
Memphis: America’s Aerotropolis
Geography, transportation infrastructure, and a strong distribution sector make Memphis a natural logistics hub.

Reassessing Rail Reregulation
Will rail reregulation untie captive shippers but tie up rail productivity?

Randall Plost: Plugged Into the Pipeline
NAME: Randall Plost TITLE: Houston distribution manager COMPANY: Victaulic, since 1981 PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Travel agent; inside sales representative, Orbit Valve; customer care and distribution manager, Victaulic EDUCATION: University of Texas, Austin, BBA in marketing, 1978 Randall Plost didn’t worry much about his warehouse when he managed inside sales in Houston for Victaulic, a global […]
Optimizing Global Supply Chain Management
Today’s complex and dynamic global business environment presents increased operating challenges for companies striving to achieve sustainability while working with an array of global trading partners, regulations, business requirements, risk management concerns, cost control issues, and competitive objectives. Andrea Robinson, business development manager-United Kingdom, at supply chain management software provider CargoWise, offers these tips for […]
Predicting Demand Levels Down the Road
No business wants to face a drop in demand for its products, but many companies have experienced just that during the global economic downturn. One such company, Wichita, Kansas-based polymers and fibers manufacturer INVISTA, seized the opportunity to get better visibility into, and control over, its demand and inventory planning. As one of the world’s […]

Trends—October 2010
U.S. Transportation Investment: A Political Pothole Drive any measurable distance across the United States and you’re bound to run into “Schneider Eggs”— trucker slang for sometimes-scrambled orange construction barrels. As much as road construction is an obstacle to efficiency and timeliness, it’s also a sign of progress, investment, and your tax dollars at work. Ironically, […]

Supplier Disruptions: Preparing for the Unpredictable
Supplier disruptions are a reality for most shippers. In fact, 75 percent of supply chain professionals responding to a recent AMR Research poll indicated that at least 10 percent of their supply partners had experienced a disruption in the past year. Even worse, 12 percent of respondents saw half or more of their suppliers experience […]

Capitalizing on Mexico’s Economic Growth
Continuing economic development across Mexico is opening the doors to exciting growth opportunities for U.S. businesses. Mexico is already the United States’ third-largest trading partner, while the United States ranks first among Mexico’s trading partners. Mexico’s established manufacturing base has created many jobs and an increasingly prosperous working class. As a result, Mexico is attracting […]

Trucking Alert: Steep Grade Ahead
A capacity shortage and a driver deficit that’s likely to grow worse are putting the squeeze on companies that ship by truck. Times like these call for shifting gears and trying new tactics.
Exclusive Research: Trucking Perspectives 2010
Every place you turn there are signs pointing to where the motor freight industry is treading—both good and bad. Near coastal ports and along hinterland highways, at truck stops and across borders, the day-to-day travels of shippers and carriers alike expose the hairpin turns and straightaways that are emerging in an otherwise shiftless economy. Around […]

Freight Payment Systems: From Dollars to Data
For freight payment and audit services, rooms full of rate clerks poring over paper freight bills are a thing of the past. Today, these firms provide business intelligence data that delivers even more value.
Balancing Risk Management With Your Operations Strategy
As the nation’s economy recovers from the recent downturn, the domestic freight industry represents a leading indicator of commercial activity and (hopefully) corporate profits. Asset-based carriers, a segment that has taken it on the chin the past few years, are thought to have pricing power because increasing freight volumes—albeit off severe lows—have been met with […]

First They Came For Our Trucks
The War on Trucking. Are You Prepared? That’s the headline of the ad on page 111 of this issue, sponsored by NASSTRAC, an association comprised of a cross-section of shippers. Citing the challenges posed by CSA 2010, cap and trade, and Hours-of-Service changes, NASSTRAC is undertaking advocacy to guard the interests of anyone using trucks […]
Xylophones, Checkerboards, and Gestalt Theory
Using colors, shapes, numbers, and mnemonics in warehouse signage can help reduce training and picking errors, while improving service.
Global Logistics – September 2010
Audi Stops For Green Light Audi is pushing the accelerator in its pursuit of greener cars and a more sustainable supply chain. For example, in December 2009, Green Car Journal honored the German automotive manufacturer’s 2010 Audi A3 TDI as its Green Car of the Year. But the carmaker doesn’t stop there. Audi transports its […]
Conflict in the Supply Chain
Everyone wants a smooth-flowing supply chain, free of conflict, says Perry A. Trunick, associate editor, Inbound Logistics. But the U.S. government has added a new wrinkle to the issue of supply chain management in the context of global politics and human rights.

