Articles
Commentary
Embracing the Opportunity in Returns
With the explosive growth of online shopping in recent years, largely fueled by the pandemic, returns are on the rise and have become a logistics headache for retailers, carriers, and consumers. The long-term impacts of this increased demand, and the resulting strain on retailers and supply chains, will largely depend on how retailers respond.
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Robots, Robots, Robots
Robots generated much of the excitement and glory at MHI’s recent ProMat exhibition in Chicago, especially the ones that walked on two feet. Bipedal humanoid robots are sexy and you can’t blame logistics pros for being intrigued by the possibilities. But robots with no legs are still doing most, if not all, of the real […]
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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.
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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 MoreGettin’ 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 […]
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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 […]
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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