Articles
Commentary
Just In Time to Near-Source or Nearly Time to In-Source?
As the global economy grows more complex, the concepts of in-sourcing and near-sourcing are receiving increased attention from many supply chain professionals.
Read More
Five Steps to Six Sigma Success
A great way for distributors to improve processes and optimize space is to deploy Six Sigma methodologies. An effective starting point for introducing these methodologies into a company’s operation is through five-step (5S) projects.
Read More
Gettin’ Giggy With It
The gig economy’s impact on last-mile delivery and fulfillment expectations has not gone unnoticed by the retail and e-commerce behemoths. Acknowledging that impact, investment activity is spinning up this year. It seems odd but, despite finely tuned distribution systems, e-commerce leaders now feel they have to add to their “legacy” fulfillment infrastructure, technology, and expertise […]
Read More
Your Supply Chain Reality in 5 Years: What ChatGPT Can’t Tell You
We asked our readers: How will supply chain management transform in the next five years? Here are the three major transformations supply chain managers can anticipate. 1. Adoption of advanced supply chain technology will be a major source of competitive advantage for companies. Platforms that improve human decision making and asset management will be areas […]
Read More
Preparing Now For What the Future May Bring
In 2022, it became clear that effective supply chain risk management (SCRM) is not a luxury but a necessity. The year saw numerous disruptions to global supply chains, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Log4Shell vulnerability, and concerns over rail strikes.
Read More
Ukraine War’s Supply Chain Impact
In February 2022, Russian forces invaded Ukraine. While this is a terrible humanitarian event, it also impacts the global economy. There are economic repercussions not only in Europe, but also across the globe, especially since the timing of the war was not ideal.
Read More
Container Shipping Shifts Balance
The East Coast is back in fashion for import supply chains that rely on containerized ocean freight. However, for many small and mid-sized shippers with historic dependency on Southern California distribution hubs, old habits will be hard to break.
Read More
Stabilizing the Chemical Supply Chain
The chemicals industry may be stable, but the risks companies frequently face are volatile. Multi-stage shipping routes for hazardous or delicate materials incur risk at every step. Shifting to just-in-time inventories, with more frequent, smaller shipments, is a catalyst for procurement and logistics problems.
Read More
GOOD QUESTION: What’s your biggest supply chain takeaway from peak season?
With peak season 2022 in the rear view, readers and industry insiders reveal key lessons and insights.
Read MoreEducation: A Call to Action
A lot of transportation, logistics, and supply chain expertise is cycling out of day-to-day operations in the United States and it is worrisome.
Read MoreLeveraging NFTs to Elevate Shipment Security
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have the potential to revolutionize shipping. By digitizing the shipment process and providing a secure, tamper-proof way to track shipments, NFTs can help shippers protect their valuable cargo from theft and fraud.
Read More
4 Ways Procurement Will Evolve in 2023
It may be easy for procurement professionals to have a dampened outlook for 2023 due to ongoing supply chain disruption and a potential recession looming. Despite these market conditions, there remains cause for optimism, as procurement leaders uncover opportunities to help their organizations navigate bumps in the road.
Read More
Collaboration and Connectivity Have to Come Before Technology
Supply chain disruptions are at an all-time high, so it’s no surprise that technology designed to solve problems is plentiful. It should be. With pressure on everyone in the supply chain, we need tools like digital bookings, automated invoicing, and instant integration of data into transportation management systems. Let’s give thanks for technology, because nine times out of 10, it makes a difference.
Read MoreManaging Supplier Risk: It’s All About the Information
What was once “nice to have” information has been defined by law. As social and environmental concerns grow, governments and related third parties are demanding, with regulatory backing, that businesses manage ethical supply chains. What can large organizations with complex supply chains do to help mitigate supplier risk?
Read More
Solving the Talent Crisis
The greatest untapped talent pool in manufacturing, logistics, and the supply chain sector in the United States is women. Even though women make up almost half (47%) of the entire U.S. labor force, they make up only slightly more than one-quarter (27%) of the manufacturing workforce. This needs to change if the manufacturing industry is to have any hope of addressing the enormous talent chasm that has opened up in recent years.
Read More
Is Your Business Ready for Intelligent Document Processing?
The world has seen the damage a slow supply chain can do—it stunts economic growth, negatively impacts revenue, and leads to customer frustration, or worse, customer loss. Technology has been touted as the end-all to supply chain woes, but it can be difficult to determine the most beneficial solutions. Yet, one AI solution can lay the foundational groundwork for implementing future technologies: Intelligent Document Processing (IDP).
Read More
What’s the Word? The Language of Logistics
IL breaks down the logistics terms gaining traction in 2023 (from social commerce to footprinting) as well as defines the basic concepts that keep cargo moving.
Read More
GOOD QUESTION: What’s one supply chain misnomer? What would be a better term?
“Driver shortage” could be missing the mark. “Supply chain” might be overly simplistic. “E-commerce” a bit dated. Industry insiders and readers point out one supply chain misnomer and come up with a more accurate term.
Read More2023 Inventory… Too Much? Too Little?
Inventory. That was the theme unifying both attendees and exhibitors at the 2023 National Retail Federation (NRF) convention in New York City. More precisely, everyone I spoke to was interested in load balancing inventory to serve new retail fulfillment approaches striving to catch up with the blindingly fast evolution in consumer buying habits. For retail […]
Read More
3 Ways Digital Transformation Enhances Capacity
After consecutive pandemic years, supply chains are a mess. As a result, businesses are running out of stock just as surging consumer demand drives up prices for remaining goods, contributing to record inflation and further disrupting consumer markets.
Read More