Does Multimodal Logistics Have a Future in Europe?
When it comes to multimodal logistics moving freight by combining two or more transport modes Europe still lags the more advanced U.S. market, but has made steady progress, according to Colliers International’s latest industrial research for the EMEA. The future drivers of multimodal traffic in European corridors include: Mega projects. Infrastructure is vital to enhancing […]
Supply Chain Commentary: Stop Reacting to Problems, Start Predictive Planning
Most planning systems deploy a reactive strategy rather than a predictive one. When a problem is identified regarding a capacity shortage, material shortage, or arrival of a high-priority order, the system addresses the issue by rearranging the plan. This is not optimal. It’s a Band-Aid solution that should be avoided. For example, if you release […]
Docked and Loaded: 5 Trends Turning the Tide Of North American Shipping
Only one year after opening, the $5-billion Panama Canal expansion is already having a major impact on North American shipping. As a result, industrial real estate demand around East and Gulf Coast ports is escalating, finds a new report from JLL, a commercial real estate services company. The JLL report notes five major trends that […]
Supply Chain Commentary:
Freight Transportation in the Wake of Hurricane Harvey
Harvey’s impact is being felt throughout the Southwest as transportation spot market pricing is expected to spike. The consumption of transportation resources through the combined effects of idling labor, equipment damage, and relief efforts will have ramifications for many months. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, spot market pricing jumped 20 percent and […]
What’s the most interesting or unusual supply chain problem you’ve solved?
How to ship toy motorcycles made out of magnets and tubes to retail stores around the country without them falling apart. They were used as a display for a toy kit. Our solution was to put them in a small cooler, fill the cooler with water, freeze the entire contents of the cooler, and ship out. Upon arrival at the retail store, they were thawed, dried, and displayed. It worked beautifully.
What Retail Apocalypse?
Retailers Open 4,000+ Stores in 2017
U.S. retailers are opening 4,080 more stores in 2017 than they are closing and plan to open more than 5,500 more in 2018, according to a new report from research and advisory firm IHL Group. The report, Debunking the Retail Apocalypse, was released on August 30, 2017. The research reviewed more than 1,800 retail chains […]
The Key to Seamless Order Fulfillment: Combine the Digital with the Physical in EDI and 3PL Outsourcing
Consumers today have been conditioned to purchase anything from anywhere in the world and expect to have it delivered within two days at no cost. For suppliers, meeting the expectation is a tough order to fill. Retailers are continually seeking to manage their suppliers better, improve product availability to consumers, streamline replenishment, and reduce stock-outs […]
Amazon Closes Whole Foods Acquisition: 3 Experts Weigh In
Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods Market closes today August 28, 2017, and the deal’s impact will be felt immediately. Whole Foods Market will offer lower prices starting today on a selection of best-selling grocery staples across its stores, with more to come. In addition, Amazon and Whole Foods Market technology teams will begin to integrate […]
The Next Transformational Technology for Terminal Operations: Simplified and Integrated Systems
The terminal operations sector we serve is in constant motion. The tools and systems necessary to run marine and rail facilities are vast and disparate. Once upon a time, if one of those systems failed, you’d pick up a clipboard, record the tasks, and calculate deltas. When everything was back up and running, you’d sit […]
Digitally Transform Your Supply Chain Today
Straightforward digital transformation solutions can deliver immediate results and reduce business inefficiencies.
