Gregory Bellows

Information Access Differentiates Transportation Providers

Q: What are the most important elements of an information technology (IT) strategy for participants in the transportation chain? A: Strategically, there is only one IT goal: to differentiate your service from your competitors. Tactically, you need to figure out how to deploy mobile computing for customer- and employee-facing iPad and smartphone applications. Today, information […]

<em>Inbound Logistics’</em> 2012 Ocean Carrier Guide

Inbound Logistics’ 2012 Ocean Carrier Guide

The global ocean freight industry is swelling with capacity as New Panamax ships come online. But after enduring one of its worst years in 2009, container volumes continue to dip as the tides of economic recession sweep across Europe and parts of Asia. Steamship lines have been working cooperatively within alliances, and on their own, […]

Nari Viswanathan

Handling Change: There’s an App for That

Eighty-nine percent of business leaders are either experiencing or anticipating external volatility or change to impact their business, according to a recent survey. And 91 percent expect internal change in products, channels, services, or markets to create planning challenges. Given that most business leaders must manage some sort of change within their demand-supply networks, why […]

George F. Brown, Jr.

“Second Mouse” Opportunities for Logistics Firms

The saying, "The second mouse gets the cheese" represents an analogy for what is happening today in China’s "fast-learner" economy. The ability to quickly learn and copy products and technologies developed elsewhere has propelled numerous Chinese firms to global stature. These firms will soon become a force in the United States. Examples of China’s ability […]

Mark Humphlett

Can Your Global Supply Chain Withstand a Crisis?

Natural disasters, fluctuating oil prices, and other global factors continue to disrupt the flow of essential equipment and goods for manufacturers worldwide. For many companies, it has triggered a critical question: Can our organization’s supply chain withstand a major upheaval? It is an important question, because the flow of money through a supply channel determines […]

Terry Harris

How Supply Chain Executives Can Earn a Place in the C-Suite

First there was Chief Executive Officer, then Chief Operating, Chief Financial, and Chief Marketing Officers joined the "C-suite." Isn’t it time Chief Supply Chain Officers took their place at the top? Despite supply chain’s functional cachet in business circles, many top supply chain executives don’t even report to the CEO. Why is that? Service and […]

J. Scot Sharland

Logistics Providers Steer Auto Industry on Road to Recovery

The automotive industry is rapidly rebounding from its recession lows as consumer demand for new vehicles grows. In response, auto manufacturers and their suppliers are quickly increasing manufacturing output. While this is great news for automakers and the overall financial health of the auto industry, there is a downside: The quick spike is severely straining […]

Tom Dixon

Calgary, Alberta: Western Canada’s Distribution Hub

What makes a great distribution hub and logistics center? Access to markets, availability of serviced land and logistics parks, cost-effective business environments, and a highly skilled labor force, to name a few. Hong Kong, Amsterdam and Los Angeles are prominent cities that have been demonstrating leadership over the past decades, but Calgary, Alberta, Canada has […]

Trends—September 2012

Trends—September 2012

Rail Innovation Keeps Ag Moving, Despite Drought The drought that plagued much of the Midwest in summer 2012 has had a marked impact on agriculture supply and, consequently, food prices, placing an inordinate amount of pressure on supply chains to squeeze out as much extra cost as possible. While much of the news has been […]

John Reichert

Collaborative Visibility for Optimum Efficiency and User Experience

Q: Why is collaborative visibility important? A: Supply chains have become extremely complex and fluid. The number and variety of products has exploded, lifecycles have shrunk, and interdependencies between organizations are at an all-time high. Natural disasters such as Japan’s tsunami in March 2011 showed that a major global event can have a far-reaching impact […]

Nick Weaver

For Truck Financing, Bank on a Transportation Expert

Q: What is the current market for financing and leasing commercial trucks and equipment? A: Generally, the trucking industry is experiencing a favorable banking and finance market as most commercial banks continue to show relatively healthy interest in financing revenue equipment. Borrowing rates are near all-time lows, so locking in equipment financing today is appealing […]

Ralph Hess

With WMS, Small Businesses Can Do It All

Q: How can smaller companies respond to the supply chain demands of their large customers? A: The best way for suppliers to respond is to manage their own segment of the supply chain as efficiently as possible. They must optimize their inventory and distribution operations by applying the proper resources—human, financial, and technological—to drive excellence […]

