Articles
Commentary
What Is One Supply Chain “Trade-off” That Is Actually Not a Trade-off?
Costs down means performance is up. Not always. Cost control that eliminates waste and duplication is good; but if it squeezes R&D, product quality, etc. it will eventually bring down revenue and profit. Cost and performance (whether operational or financial) are not in a true trade-off like buying vs. saving, or insourcing vs. outsourcing. –Dr. […]
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Real-Time Asset Data: A Game Changer
Too often, supply chain and yard operations rely on outdated systems to track high-value assets, leaving decision-makers without a clear picture of what’s where, when it moved last and how long it has been idle.
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Waste Not, Win More: Smart Sustainability Drives Retail Growth
As the effects of climate change grow more apparent, consumers increasingly hold brands accountable for their sustainability practices. Fortunately, what’s good for the planet is also good for business.
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Pick a 3PL That Evolves
Growth in 3PL solutions is influenced by your demands. Data shared by more than 200 3PLs and thousands of their customers for this year’s 3PL Perspectives survey offers the following key takeaways that can guide demand-driven enterprises as they seek to align with new partners. 3PLs go hybrid. The percentage of pure-play asset-based 3PLs has […]
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Powering Growth Through Insights
Today’s complex business environment is marked by fluctuating demand, supply chain disruptions, cyber threats, changing fiscal policies, and regulatory shifts. Procurement professionals must balance cost-saving measures with a mandate to reduce risk, build resilience, enhance supplier relationships, and drive growth.
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Lean Meets Green: How Smart Supply Chains Cut Waste
Many companies are beginning to realize that Lean and Green are not necessarily contradictory but can be mutually beneficial. Conflicts may arise, for example, when Lean supply chains employ a just-in-time approach involving smaller, more frequent deliveries, which can result in higher CO2 emissions and increased energy consumption.
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Changing Your TMS Isn’t as Painful as You Think
Coming from someone who has been through multiple transportation management system (TMS) transitions, the initial thoughts of it can be daunting: “How will a new system affect my current workflows? How long will it take to learn where everything is? Will it have the same button and perform the same function that I’ve been used to for the past five years?”
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WHAT’S THE WORD: The Language of Logistics
From the difference between a duty and tariff to why you should pay attention to tail inventory, here’s how to speak supply chain.
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6 Ways to Make Must-Arrive-By Dates Work for You
If you’ve shipped into big box retailers in the past 15 years, you’ve undoubtedly encountered Must-Arrive-By-Dates (MABDs), the protocol implemented by Walmart, Target, and others during the early days of retail’s data revolution. MABDs allow shippers to meet time-sensitive demands with confidence, while avoiding unpleasant fines. Additional non-compliance on shipments can also lower your overall scorecard, leading to being downgraded as a supplier.
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How Automation, Data, and Demand Are Reshaping Warehouses
Warehousing and distribution remain a cornerstone of logistics operations. Effective strategies are essential to ensure the timely and efficient flow of goods from manufacturers to consumers. Businesses must constantly adapt and innovate to meet the dynamic needs of stakeholders and customers.
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Can We Jumpstart American Shipbuilding?
In 80 years, U.S. shipbuilding has gone from producing record numbers of hulls during World War II—representing roughly 60% of global merchant tonnage—to just 0.1% today. President Trump’s executive order on “Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance” aims to reverse this decline.
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Why the Smartest Supply Chain Leaders Are Replacing Traditional Warehouse Hiring in 2025
If the last five years have taught supply chain leaders anything, it’s that agility is no longer a competitive advantage—it’s a requirement. And nowhere is that more apparent than in the warehouse. From fluctuating volumes and constrained labor pools to rising costs and changing customer expectations, warehouse operations have become the pressure valve of the […]
Read MoreWhat Hobbies/Activities Make You Better at Managing Supply Chains?
Readers share how hobbies like running, yoga, puzzles, and team sports develop key skills—resilience, flexibility, problem-solving, and communication—enhance supply chain and logistics management performance.
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Walmart Bets Big on Drones
Walmart is banking on drone deliveries to continue dominating both the last-mile delivery sector and the broader retail industry. This drone strategy is long-term and based on Walmart’s research showing that younger consumers (ages 18-35) are the most likely to use drone delivery services. Younger consumers, accustomed to organizing their lives around iPhones and apps, […]
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Freight Fraud: 5 Ways to Mitigate Risk
Freight fraud is becoming increasingly commonplace across the U.S. supply chain. In fact, 72% of respondents to a 2024 Transportation Intermediaries Association survey experienced at least three different types of fraud—everything from phishing and brokerage scams to cyberattacks, and fraudulent inbound phone calls and text messages.
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Unlocking Revenue Growth With AI
In the modern service economy, businesses face growing pressure to deliver value-driven customer experiences while maximizing profitability. Yet, many organizations remain tethered to outdated tools and manual processes that hinder operational efficiency and scalability.
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Fashion in Flux: How Apparel Brands Are Battling Tariffs, Demand Dips, and Supply Chain Snarls
Leading brands like Gap Inc., Lululemon, and American Eagle prepare for trade uncertainty.
Read MoreTo Reduce Empty Miles, Shippers Must Share to Save
For an industry that prides itself on running lean, the supply chain has a glaring inefficiency on the roads every day: trucks with plenty of space to spare.
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How Year-Round Demand Is Reshaping OTC Supply Chains
Cold and flu season is no longer confined to the winter months. For manufacturers of over-the-counter (OTC) cold and flu products, this unpredictability is forcing a fundamental shift in how, and where, supply chains are built and maintained.
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How Businesses Can Adapt and Thrive in a New Tariff Era
Tariff-driven turbulence creates an opportunity to rethink, retool, and reinforce logistics operations. Rather than viewing tariffs as an uncontrollable threat, you can use them as a catalyst for digital transformation.
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