How Reduced Packaging Waste is Key to Sustainability
Aiming for a green supply chain not only reduces costs but also is socially responsible. Shippers are turning to innovative solutions to reduce packaging waste and emissions as key components of their sustainability efforts. More customers than ever choose to purchase from sustainable companies. In fact, 91 percent of global consumers expect companies to do […]
Is Ransomware Holding Global Trade Hostage? Here’s How to Safeguard Your Supply Chain
In June 2017, another major cyberattack targeted several large multinational corporations. The malware Petya (or NotPetya or Nyetya) was able to breach dozens of Russian and Ukrainian companies, including Russian oil and gas giant Rosneft, as well as leading global businesses across multiple industries. This time, two giants in the logistics industry, Maersk and FedEx, […]
It Happens Automagically
I heard the phrase “it happens automagically” not long ago, and it reminded me of an editorial I wrote in 2000, when I mused that one day we’d have “a global internet without wires, melded with interaction free detection—finding something without looking.” Today, it is real and it happened sooner than I expected. The Internet […]
Recruiting Supply Chain Talent
New technologies, consumer demands, and the rise of the mobile workforce are shifting the business landscape quickly, making specialized supply chain and logistics workers more valuable than ever. It’s imperative for organizations to have a strategy in place to recruit and retain these talented workers. Tisha Danehl, vice president of staffing agency Ajilon, offers this […]
Betting the Farm on YRC’s Success
James Welch has worked for YRC Worldwide for nearly his whole career. At 23 years old, he joined what was then Yellow Freight System as a sales representative in Houston. Over the next 29 years, he took on a series of management positions with increasing levels of responsibility. MORE TO THE STORY: Safety First Welch […]
Chris Ward: Get the Food to Church’s On Time
Chris Ward is vice president, supply chain, with Church’s Chicken, a chain of fast food restaurants specializing in fried chicken with about 1,600 domestic and international locations. He has been with the brand since August 2011. Responsibilities: Purchasing, distribution, logistics, freight, all food and packaging products. Experience: Director, global supply chain, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen; vice […]
5 Ways to Execute a High-Performing Demo Program for Medical Devices – SEKO
Now more than ever, healthcare supply chains are key differentiators for best-in-class manufacturers. Leading companies effectively use their supply chains as a competitive advantage to drive revenue growth and achieve cost containment goals. At the same time, logistics practitioners face a unique and growing set of challenges that directly affect the bottom line. Current pressure […]
Recent Industry Disruptions Challenge, Improve Retail Logistics and Supply Chain – WSI
American consumers are now living in an era of supply chain domination, in which we sometimes sacrifice privacy for convenience, or a few extra dollars for speed. Amazon drones drop small packages on our doorstep the same day. Meals arrive on urban doorsteps via tiny robots moments after placing the order. Naturally, the retail industry […]
Insights into Complexities of Managing Secure Global Transportation for the Government – General Dynamics IT
Operating one of the largest supply chain and logistics operations on behalf of the government, General Dynamics IT, a 2017 Inbound Logistics Top 100 3PL Provider, functions as a 3PL provider and is responsible for the shipment of goods around the world to high-threat and isolated posts. In addition to meeting contract door-to-door terms and […]
Global Trade Content: Unlocking the Supply Chain Value
New Content-as-a-Service solutions deliver content that exists outside an organization. This outside-in perspective is spurring companies to find new value to make supply chain planning and execution inherently more intelligent—especially when it comes to global trade. Content solutions can, for example, help companies properly classify goods to ensure compliance while minimizing duties and tariffs; research, […]
Developing Innovative Delivery Services That Delight Customers
To compete in today’s retail landscape, companies must differentiate themselves to meet consumer demands and drive brand loyalty. Many retailers are reassessing every aspect of their supply chains—including their delivery services—and implementing digital processes to ensure superior consumer experiences. Many consumers are willing to pay more for a better shopping experience. In recent years, retailers […]
Solved: A Consolidated Fulfillment Solution With Global Visibility – SEKO
Sphere 3D turned to SEKO for global visibility and reduced logistics and warehousing costs.
Solved: Satellite DC Quickly Fulfills Orders – Unyson
Unyson helped a customer simultaneously increase service for time-sensitive shipments while decreasing costs.
E-Commerce: The Great Retail Equalizer
From small, local businesses to national giants, merchants fashion e-commerce strategies to attract and delight consumers in an ever-more competitive market.
Keeping Your DC in Peak Shape:
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
Whether your temporary peak periods are linked to holidays or seasons, these tips will keep your distribution center merry and bright.
The Perfect Amount of Packaging
Sustainable packaging helps shippers’ bottom line and brand as well as being easier on the environment.
Reverse Logistics: Earning a High Rate of Return
Are you ready to pay attention to the benefits a reverse logistics program can bring to your enterprise? Here are two expert perspectives on the opportunities that will make a difference in reverse logistics programs and how to establish goals to optimize those benefits.
Florida: Logistics & Distribution—The Future is Here
Florida’s state-of-the-art seaports and airports, and strong highway and rail networks, have helped establish a strong and growing logistics sector.
Warehouse Upgrade: Of Boxes and Briefs
MeUndies used to get its knickers in a knot during the holiday rush. But a new WMS has it in better shape.