Terrence M. Gilbert

Asset-Based Carriers Give Shippers an Advantage

Q: What are the advantages of sourcing supply chain solutions directly through asset-based providers? A: When capacity becomes tight, maintaining relationships with asset-based carriers gives shippers—and non-asset solution providers who partner with us—the peace of mind of knowing their supply chain and service will remain seamless and fluid. When capacity is constrained, communication is essential […]

Kevin Reader

Choosing the Right WMS For Your Business

Q: The WMS selection process seems to be based on spreadsheets and feature-driven lists of requirements. Is this the best place to start? A: Many consultants and professional organizations suggest companies can select a WMS by reviewing standard feature lists, conducting a conference room pilot, and adding customization as needed to deliver the design and […]

Matthew

Available Capacity Brings Value to Today’s Logistics Buyers

Q: From your perspective as a truck capacity provider, where is the balance between demand for trucking services and the currently available truck capacity? A: It has been reported that up to 20 percent of truckload capacity that existed in 2007 is gone. Some carriers are failing to deliver on time, and the day may […]

Christine Wheeler

Wireless Workstations Unplug Savings

Thanks to wireless technology, carts with on-board power supplies are opening new frontiers of efficiency, productivity, and profitability in distribution centers (DCs). These mobile- powered workstations (MPWs) carry computers, bar-code scanners, and printers, reducing paperwork and operator travel. DC employees can waste countless hours walking to and from deskbound computers to perform tasks such as […]

Thomas Clark

Better Efficiency Begins at the Loading Dock

Productivity in the less-than-truckload (LTL) freight transportation industry demands and depends upon efficient operations. Shippers and carriers must collaborate to orchestrate consistent on-time pickups and deliveries. By working together to align the processes by which shippers tender freight and carriers receive it, supply chain partners can achieve greater efficiency at the loading dock, and improve […]

Felecia Stratton

Cutting Through the Noise

Any noise in the trucking industry is better than the alternative. The rumble of engines coming to life, and air horns sounding off with more certain frequency, are welcome signs as the economy waffles between recession and recovery. Still, a growing din in Washington threatens to drown out these echoes of progress. The U.S. Federal […]

Controlling Transportation Insurance Costs

Developing rates for cargo in-transit insurance coverage is as much an art as a science. Underwriters consider the products shipped; susceptibility to loss and damage; number of shipments; trade lanes travelled; and transportation methods and modes. But insurance premiums are also driven by a firm’s loss history. While some of these variables may be out […]

Amy Polt: Safety First

Amy Polt: Safety First

Amy Polt is operations supervisor, Houston warehouse, for The Mosaic Company, a global provider of crop nutrients. She has served in this position since June 2012. Responsibilities: Supervises daily operations for the Houston warehouse, including all environmental, health, safety, security, shipment, housekeeping, quality, and customer service activities. Manages scheduling for personnel and all inbound and […]

Global Logistics—September 2012

Global Logistics—September 2012

Brazil Invests in Infrastructure Infrastructure performance and transportation connectivity have long dogged Brazil’s efforts to grow its economy. But the overwhelming success of London’s 2012 Summer Olympics, and the mantle of responsibility and expectation that befalls the next in line, may force the issue. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff recently announced a $60-billion-plus investment package to […]

Mike Skinner

Mobile TMS Applications Improve Supply Chain Visibility

Online applications for mobile devices are emerging in ways that can finally close or reduce many of the information gaps in the supply chain between transportation planning, the shipping/receiving dock, customers, and even accounts payable. These mobile applications are enabling shippers to interface directly and more effectively with logistic partners; access logistics information in non-traditional […]

Bobby Harris

Using Social Media to Your Advantage in Transportation and Logistics

With more than one billion people using social networks today, social media is forging a new era in business opportunity and engagement, creating two-way communication that enables customer feedback and response in real-time. As the transportation and logistics sector grows, it is essential to work strategically to leverage technology and media to drive efficiencies and […]

Buck Black

Helping Truck Drivers Address Job Stress

Change is a well-established cause of stress. In 1967, psychologists developed a stress scale that lists 43 stressful life events that can contribute to illness. Changes in financial state, job responsibilities, employment conditions, and working hours; trouble with an employer; and revision of personal habits place a person at a moderate risk of physical illness […]

Marty R. Ready

Trucking as a Driver to Economic Recovery

Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing more than 67 percent of tonnage carried by all domestic freight transportation modes, including manufactured and retail goods. Forty-four percent of all wage earners in the United States work in the transportation sector. The trucking industry also accounts for five percent of the nation’s gross […]