Gemma Fillmore: Supply Chain Advocate
TITLE: Corporate logistics projects COMPANY: Medco Health Solutions, Franklin Lakes, N.J., since 2009 PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Various supply chain and logistics positions, Bonaventure Textiles; warehouse manager, inventory supervisor, Tibbet & Britten (now Exel Logistics); corporate operations supervisor, Reckitt Benckiser; senior transportation manager, operations and other supply chain positions, Nabisco Foods; senior manager procurement—logistics, Kraft Foods; director […]
Locating a Global Distribution Hub
Before adding a global distribution hub, hone your skills in compliance and cross-border import and export, advises John Miller, senior vice president global business development, Flash Global Logistics, Inc. He offers these tips on what companies should consider when locating and choosing a global distribution hub. Map your market. Determine your customer install base, which […]

Collaborative Distribution Eases the Capacity Crunch
Q: The current crunch in trucking capacity has made mainstream news lately. How should the transport industry solve this problem? Kane: The truth is there is no capacity shortage. Also, there are plenty of truck drivers, even after we lose 100,000 drivers through CSA 2010, as industry experts predict. The problem is not capacity or […]

Want Better Service? Take the Driver-Friendly Approach
Q: How are you addressing the shipper’s concern about capacity now and in the future? Miller: I believe shippers understand that capacity issues are stimulated more by the driver shortage than any other single factor. At Miller Transporters, we are asking our shippers to help us be more driver- friendly. Keep detention low and utilization […]

The Best Partner Carriers Provide Transparency
Q: How can service accountability and innovation help shippers stay one step ahead in a tough economic climate? O’Dell: Vigilant shippers make sure every dollar they spend counts by choosing carriers who offer them the opportunity to shine in front of their customers. While there are different ways to accomplish this, one of the best […]

Trends—September 2010
U.S. Ports Dig Panama Gold For a wee slip of waterway, 48 miles in length and 33 feet wide at its narrowest, the Panama Canal has publicity buoyancy the likes of the two great oceans it connects—and the buzz is only building. Despite technology and globalization, the Canal has remained a vital gateway in the […]

Inbound 3.0 at Walmart
During the almost three decades that this publication has been preaching the benefits of matching demand more closely to supply, we’ve published scores of articles on Walmart’s efforts to master inbound logistics. The first major milepost along that road was acknowledging the value of controlling inbound logistics, making it a company-wide mission, and developing the […]

Trends—August 2010
Shipping Maintains Traction Despite Gulf Slick The considerable environmental impacts from British Petroleum’s (BP) Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico have cast a pall over the region, endangering delicate ecosystems and tourism industries alike. But to date, the oil crisis has had little negative impact on shipping in the heavily trafficked corridor. Gulf […]

Consumer Packaged Goods: Lightening the Load
Sorting through logistics challenges can be a dirty job for CPG companies. But well-planned manufacturing, smart packaging, and cost-effective transportation can help wash away inefficiencies from any supply chain cycle.
Enhancing Cross-docking Efficiency
Cross-docking operations increase throughput at critical distribution points by unloading shipments from an inbound trailer or railcar directly onto outbound transport. This practice eliminates the need to store freight. To improve throughput, you must minimize travel, footsteps, material handling distance, and freight touches. Discover how to increase cross-docking efficiency with these tips from Nelson Bettencourt, […]
Give Me An F… Give Me An R…
Who says politicians can’t spell “freight?” But, more importantly, can Senator Frank Lautenberg’s (D-NJ) FREIGHT Act of 2010 deliver on its promise?
Kevin Miles: Supermarket Superstar
NAME: Kevin Miles TITLE: Manager, inbound logistics, since 2007 COMPANY: Ahold USA PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Industrial engineer, UPS; senior process engineer, Ahold USA EDUCATION: University of Connecticut, BS, manufacturing engineering, 2000; University of New Haven, MBA, management technology, 2003; APICS, Certified Supply Chain Professional, 2007 When a water main serving the Boston area burst on Saturday, […]

