Articles

Case Studies

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Curtis Brewer: Master of the Schedule

As he works toward his MBA, it’s no wonder Curtis Brewer focuses on international logistics. Since his days as a college intern, Brewer has kept his eye on the supply chain challenges inherent in global trade. In fact, his biggest career challenge so far came during that internship, when a customer’s needs collided with a […]

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John Gilmour: Going With the Flow

Change is inevitable; flow with it,” says John Gilmour, citing one of the mottos that guide his career. Named vice president of distribution and logistics at Musicland Group in January, Gilmour has been managing the flow for the national retailer during a particularly intense period of change. A former unit of Best Buy Co., Musicland […]

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Daniel Pigott: A Chemical Equation That Produces Profits

With the new Hours of Service rules in effect, truck capacity is at the top of everyone’s mind, says Daniel Pigott, director of NAFTA distribution for BASF Corp., BASF Canada, and BASF Mexicana in Orange, Conn. One of Pigott’s major accomplishments during his years in logistics has been developing a command center to help the […]

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Bruce Cutler: Selling Style, Price and Global Expertise

In the mid 1990s at Compaq Computer, Bruce Cutler crossed the gap between international marketing and international logistics. “I didn’t have logistics experience, but I knew the people in the subsidiaries, and I knew how to run a project in multiple countries,” he says. His first logistics assignment sent Cutler and a small team to […]

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Robert Swanson: Developing Colleagues with Passion

Robert Swanson’s first employer helped put him through college while he worked. Today, at Pfizer Global Research and Development Michigan Labs, Swanson is paying that favor forward, not with tuition assistance, but with extensive on-the-job training. A major part of Swanson’s mission is to help the people in his organization live out “the passion to […]

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Tank Goodness

A materials management system gives Army depot and its partners a better view of parts used to rebuild M1A1 Abrams tanks.

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Kim Brown: Keeping the Home Fires Burning

When work goes well for Kim Brown, people stay warm. Brown’s company, Hearth and Home Technologies, manufactures stoves, fireplaces and related products for home heating. As materials manager at the Lake City, Minn., plant, she’s responsible for getting materials to the production line and transporting finished goods to distributors and direct customers. Like many supply […]

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Rob James: The Pepsi Challenge–Taking Charge of Inbound

Promoted to logistics manager at PepsiAmericas’ St. Louis plant, Rob James had a revelation. The operation was giving money away. Instead of managing its inbound freight, the plant relied on vendors to book loads and pass on the charges—whatever they happened to be. Research showed there was plenty of room for improvement. “I quickly found […]

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