Mike Morel

Improving Logistics and Distribution Processes at International Subsidiaries

Large enterprises continue to set up international subsidiary operations to find opportunities for growth. These subsidiary operations include sales and distribution offices, small operating divisions, customer service units, and joint ventures. They often need to develop their own logistics and distribution mechanisms to receive inbound shipments, store inventory and deliver orders to their customers. Unlike […]

Dean Vella

Supply Chain Management: A Needed and Growing Opportunity

Today, successful companies rely on the skills of supply chain management professionals to keep their goods and services flowing to the marketplace quickly, efficiently, and as cost-effective as possible. Supply chain management is a bright spot among up-and-coming careers, with employment opportunities in a wide variety of industries, in firms of all sizes. If you’re […]

The Gulf Coast’s Rising Tide

Spurred by its advantageous location, international trade prowess, and transportation assets, the Gulf Coast emerges as a new distribution and logistics powerhouse.

Felecia Stratton

Supply Chain Therapy Strikes a Balance

There’s nothing like a spur-of-the-moment urge, then splurge, to improve temperament. Retailers today are all too willing to facilitate “retail therapy” and oblige customers by making it easier than ever to satisfy their random impulses. Advertising—subliminal or overt—is quick to connect happiness with material possession, regardless of what kind. Then the supply chain takes over. […]

Ensuring Routing Guide Compliance

When vendors fail to comply with shippers’ routing guide instructions, all parties involved experience frustration. To improve compliance, shippers must provide clear and concise instructions about how they want their freight to move. Here is advice on ensuring routing guide compliance from Harold B. Friedman, senior vice president of global corporate development at freight payment […]

Sherry Askew: Beauty Calls

Sherry Askew: Beauty Calls

Sherry Askew is transportation manager at Revlon Consumer Products in Oxford, N.C. She has held this position since 2010. Responsibilities: Managing pricing and contracts, analyzing data, and serving as a liaison with the freight payment provider for Revlon’s U.S. and Canadian transportation, both inbound and outbound. Experience: Retail associate, data entry clerk, buyer’s secretary, Rose’s […]

Paul A. Myerson

Minimizing Wasted Movement

Ideally, material should flow smoothly from Point A to Point B in a process, and be touched only once. That is rarely the case, however. More likely, material is touched and moved many times before its ultimate use. In Lean terms, this excess transportation or movement is waste that occurs when temporarily locating, filing, stocking, […]

Trends—August 2012

Trends—August 2012

Ocean Freight Industry Seeks Delivery Time Reliability Awash with capacity and beset by rate fluctuations, the ocean container shipping industry reflects the global economy. Shippers are trying to find a measure of consistency as they navigate the peaks and troughs. While cost is often the common denominator linking shippers, carriers, intermediaries, and consignees, recent collaboration […]

Global Logistics—August 2012

Global Logistics—August 2012

U.S., Canada Confront Port Insecurities The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is taking Canadian ports to task over concerns they are siphoning U.S.-bound container volumes while threatening homeland security. The agency’s primary target is Prince Rupert, North America’s deepest natural harbor port. While Montreal, Halifax, and Vancouver participate in U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) […]

Michael Watson, Ph.D.

Discovering the Value of Analytics

Many companies are building analytics strategies, which use data to facilitate better decisions. To develop improved analytics strategies, consider the three different types of analytics: descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive. Each type uses data in a different way to provide a different type of value. Descriptive analytics: Using data to improve how you describe or report […]

Paul Fitzgerald

Reusable Shipping Dunnage Protects Sustainability Efforts

Containers and packaging account for 30 percent of all U.S. municipal solid waste, according to a 2009 EPA study. Small wonder, considering the contribution of millions of tons of disposable corrugated and wood filler used to protect products in transit across America every day. By road and rail, goods move about in the temporary company […]

Ronald Leibman

FMCSA Abandons Carrier Oversight

For 75 years, the U.S. Department of Transportation stood as the arbiter of interstate motor carrier safety. That significantly changed on May 16, 2012, when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued three notices on its Web site signaling a retreat from its statutory and historical oversight of carrier safety, in favor of placing […]

Navigating Pharma Logistics 

Navigating Pharma Logistics 

Temperature control, security, chain of custody, and regulatory compliance obstacles can stop pharmaceutical manufacturers at every turn. Strategic supply chain management helps provide a way out.