Blended Learning: An Educational Hybrid
Statistics show earning a graduate degree increases the potential for higher earnings during your working life. Not surprisingly, an increasing number of applicants who already hold one or more graduate degrees are enrolling in executive and professional graduate degree programs. “You can never stop learning if you want to succeed, and if you want to […]

Oversized Shipments: Good to Grow
Although container shipping remains the dominant form of ocean transport, breakbulk shipping, in which heavyweight freight is transported without being packed in containers, has seen significant growth. Non-container cargo covers a variety of shipments, ranging from oversized tires for earth-moving equipment to complete electrical power plants. One reason breakbulk shipping grew despite the economic downturn, […]

It’s Time to Implement Cross-Border Trucking
When the United States signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which included a commitment to open our roads to Mexico’s cargo trucks, we were paving the way for economic opportunity, job growth, and prosperous foreign investment. Unfortunately, the United States has never fully complied with NAFTA’s cross-border trucking program, costing our country billions […]

Your Guide to Routing Guides
They surface after the sale…at the last minute…potentially costing a fortune. They’re the biggest hidden challenge vendors face.
Energy Security for the Future
When selecting a site for a new warehouse or distribution center, there’s a second infrastructure that demands attention—the power generation and delivery system.
Ports-to-Plains Alliance Corridor: North America’s Energy and Agricultural Heartland
Spanning the U.S. heartland and reaching into Canada and Mexico, the Ports-to-Plains Alliance corridor links North America’s vital agricultural and industrial communities.
Brrr! It’s Cold in There!
Get the scoop on a voice-enabled picking system that keeps Dreyer’s Edy’s workers productive and equipment functioning in sub-zero environments.

Lean Six Sigma: Leaning by Degrees
Lean Six Sigma enablers and practitioners are using continuous improvement methodologies to squeeze cost and inefficiency out of the supply chain.

Global Logistics—August 2010
CEVA’s Triumph Iconic British manufacturer Triumph Motorcycle —famous for giving Steve McQueen the wheels to leap reality in an equally iconic scene from The Great Escape —signed a three-year contract with CEVA Logistics to streamline, integrate, and optimize the global logistics flow of components, accessories, and finished goods. Triumph, which produces 50,000 motorcycles a year, […]

What We’ve Got Here is Failure to Communicate
Remember that great line from the movie Cool Hand Luke, “What we’ve got here is failure to communicate”? That’s what popped into my head as I reviewed the more than 4,700 responses from readers and 3PLs participating in our annual third-party logistics survey. We asked both 3PLs and their customers the same question: What is […]

Flower Power: John Kuehn
NAME: John Kuehn TITLE: Senior vice president of supply chain operations, since 2009 COMPANY: Provide Commerce Inc., San Diego, Calif. PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Various operations and supply chain positions, Hewlett Packard; senior director of worldwide logistics, Apple Computer; vice president of planning and logistics, Gateway; senior vice president of planning and logistics, Provide Commerce. EDUCATION: Iowa […]

Value Added Services Bring Flexibility to the Supply Chain
A new wave of demand for value-added services requires more capabilities of retail vendors and their logistics providers.
The Top 10 3PL Excellence Awards
MORE TO THE STORY: 3PLs to Watch What’s the worth of a true partner? Someone you know you can depend on when you’re not sure which way to go. Someone you can count on to help you make things right after they’ve gone wrong. Someone you trust to look out for your best interests. In […]
Global Logistics–July 2010
Prince Rupert’s Princely Returns As the rest of the world deals with the aftershock of a global economic recession, British Columbia’s Port of Prince Rupert keeps steaming along with record traffic. Because the port is two days closer to Asia than any other West Coast gateway, isn’t bottlenecked with congestion, and has made considerable investments […]
Humanitarian Aid: The Logistics of Doing Good
Nonprofit organization MedShare distributes recovered medical supplies to the places of greatest need.
3PL Perspectives 2010: A Paradox Bound by Demand
Inbound Logistics’ exclusive market research compiles shipper and 3PL input to illustrate the outsourcing sector’s rapidly changing dynamics.

