Articles
Commentary
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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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. […]
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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 […]
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