Under Contract
Key takeaways from TI’s Global Contract Logistics 2017 report: The global contract logistics market grew by 3.9 percent in 2016, up from 3.7 percent in 2015. Asia Pacific has overtaken Europe as the biggest market for contract logistics. Seven of the 10 largest markets grew at a slower rate than in 2015. The market is […]
Global Business Leaders Feel Effects of a Riskier World
Nearly three quarters (72 percent) of business leaders in companies in Canada and around the world say their companies are increasingly impacted by risk and they believe we are living in a riskier world. That’s according to the BDO Global Risk Landscape Report, which surveyed 500 C-suite leaders, board and audit committee members from all […]
U.S. Online Shoppers Click With International Retailers
Nearly half of avid U.S. online shoppers bought items from international retailers, demonstrating the need for retailers to offer more personalized services as a way to compete against lower prices, according to UPS’ sixth annual Pulse of the Online Shopper study. Almost all avid U.S. online shoppers (97 percent), made purchases on marketplaces, up 12 […]
Global Supply Chain Suffers Disruptions Amid Diplomatic Crisis
Disagreements in the Middle East left the supply chain reeling as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Libya, and Yemen cut political and business ties with Qatar and accused the small Middle Eastern nation of supporting radical Islamic terrorism in the region. As part of efforts to sever contact, the countries shut down […]
Could Self-Driving Ships Become Reality by 2020?
"This is happening. It’s not if, it’s when. The technologies needed to make remote and autonomous ships a reality exist." So said Oskar Levander, vice president of innovation for Rolls Royce, at Amsterdam’s Autonomous Ship Technology Symposium in 2016. He wasn’t wrong about the technology, considering the United States and China already have unmanned naval […]
Supply Chains Double Down on Climate Change
President Donald Trump pledged to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accord, but stakeholders involved with the American supply chain—often supportive of the President’s business-friendly policies—aren’t so ready to fall in line this time. Rather than push American businesses away from sustainable initiatives, many companies seem to have reaffirmed their commitments. A few […]
Manufacturing, Logistics Grew Dramatically Over Last Generation
Contrary to public perception, U.S. manufacturing and logistics experienced dramatic growth over the past generation, says a study by the Ball State Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) and Conexus Indiana. U.S. manufacturing production grew 11 percent since the 2000-2003 dot.com bust and ensuing economic turbulence of the 2001 and 2007-2009 recessions, reports Manufacturing […]
Retailers Struggle to Control Fulfillment Costs
Walmart’s recent announcement that it is testing a delivery system where its associates will deliver online orders to customers’ doors makes sense in light of a new study by Radial, in partnership with EKN Research, which finds the average cost for a company to fulfill an order is 70 percent of the average order value. […]
How to Make Your Region a Logistics Hotspot
How does a region become a logistics hotspot? Take Southern Arizona, for example: The region’s national economic impact has grown by $18.7 billion over the past decade, helping to revitalize the area, grow the population, and create thousands of jobs. Southern Arizona, with a population of 1.6 million, is one of the fastest growing mega-regions […]
Amazon Files Patent To Parachute Packages
Amazon teased consumers with drone delivery during a 2017 Super Bowl commercial, though the ad bore a disclaimer: "Prime Air is not available in some states (or any really). Yet." Back in December 2016, Amazon made its first successful customer delivery in a trial area in the United Kingdom; in March 2017, the online retail […]
Supply Chain Commentary: Grocery Retailers Need to Embrace Digitization Now
The grocery industry is entering a new stage in its evolution – a transformative stage that may cause some of the major players to lose competitive ground or, worse, impact their very existence. There is no secret here. Everyone can see what is about to happen to grocery retailers, because it already happened to other […]
Empowering the Shipper
After more than 14 years in the trucking industry—at USF Group and Central Freight Lines—Dan Clark decided it was time for a change, both for himself and for the shipping community. MORE TO THE STORY: The Parking Spot Lesson Trucking companies were depending on legacy information systems, often inherited through corporate acquisitions, that couldn’t share […]
Freight Management and Route Optimization: A Critical Combination
There are significant opportunities for fleets to improve their operational efficiency with a combination of freight management and route optimization. The definition of freight management has transitioned over time, but whether your primary method of transport is via a freight broker, third-party integrated logistics provider, or your own private fleet, the problem is generally the […]
Making Sense of the $13B SCM Software Space