Ties That Bind: Sewing Up U.S.-Canada Trade
A steady stream of goods passing north and south across the U.S.-Canada border stitches the two nations tightly together, complicated by factors such as customs regulations, security protocols, data exchange, and infrastructure projects.

Amazing Race: Questions & Answers with Brigadier General John O’Connor
Inbound Logistics goes behind the scenes of a five-month pursuit to move the U.S. military from Iraq to Afghanistan with Brigadier General John O’Connor, director of logistics, Third Army, and commanding general of the Army Materiel Command.

Trends—July 2010
21st annual State of Logistics Report: Beating the Recession; Making dollars and Sense out of Jabulanis and Vuvuzelas; Mergers and Acquisitions Show signs of Recovery

Tying the 3PL Knot
Meet shippers who quit playing the field and settled down with a 3PL partner.

Inbound Logistics’ 2010 Summer Reading Guide
Grab one of these knowledge-boosting supply chain and logistics volumes as you head for the hammock. Then when colleagues ask how you spent your summer vacation, you can share your new insights.

Are You Talkin’ to Me?
Some results from our annual third-party logistics survey caused the publisher of this magazine to quote a line from Cool Hand Luke: “What we’ve got here is failure to communicate.” When 3PLs and their customers were asked the same question, but provided diametrically opposed answers, the publisher suggested that more shipper/3PL communication may be called for. […]
Choosing the Right Product Packaging
With today’s complex supply chain and compliance requirements, manufacturers have a lot to consider when making packaging decisions. Here are some tips on choosing the right packaging for your product from Michael Smyers, CPSM, business development manager, and Matthew Paul, supply chain consultant, of Fort Myers, Fla.-based supply chain management and customs firm Allyn International […]

Warehousing Firm Thrives on Modernization
Customer satisfaction based on timely, accurate, and cost-effective services has always been our mission,” exclaims Fred Ferber, president of Ferber Warehousing. Just ask one of the more than 650 clients who have faithfully utilized Ferber’s warehousing facilities. One example is Jason Twymon, project manager, IAC, who was in a quandary on how he was going […]

Managing Labor Boosts Warehouse Operations
When up against competition, service is the name of the game, and your labor force is the most important tool you have to win business and increase profitability. Labor management tools help you determine whether your workforce is able to perform at the level necessary to deliver cost-effective service to your customers. With the data […]

Digitizing the Global Supply Chain
At one point, we all had a rabbit-eared TV or a clunky cell phone that took muscle to carry. Numerous electronics innovations have made life not only easier, but also more productive. So why are so many international supply chain professionals still living in the dark ages when it comes to supply chain efficiency and […]

Time to Reconsider Your 3PL Strategy
Third-party logistics companies come in many different forms, and for a while there was not much barrier to entry into the marketplace— particularly the less-than-truckload segment. Until even recently, the following recipe could be utilized to form a 3PL: Ingredients: Freight to leverage Growth potential Industry knowledge Technology— in any form Instructions: Take one former […]

How to Run a Logistics Job Fair
A stressed economy and tight financial market have forced downsizing and job cuts in nearly every industry. In the logistics sector, jobs have been disappearing at two ends of the spectrum. At one end, highly paid positions have been displaced in an effort to cut costs; roughly one executive position equals 10 operating jobs. At […]

10 Paths to Supply Chain Innovation
Leaders ask, “How can businesses be more innovative?” But successful innovation is rare. It requires hard work and creative thinking, and its value as an activity is often viewed skeptically. To move your business along the road to supply chain improvement, take a journey down the following paths to innovation. Borrowing. Many of the past […]
Demanding Response
Inexpensive transportation and sophisticated IT tools allowed us to operate extended supply chains. But that tide may be turning.

