Randall Plost: Plugged Into the Pipeline<br />

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<br />

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, […]

Chandler Hall

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 […]

Jose Fernando Nava

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<br />

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 […]

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 […]

Keith Biondo

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 […]

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<br />

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 […]

Chris Kane

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 […]

Lee Miller

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 […]

Rick O'Dell

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<br />

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 […]

Keith Biondo

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<br />

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

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, […]

Dr. Carol Nappholz

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 […]

Ike Ortiz-Luis

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, […]

Kyle Burns

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 […]

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.

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.

Global Logistics—August 2010

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, […]

Keith Biondo

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<br />

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 […]

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 […]

Ties That Bind: Sewing Up  U.S.-Canada Trade<br />

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.

Trends—July 2010<br />

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

Felecia Stratton

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<br />

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 […]

Joe Caston

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 […]

Dr. Jim Giermanski

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 […]

Steven Shoemaker

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 […]

Jeffrey R. Brashares

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 […]

Jim Butts

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.

Robert Byrne

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 […]

Kurt Cavano

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 […]

Chris Timmer

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 […]

Subhash Chowdary

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 […]

James Stevenson

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.

Donny Askin

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, […]

Ross Elliott

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 […]

Simon Kaye

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 […]

Keith Biondo

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 […]

Mexico Takes Flight

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

Mentoring’s Long Reach

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 […]

Laura Worker

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 […]

Geoff Comrie

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

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 […]

Trends—June 2010<br />

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 […]

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. […]

Keith Biondo

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

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.

Global Logistics—May 2010<br />

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 […]

David Phillips

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 […]

Steven Shoemaker

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

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<br />

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 […]

Kate Vitasek

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 […]

John Patton

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 […]

Felecia Stratton

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 […]

Global Logistics—April 2010<br />

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.