Keith Biondo

3PL Partnerships: From Tactical to Strategic

It was déjà vu all over again as I sorted through the responses to this year’s Top 10 3PL Excellence Awards survey and 3PL Perspectives research. Like last year, and the year before, and the year before that, a sizable percentage of survey respondents said they select logistics partners based on their ability to secure […]

Felecia Stratton

3PL Partnerships: From Transactions to Trust

In business context, transactional relationships are often laden with legal conditions—unlimited liability, implied agency, utmost good faith. Even with assurances that a partner will do the right thing, it all comes down to costs and consequences. For many years, the supply chain operated in a similar fashion. Third-party logistics providers (3PLs) demonstrated their value by […]

Determining If AS/RS Fits Your Facility

Most businesses that incorporate large-load automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) store and handle full pallet loads moving at high volumes in and out of a distribution center or manufacturing plant. But other business types may also benefit from the solution. Norm Saenz, senior vice president and principal, TranSystems Corporation, offers these tips on deciding […]

Dennis Omanoff: Hard-Driving Man

Dennis Omanoff: Hard-Driving Man

Dennis Omanoff joined Seagate in 2011 and serves as senior vice president of supply chain and procurement. Based in Cupertino, Calif., Seagate is a leading manufacturer of hard drives and storage solutions. Responsibilities: Supply and demand planning, commodity management, procurement, retail supply chain, service supply chain, logistics, and freight. Experience includes: Several positions in manufacturing […]

Trends–July 2012

Trends–July 2012

The 23rd Annual State of Logistics Report: Sputtering Toward Sustained Growth The city was abuzz with speculation about the fall presidential election in June 2008 when Rosalyn Wilson, senior business analyst for Delcan Corp., gave her annual State of Logistics presentation in Washington, D.C. Stormy economic clouds were already gathering as a consequence of the […]

Global Logistics—July 2012

Global Logistics—July 2012

Latin America Charts Path to Growth Considering trade with Latin America? Here’s a look at five key countries in various stages of economic, political, and trade/supply chain growth. Argentina. Until recently, Argentina has been relatively resilient to global economic woes, and the impact of slower growth in Brazil. Ernst & Young’s Rapid Growth Markets Forecast […]

Roy Coburn

Think Outside the Border

Companies of all sizes are benefitting from international trade, and those that don’t are getting left behind. Whether your company is small, mid-sized or a global multi-national, there is a way for you to get in the global trade game. Global Solutions For Global Companies For large North American companies operating in multi-national markets, moving […]

Kevin Doherty

Ports Can Help Ensure Ship-Shape Supply Chains

As shippers see their business volumes increasing even as revenues lag, it becomes more important than ever for ports to focus on reliable and prompt service. Shippers are entitled to a high level of service, and they should be able to expect that their ports of call will take a proactive role in managing the […]

Lisa Greenleaf

TAPA Standards Safeguard Cargo

Cargo theft is a major concern for high-value, high-risk product manufacturers and their logistics service providers. In the third quarter of 2011 alone, 263 cargo thefts of building/industrial, electronics, and consumer care products occurred in the United States, according to logistics security firm FreightWatch International. One way to help ensure cargo safety in storage facilities […]

Fabrizio Brasca

Containerization’s Benefits Can’t Be Contained

Today’s leading companies are reexamining their supply chain operations, and implementing new strategies and technology to improve performance and enhance efficiencies. Moving cargo in containers, or containerization, is one area of opportunity shippers can leverage, not only in downstream transportation and logistics functions, but also in unexpected upstream supply chain planning functions. In its simplest […]

Sara Pax

Don’t Be Afraid Of Product Lifecycle Assessment

Sustainability, carbon footprint, and lifecycle assessment (LCA) are becoming common discussion topics in the boardroom. These terms often generate fear as well as discussion, as executives worry about how their company will stack up against competitors, how much an environmental impact analysis will cost, and whether the measurements will be accurate. The benefit of analyzing […]

Kevin Keith

Blazing Trails from the Crossroads of America

Missouri’s transportation system is an essential component of many industries, and the heartbeat of everyday life, working as a conduit between its rural areas and its big cities. But, because it’s always there, it can be easy to take the state’s transportation infrastructure for granted. Sometimes we need to be reminded that transportation can—and does—make […]