What’s Ahead in Transportation Forecasting?
Transportation forecasts enable planners to shift from reacting to orders to proactively managing capacity. By synchronizing transport forecasts with manufacturing and distribution plans, your entire company can respond to the same demand signals. Q: Why isn’t transportation planned with the same level of rigor as finished goods? BYRNE: Transportation cannot be planned with the same […]

Tap the Potential of SaaS and Cloud Computing
Supply chain strategies built around software-as-a-service (SaaS) or Cloud computing eliminate many headaches that often come with supply chain investments. They eliminate the need for presence overseas, cut the time spent integrating systems across internal departments, and greatly reduce the time spent integrating with hundreds of partners and suppliers. Q: Why is SaaS the next […]

The Evolution of Transportation Buying Practices
It is interesting to witness the changes that have occurred in transportation purchasing. For one, the annual bid mentality is gone. With access and visibility to posting boards, SaaS transportation networks, and optimization technologies, transportation procurement has evolved to the point where it is truly a continuous management function. Q: How has innovation affected the […]

Can You See Me Now? Achieving Supply Chain Visibility
Manual data inputs. Multiple data sources. Data latency. Point-to-point interfaces. These are just a few key obstacles to achieving supply chain visibility. But, there are solutions available that deliver visibility and intelligence as a service with process, security, and environmental monitoring. Q: What are some of the challenges companies face when trying to achieve supply […]

Getting the Most from Advanced Planning Tools
Third-party logistics providers that use advanced planning tools to model complex routing operations and streamline the bid process have a significant advantage in both demonstrating results and helping clients cut costs. When they cut modeling time to a fraction of what it was, and utilize new tools, 3PLs can uncover opportunities and quickly implement changes that provide benefit for their clients.

The 3 Elements of a Successful Private Label Program
Globally sourced, private label products allow merchants to maximize margins while maintaining price points, ensuring a good return on investment. But sourcing product globally is complex. By focusing on visibility, intelligence and collaboration, retailers, brand owners and wholesalers who globally source private label products can ensure a successful return on investment. Q: Today, globally sourced, […]

Finding Hidden Profits in Your Warehouse or Transport Operations
Sometimes it’s easier than you think to find hidden profits in your warehouse or transportation operations. Many successful companies are doing more with less by simply optimizing their slotting practices, pick paths, truckloads and delivery routes. Q: Given the volatility and uncertainty in today’s logistics environment, how are logistics providers remaining profitable? ELLIOTT: Sometimes it’s […]

Freight Forwarders: The Vital Link in Logistics Communication
Building a logistics system for today’s sourcing needs requires a quantum leap from past shipping practices, in which companies too often neglected transportation in their strategic planning. A poorly constructed or outdated supply system with inadequate communication can create unnecessary delays and expense caused by information snags, missing or ill-prepared shipping documents, and inappropriate cargo […]
Choosing Between Hosted And On-Demand Technology
Software-as-a-service (SaaS), otherwise known as on-demand, is becoming increasingly popular among logistics professionals. For some companies, however, a hosted managed service may still be a viable solution. Learn to differentiate between the two and determine which is right for your business with these tips from Sterling Commerce’s Peter Wharton, manager, applications product marketing. 1. Understand […]
Mapping Distribution to Demand
For a fictional company looking to expand its franchise nationally, DC network optimization is a measure of real success.
Deregulation Amended and Upended
Dust off your legal textbooks. It’s time to revisit transportation deregulation’s rocky history and defend what we have.

Shading Green
We know the positive arguments for embracing green. This magazine regularly demonstrates how shippers and service providers are developing sustainability practices across their supply chain touchpoints. Reducing fuel, cube, weight, packaging, waste, and power consumption in the supply chain blends the two shades of green—sustainability and profits. You’ll find measurable examples of both in this […]

The Green Rule: Measuring Progress
Government, industry, and consumers are creating new standards for supply chain sustainability excellence.