Gartner’s recent report that the supply chain management (SCM) software market will be worth more than $13 billion in the U.S. by the end of 2017 has likely turned many heads – both within the manufacturing and supply chain spaces, as well as with external audiences. In reality, this news that expenditures in this space […]
Choosing a Freight Auditing and Payment Vendor
If you’re a freight shipper who is thinking about using a freight auditing and payment service, what should you look for in choosing the best vendor for your organization? These seven selection criteria present a straightforward process to penetrate beyond a company’s sales brochure and determine how well a service company can actually do the […]
How Walmart’s OTIF Policy Creates New Baselines for Suppliers
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. caught many shipping companies off guard when it released its new “On-Time In-Full” (OTIF) policy. This program mandates that if any shipment arrives early, late, or on-time but not packaged properly, the shipper will be charged 3 percent of the total items’ value. It was only a few months ago that Walmart […]
5 Ways Automated Dimensioning Helps Optimize First Mile Logistics
E-commerce is not just changing the retail industry, but significantly impacting logistics as well. Reaching $394.86 billion last year, e-commerce has increased 15.6% compared with $341.70 billion in 2015. With such an increase in e-commerce sales, the need for an efficient delivery service has never been so high. Customers are greatly influencing the delivery of […]
Report: Multimodal Transportation Has a Future in Europe
Multimodal logistics moves freight by combining two or more transport modes. In this area, Europe still lags the more advanced U.S. market but has made steady progress. In its latest industrial research for the EMEA region Colliers International highlights a number of examples of established and emerging European multimodal platforms and discusses the drivers and […]
Supply Chain Commentary: Customer Loyalty Hinges on Quality of Product Information
Knowledge is power, and today, consumers are demanding to know more about products they buy before making a purchasing decision. The internet and online shopping have helped fuel their appetites for more product details, driving big changes across all industries. In the food industry, for example, new legislation like the GMO labeling law and Nutrition […]
The Key to Lasting Supply Chain Innovation: Get Real
Managing a business for sustained growth often means finding and implementing innovative solutions to the challenges of complex supply chain logistics. Yet, when it comes to achieving lasting, repeatable innovation, it’s the real-world solutions that win out time and time again in leading logistics facilities. In his book Moneyball, Michael Lewis detailed how an analytical, […]
Discovering Eight Truths of the New Era of Retail
Over the past 20 years many retailers have had the dream of entering the food retail business. The appeal is undeniable huge revenues, repeat business and in-store traffic. The fascination has resulted in a proliferation of food retail models ranging from dollar stores, off-price stores, convenience stores, drug stores, supermarkets, discount supermarkets, premium supermarkets, farmers […]
Why Onshoring Manufacturing Requires Offshoring IT
Despite a slowing economy, U.S. manufacturers continue to add capacity stateside. According to a 2015 Boston Consulting Group survey, 31 percent of U.S. manufacturing executives said they were most likely to add capacity within the U.S., compared to only 20 percent opting to do so in China. This marks a stark reversal from 2013, when […]
Are Warehouse Insurance Policies Covering Today’s Emerging Risks?
Warehouse legal liability insurance has always been one of the most misunderstood insurance contracts in existence. In general, insurance companies and brokers have limited industry knowledge and understanding of what warehouse operations entail. Not only that, but warehouse risks and vulnerabilities are increasingly complex, and many policies simply aren’t keeping up with today’s sophisticated new […]
Supply Chain Commentary: How Amazon’s Acquisition of Whole Foods Will Disrupt Industrial Real Estate
Demand for warehouse space soared to a new high in 2016, leading to lower vacancies and higher rents. The upsurge shows no signs of abating. This isn’t surprising. It’s simply a marker of the ongoing transformation of the industrial real estate market that’s occurred over the past 10 years. During this period, the unrelenting expansion […]
Fleets Must Be Hyper Vigilant About Securing Telematics
The broad deployment of telematics has driven unprecedented efficiencies in fleets by providing greater visibility into the location, movement, status, and behavior of every mobile asset. This level of connectivity and communication between assets has alleviated many of the pain points associated with day-to-day fleet management operations, on the road, and back at the office. […]
Bad News, Good News
Why does logistics giant XPO Logistics invest $500 million annually on IT to drive its business? The explosion in e-commerce, according to Brad Jacobs, CEO of XPO. But it’s not only consumers who have been acculturated to supply chain impatience. Purchasing, buyers, and supply managers in industrial sectors also feel the need for speed—and for […]
Updating Einstein?