Simon Kaye

Sophisticated Innovations Enhance Supply Chain Security

The global economy relies on moving goods securely and efficiently through an increasingly extended multimodal transport system. Aggressive thieves with sophisticated techniques have spurred innovations in shipment processes, technology tools, and regulatory compliance to enhance logistics security efforts. As a framework for better security processes, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 28000 standards on supply […]

Rajiv Saxena

Managing Global Complexity: The Right Tools for the Job

Henry Ford is popularly quoted as saying that his customers could have any color Model T they wanted—as long as it was black. For years, global logistics professionals using optimization could relate to Ford’s quote, because they could apply this highly respected engineering practice to virtually any shipping challenge they faced—as long as they were […]

Failure is Not an Option: Questions and Answers with Brian Hancock

Failure is Not an Option: Questions and Answers with Brian Hancock

As the world’s largest distributor of products to the world’s largest restaurant company, Martin-Brower is under extreme pressure to deliver to McDonald’s accurately, on time, every time. Inbound Logistics met with Brian Hancock, president, North America, for Martin-Brower, to discuss the unique supply chain supporting the Golden Arches.

Southeast Ports: What’s on the Horizon?

Southeast Ports: What’s on the Horizon?

Looking out to 2015, anticipation is swirling about the Panama Canal’s expansion and impact on U.S. trade. Among southeastern ports and shippers, that wave of anticipation has already made landfall.

Readers’ Choice: Top 10 3PL Excellence Awards 2012

Readers’ Choice: Top 10 3PL Excellence Awards 2012

What elevates a relationship from a workable collaboration to a truly great partnership? MORE TO THE STORY: 3PLs to Watch About the Survey Respondents Partner Appreciation: A Sampling of Reader Comments We try to describe this elusive state in so many ways: “He just gets me.” “She’s the yin to my yang.” “It’s like he […]

Urban Delivery: Getting Into the Grid

Urban Delivery: Getting Into the Grid

Traffic congestion and infrastructure limitations complicate delivery in major cities, but expedited carriers use network engineering, communication tools, and contingency planning to ensure they meet shipper needs.

Lift Truck Strategies Raise the Bar

Lift Truck Strategies Raise the Bar

Materials handling automation and warehouse technology are transforming forklift fleets into competitive weapons—and distribution facilities into finely tuned, demand-responsive machines.

Canada Trade: Driving Growth Northward

Canada Trade: Driving Growth Northward

Increasing demand for U.S. goods in Canada represents a positive sign for the economies of both countries. But keeping cross-border shipments moving requires building smart and savvy logistics partnerships.

Chad Burke

Co-locating Reverse and Forward Logistics Unlocks Value of Returns

Q: Why is reverse logistics an important function in today’s consumer electronics supply chain? A: Companies are trying to extend product lifecycles, as well as maximize asset recovery value. If they spend money to make a product, they want to recapture as much of the original cost as possible. Consider that 65 to 70 percent […]

Dan Vertachnik

Developing a Comprehensive Transportation Strategy

Q: What advice do you have for companies attempting to optimize their inbound freight? A: It’s worth the effort. Traditionally, companies have focused on low-hanging fruit, such as improving efficiencies and reducing outbound transportation costs. Overlooked is the more difficult task of managing inbound transportation, which can often be multi-modal, multi-leg, and international. Companies need […]

Jon Kuerschner

SaaS-Based TMS Empowers Global Freight Management

Q: What are the biggest challenges facing shippers in today’s economic environment? A: In today’s volatile market, managing transportation domestically and globally is a key factor for a more efficient and cohesive supply chain. Many businesses still use manual methods to manage freight, with no way to measure service or performance. Other companies are bound […]

Jim Syfan

3PLs Control Loads to Provide Shippers Superior Service

Q: Third-party logistics (3PL) companies face many challenges with each shipment they manage. Why is it critical for 3PLs to take control of their shipments? A: In today’s difficult economy, shippers look for efficiencies such as maintaining smaller inventories and scheduling employees to unload freight at key consumption and/or distribution times. This demand only increases […]

Garry Neeves

Harnessing the Power of Information Technology

Q: How do you squeeze the most reliability, accuracy, and cost efficiency out of today’s supply chain? A: Smart information technology (IT) is fundamental to success. Leading manufacturers know the importance of effective logistics management. Getting your product to the right place, just in time, and exactly as the retailer demands is crucial to the […]

Chandra Allred

Tech Tools Serve Retailers’ Diverse Needs

Q: What do retailers need to know about working with 3PLs today? A: Retailers are challenging third-party logistics (3PL) providers to supplement their offerings with a broader range of services. To obtain and retain business, 3PLs must meet retailers’ diverse reporting, visibility, and delivery needs—yet not increase their cost structure. Achieving this goal is particularly […]