Mexico Takes Flight
A booming aerospace sector south of the border offers tremendous opportunities for U.S. and Canadian manufacturers.

Mentoring’s Long Reach
A mentor’s advice and attention can make a world of difference to professionals trying to rise to the top of the logistics field. Here’s how three companies in the industry help their employees scale new heights.
Global Logistics—June 2010
Panama Canal Sets Great Expectations Geographically it’s not much of a stretch and historically there’s precedence. But the famous locks linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans will become the transportation and logistics hub of the Americas when expansion is complete, says Alberto Alemán Zubieta, administrator/CEO of the Panama Canal Authority. Speaking at the Panama Business […]

Greening the Supply Chain Through Warehouse Automation
As part of the trend toward greener warehouses, businesses are seeking more efficient materials handling tools. Automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) and their accompanying warehouse management systems (WMS) help achieve this goal by maximizing storage space while reducing operating costs. Flexible, hybrid AS/RS designs use one or more cranes in an aisle. They can […]

The Power of Flexible Transportation Management
A primary concern for shippers today is how the recent economic downturn will increase transportation expenses. Capacity will continue to shrink as the economy strengthens. Many carriers are no longer in business, and with 3PL and carrier consolidation, there is concern that service offerings will be less flexible. Shippers want to reduce transportation costs and […]

Gregory Cross: Keeping the Wheels Turning
NAME: Gregory Cross TITLE: Director of Logistics and Operations COMPANY: USA Cycling, Colorade Springs, Colorado PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Freelance graphic designer and photographer; mechanic, NYC Velo; mechanic for Team Lipton, Velocity Sports Management; service course mechanic for Team Lipton and Navigators Insurance Pro Cycling Team, EDJ Sports. EDUCATION: Virginia Commonwealth University, BFA in communications arts and design, 2000 To […]

ALDO Boots Up a New System
Global shoe retailer ALDO implements a high-stepping, end-to-end inventory and distribution system.

Trends—June 2010
Patagonia and Walmart Grow Green Together Sustainability mandates are fast becoming competitive differentiators for many companies, outwardly attracting green-thumbed consumers while inwardly reducing inefficiency and waste. But for outdoor clothing company Patagonia, being green is simply a matter of corporate karma. The Ventura, Calif.-based clothier has been on the "greening edge" of environmental best practices […]
Strengthening Your China Operations
The consumer goods industry has been hurt by the economic chill on both sides of the Pacific. In the United States, declining sales, inventory cutbacks, and limited credit are affecting demand. In China, the decline in exports has caused significant instability, widespread factory closures, and growing unrest among a labor force that has lost millions […]

Keeping Surprises Out Of The Warehouse
Warehousing risks can spring out at any moment. Some are meant to be shared, others avoided. Successful warehousing operations strike a balance.
Act of God or Act of Government?
International airlines expect to lose more than $2 billion due to disruptions resulting from the recent volcanic eruption. And, they are setting the stage to ask for government support.
Advance Your Career Through Online Learning
Traditional classroom education is a viable option for some logistics professionals seeking new skills. But for many, online learning presents a better alternative for acquiring additional training, degrees, or certifications. Irvin Varkonyi, adjunct professor and marketing manager of transportation and logistics management at American Public University, provides tips for advancing your career through online learning. […]

Deere Customer
Any devoted demand-driven logistics practitioner might take issue with the catchy headline on a recent Bloomberg BusinessWeek article: "Low Inventory Angers John Deere Customers." The article quotes unhappy dealers who can’t get equipment from Deere as quickly as they want. One reports losing "half a dozen deals a month." Farmers aren’t happy, either. The culprit, […]

From the Service to the Supply Chain
Can you really model best practices from the military? After all, they invented the acronym SNAFU. But companies are finding veterans’ experience and skills help promote ship-shape supply chains.

Georgia: Fueling Logistics Competitiveness
A flourishing transportation and logistics sector keeps Georgia on the business community’s mind.