Einstein said the faster an object moves, the slower time seems to pass. Well, not for me. The increased speed at which products now move through the supply chain seems to have the same impact on my calendar. I can’t believe half the year is gone, and in the blink of an eye it will […]
GOOD QUESTION | What’s the most important question you should ask a potential 3PL partner?
Will your pricing and service change after the first few transactions? Erik Boe Warehouse Manager DC Group What do you do when the trucking company loses some of the customer’s freight? I found out the hard way that for at least one company I don’t use anymore, the answer is nothing. Kirby Mohr President Mohr […]
Making Vendor Managed Inventory Work
Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) lets suppliers manage re-supply by monitoring customer stock levels and forward demand that optimizes working capital with service levels. This gives suppliers better visibility into forward demand, allowing them to produce, ship, and store more efficiently. As a result, customers have a smooth supply of product delivered at the right time […]
Joe Bobko: Not Boxed In
Joe Bobko is vice president of transportation with Boxed Wholesale, an online wholesale shopping club. He has held this position since January 2015. Responsibilities: All aspects of inbound and outbound transportation. Experience: Managing director with Bobko Consulting Group; director of e-commerce transportation with Toys "R" Us; executive positions in transportation with AmerisourceBergen, Grainger, FreshDirect, and […]
Optimizing Inbound Freight Beyond the Shipment Level – Schneider Logistics
In this era of omni-channel fulfillment, supply chain visibility is more important than ever. Yet many shippers are still in the dark when it comes to visibility to a significant portion of their supply chain cost: their inbound freight spend. Many inbound shipments are supplier-controlled with prepaid terms in which suppliers are adding in the […]
Need Flexibility? Seek Out Full-Service 3PLs – WSI
The retail and supply chain worlds have changed—and are changing—rapidly. Soaring end-user consumer demand for same-day delivery of goods and companies’ desire for increased visibility of their supply chains are two instrumental factors in the ever-morphing industrial real estate industry. Companies want and need instant, flexible warehousing options with skilled, efficient labor to handle and […]
Sweep the Dock for E-Commerce Insight – Transportation Insight
An e-commerce epiphany is speeding through the global supply chain from the shipping dock to the boardroom. Consumers have seized control of logistics spending, and "supply chain as we’ve known it" is not coming back. According to the 28th Annual CSCMP State of Logistics Report, "Accelerating into Uncertainty," for the first time, parcel and express […]
The Power of Transparency: Technology and Your Supply Chain – RPM
In a world driven by new technology, industries are finding ways to work faster and smarter. Tech breakthroughs have provided businesses with new processes and improved systems that have helped to maintain or increase efficiency in one way or another. It’s time to see these same improvements in supply chain management. The transportation industry has […]
Why GRIs From LTL Carriers May Not Be So General This Year
Less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers have reported challenged earnings for quite some time now. Capacity has generally been pretty loose, service levels have been generally pretty high, and prices have generally stayed pretty competitive across the industry—all creating an advantage for shippers. This all may be changing. Many LTL carriers are signaling some strain in their networks […]
Autonomous Vehicle Revolution Is Upon Us
Self-driving or autonomous vehicles are progressing quickly past the testing phase. This technology is a world-changing innovation—a revolution well underway—that may surpass the discovery of electricity and the invention of the automobile. What sets this revolution apart is how technologies will combine to help save lives, money, time, and resources. It could mean a near […]
Leverage Your Freight Forwarder to Boost Your Compliance Program
In trade compliance, we find ourselves needing to overhaul or develop trade compliance controls within our company, often alone. Executing a classification/licensing process, recordkeeping methodology, auditing calendar, or automation solution can be overwhelming. Whether you are in the position of establishing trade compliance controls, or looking to strengthen an existing compliance program, don’t overlook your […]
5 Steps to Preventing Brand Damage When Your Product Fails
A poorly handled product recall can devastate your company’s reputation, market share, and bottom line. With proper planning and systems in place, however, companies can effectively manage recalls to mitigate risk, as well as prevent brand damage. The key is not to think of a product recall as a singular event, but rather as a […]
How to Grow a Green Supply Chain
Sustainability impacts everything from how companies approach product design all the way through to customer delivery. In today’s competitive environment, sustainability must improve profitability and reduce risk. An industry standard for what constitutes a sustainable supply chain does not exist. Is being eco-friendly in transportation or manufacturing enough to qualify your company as green? As […]