Nathan Pieri

Supply Chain Control Towers Offer a Bird’s-Eye View

Q: How can companies better manage their supply chains to gain competitive advantage? A: Over the past year, the concept of a supply chain control tower has been gaining momentum. A control tower is a single command center for visibility, decision-making, and action, based on real-time data. “A supply chain control tower is a central […]

Jeff Pepperworth

Improving Reverse Logistics Moves Shippers Forward

Q: How can shippers improve their reverse supply chain? A: Amid today’s higher fuel and transportation costs, technology becomes critical as companies search for efficiencies within the supply chain. The reverse supply chain has historically been viewed as a cost center and is often overlooked as a place where profit can be found. In the […]

Keith Snavely

Helping Shippers Do More With Less

Q: What challenges or issues are shippers facing in an era of globalization? A: Our world has certainly become a much smaller place, but our challenges have only increased. Coupled with a tough economic climate, the need for greater supply chain visibility is paramount. Transportation costs over the past several years have come under greater […]

Keith Biondo

Green Leadership for Lean Times

Current economic conditions are cooling enthusiasm for green initiatives in some quarters. But not in Bentonville, Ark., where Walmart recently released its 2012 Global Responsibility report. Someone once said, "as Walmart goes, so goes the nation." I don’t know if that’s true, but despite lean times, the retailer is providing leadership in supply chain sustainability. […]

Keeping Shipping Costs in Check

With fuel costs continually rising, and consumers demanding faster delivery—preferably for free—it is more important than ever for companies to control their shipping costs. John Haber, founder and CEO of consulting firm Spend Management Experts, offers these tips for managing freight costs. 1. Carefully analyze your current carrier base. Be sure to take into account […]

Mary Foster’s Excellent Adventure

Mary Foster’s Excellent Adventure

Mary Foster has served as vice president, supply chain management, at Inteva Products in Troy, Mich., since 2007. Inteva is a major global supplier of automotive closure systems, interiors systems, motors, electronics, and roof systems. Responsibilities: Direct and indirect material purchasing, logistics. Experience: Capacity planning, purchasing, Ford Tractor Operations; various positions in purchasing and production […]

Trends—June 2012

Trends—June 2012

4 Supply Chain Predictions For the Next 4 Years Four trends are expected to impact global logistics organizations over the next four years, according to Gartner, a consultancy based in Stamford, Conn. The predictions come as 60 percent of companies surveyed as a primer for Gartner’s July 2012 Supply Chain Executive Conference in Sydney, Australia, […]

Global Logistics—June 2012

Global Logistics—June 2012

Air Cargo Growth in Holding Pattern Hitting bottom might be a sign of better things to come. Freight demand was down 4.2 percent year-over-year, according to the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) April 2012 global traffic results. While some of this volume degradation can be attributed to monthly volatility, some signs indicate that different areas […]

Cliff Otto

CNG Fuels Trucking Sustainability Efforts 

Nearly 55 percent of U.S. executives report their organization now has a formal sustainability strategy in place, according to a KPMG International corporate sustainability study. One development gaining momentum in the trucking industry is investing in vehicles that run on alternative fuels. Companies are exploring a variety of options, including electricity, ethanol, biodiesel, liquefied natural […]

Paul A. Myerson

Inventory…What a Waste

We all know that inventory is a necessity. When you fully understand its purpose and cost, however, you realize why lean practitioners consider it one of the Eight Wastes. Inventory can be among a company’s most expensive assets, representing up to half of total invested capital. The major reasons for carrying inventory are to decouple […]

Troy Ryley

Nearsourcing to Mexico Improves Operational Efficiency

For years, Asia was the location of choice for low-priced manufacturing. The Asian shipping market was hit hard by the global recession in late 2008 and 2009, however, and the region became less appealing as a manufacturing site when labor costs began rising. Then, as the global economy improved, demand for product quickly outpaced supply […]

Bobby Kaemmer

Sharing Data Creates Optimal Supply Chain Visibility

In the past decade, analysts have written volumes about the value of supply chain visibility and execution systems. It’s hard to argue with the concept. When all supply chain partners’ systems work together to fulfill orders perfectly, execute on-time shipments, and provide early alerts to problems, life is good. Many companies have turned to on-demand […]