Global Logistics—May 2010
Netherlands Harvests Rail Efficiencies Combining two of the country’s national pastimes, flowers and trade, the Dutch are taking an innovative approach to exporting floriculture. Last year the GreenRail project—a partnership between flower auctioneer FloraHolland, the VGB (Association of Wholesalers in Floricultural Products), rail operator HUPAC, and 4PL e-Logistics Control—began arranging transportation for products along conventional […]

Crack the WIP for a Leaner Supply Chain
As the nation begins to emerge from the economic downturn, companies are focusing efforts on reducing costs and streamlining work to prepare for the increased demand recovery will bring. Implementing a lean culture to eliminate waste in every area of the value stream will be a key focus for many operations. At the core of […]

TMS Evolved: Intelligent Execution Tools That Add Context
Evolution is inevitable, isn’t it? It makes sense that transportation management systems should evolve as well. While the concept of Moore’s Law does not necessarily apply to TMS advancements in its short lifespan, there are current improvements available that are making shippers stand up and take notice. The newest improvement has been the ability to […]

Alison Dennis: Local and Loving It
NAME: Alison Dennis TITLE: Director of sustainability programs, since 2010 COMPANY: Burgerville, Vancouver, Wash. PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE INCLUDES: Administrator, Portland Art Museum; ballroom dance teacher; various temp jobs; buyer, then purchasing manager, Oregon Health and Science University; director of supply chain, Burgerville. EDUCATION: Bennington College, B.A. liberal arts, 1994 Alison Dennis got her supply chain […]

Trends—May 2010
Despite Interruptions European Integrators Express Themselves When an ash cloud from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano forced the closure of most European airports and airspace in April 2010, express carriers TNT and DHL activated contingency plans and ramped up ground operations to cope with the service disruption. "The ground network allowed TNT to keep delivering customers’ goods […]

Why You Should Vest With Your Outsourcing Partners, Now!
We hear and read constantly about the critical need for lean, green, transparent, collaborative, efficient, and cost-effective supply chains and logistics partners. But how have your partnerships fared lately? How have things progressed over the past three or four years? Are your outsourcing and logistics contracts living up to their initial promises and premises? Do […]

Giving Intermodal the Green Light
Manufacturers and retailers know moving freight by rail and using trucks on the origin and destination ends—a combined service approach called door-to-door intermodal—can help cut logistics costs. What many shippers don’t realize is that, in addition to being a more cost-effective method of transporting goods, intermodal offers significant environmental advantages as well. LAW OF AVERAGES […]
Boosting Loading Dock Efficiencies
Inefficient loading dock operations open the door to delays, accidents, and product damage. They can also derail on-time performance and result in customer dissatisfaction. Make small changes that can deliver a substantial difference with these tips from Walt Swietlik of Milwaukee-based Rite-Hite Corporation. 1. Improve employee comfort. More comfortable employees are more productive employees. Install […]
Just Chill: Moving Live Tissue
A precise temperature-controlled packing and shipping procedure helps Advanced BioHealing ensure its biomedical product’s safety and integrity.

Transformative Technology
Yes, technology continues to transform transportation. But your demands also transform those providing technology to you. For example, JDA Software’s acquisition of i2 Technologies in January 2010, and their shared roadmap for future integration, serve as a telling bellwether for the logistics technology industry and its customers. From a macro perspective, consolidation among IT companies […]

Technology Drives Supply Chain Excellence
Growing companies harness a variety of IT solutions to help them maintain outstanding performance.

Global Logistics—April 2010
Kiwirail Kudos The Port of Auckland, New Zealand, is bringing marine transport directly to shipper doorsteps with the debut of its new Wiri-to-Waitemata seaport rail link. The intermodal shuttle connection helps exporters and importers drive efficiency and increase flexibility by enabling them to drop off and pick up containers without negotiating Auckland’s motorways. Shippers can […]
Nation Building at Home
After generations of change, one transition is still difficult—how we integrate military veterans into the private-sector workforce.