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Keep Your Cool

Keep Your Cool

Product damage or spoilage, which most often occurs in transit, is the No. 1 supply chain challenge for the pharma and food and beverage industries (see chart), according to a Cloudleaf survey. This highlights a great need to maintain visibility throughout a product’s journey once it leaves the warehouse. Most (87%) survey respondents in the […]

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3 Ways to Mitigate Supply Chain Slowdowns

As the supply chain faces factory closures and limited access to employees and logistics to move goods amid the COVID-19 outbreak, leaders can help ease disruption by focusing on their workforce, products, and costs. Gartner recommends: 1. Support Your Workforce To limit the impact of COVID-19, governments and employers instructed many employees to stay at […]

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UPS Upgrades Unmanned Drone Fleet

UPS Upgrades Unmanned Drone Fleet

UPS drone delivery subsidiary UPS Flight Forward will collaborate with German drone-maker Wingcopter to develop the next generation of package delivery drones for multiple uses in the United States and internationally. Both companies will work toward earning regulatory certification for a Wingcopter unmanned aircraft to make commercial delivery flights in the United States and build […]

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Sysco Shifts Fleet to Grocery Supply Chain

Sysco Shifts Fleet to Grocery Supply Chain

Multinational food distribution company Sysco Corporation, based in Houston, launched several new grocery sector-focused initiatives in response to reduced customer demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sysco has one of the largest trucking fleets in the United States, with approximately 14,000 delivery vehicles consisting of tractors, trailers, vans, and panel trucks. The company employs 69,000 people. […]

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U.S. States Reopen During COVID-19 Pandemic

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, is allowing her state to start reopening on April 30, 2020, after her stay-at-home order expires. “As of this week, we no longer believe our hospitals will see an overwhelming amount of ICU patients who need ventilators, as we once believed, and that is sure good news,” Ivey said. […]

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Uncorking Automation Bottlenecks

Uncorking Automation Bottlenecks

Although 57% of organizations say they’re piloting automation processes and 93% of employees are optimistic automation will make their jobs easier, digital transformation efforts often fall apart, according to a new McKinsey survey. Many companies rely on IT to drive transformation without engaging other departments, creating bottlenecks. Company size and the structure of automation efforts […]

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Logistics Lexicon for the Times

Always responder Logistics professional who keeps goods moving at all times, including crisis situations.       Replenishment algorithms If-then inventory scenarios that can be adjusted to ensure grocery supply chains can respond to surging demand.         No-contact or contactless delivery Completing transport to a prearranged location without any face-to-face interaction.   […]

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SPOTLIGHT | Materials Handling Innovations

Senergy Motor Drive Rollers (MDRs): Senergy MDRs from PULSEROLLER can move materials at different speeds—designed for both lower-speed, heavy-duty applications such as pallet handling and high-speed carton or tote handling. The rollers can reach speeds up to 1,000 feet per minute, with a starting torque up to 215 in/lb. They’re also quieter than a typical […]

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Amazon Shoppers Won’t Abandon Ship

Many U.S. consumers have negative feelings toward Amazon’s impact on the retail industry and the environment, according to a recent consumer survey by Convey. The negative sentiment, however, doesn’t translate to lost sales. The key to Amazon’s success is its industry-disrupting shipping. Major findings include: 25% of Americans have negative feelings about Amazon’s impact on […]

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Supply Chain Execs Brace for Global Slowdown

Supply Chain Execs Brace for Global Slowdown

Supply chain industry executives anticipate a recession in 2020 amid concerns about downward pressure on global trade volumes, uncertain growth prospects, and ongoing friction between the United States and China. A recession is likely in the next 12 months, according to 64% of industry professionals surveyed for the 2020 Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index (see […]

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Robots Arrive in Cars

Robots Arrive in Cars

North American robot unit orders increased 1.6% in 2019 compared to 2018 with 29,988 robotic units ordered, according to the Robotic Industries Association. The largest driver of the growth was a 50.5% increase in orders from automotive original equipment manufacturers and a 16.6% increase from the plastics and rubber industry. Orders to automotive component markets […]

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Noted: The Supply Chain in Brief-Apr 2020

Green Seeds The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor and South Shore Clean Cities reduced diesel emissions throughout the port and started several sustainable projects, such as constructing a trucker lounge and paved truck-marshalling yard. H&M is sharing its sustainable supply chain expertise—in everything from product development and sourcing to production and logistics—with smaller brands. The fast-fashion […]

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Transport Companies Stamp U.S. Postal Service Suppliers List

Transport Companies Stamp U.S. Postal Service Suppliers List

The number of transportation companies at the top of Husch Blackwell’s Top 150 U.S. Postal Service Suppliers list—an annual look at the companies with the largest supplier relationships with the Postal Service—increased in 2019. Seven of the top 10 suppliers are involved in transportation, which is one more than in fiscal year 2018. As it […]

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Blockchain Pilots Aren’t Landing

A majority (80%) of supply chain blockchain initiatives will stay at the pilot stage through 2022, according to new Gartner research. Many organizations pushed to create robust use cases for the supply chain; however, most were inspired by banking and insurance pilots, and didn’t translate to supply chain. This should not discourage supply chain leaders […]

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State of Retail Tech

State of Retail Tech

Equity funding to retail tech companies slowed globally in 2019—down 31% to $45.2 billion—largely due to a slide in funding to e-commerce platforms and enabling technologies, finds CB Insights’ State of Retail Tech report, a comprehensive look into retail trends from 2019 and what to look for in 2020. Specifically, funding to supply chain and […]

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Felecia Stratton

5 Steps to a Contract High

In the mid-2000s, a U.S. computer manufacturer signed a long-term contract with an overnight delivery service to transport its products. By the eighth year of the 10-year contract, both the manufacturer and carrier wanted out. But both companies knew ending the agreement would be a lose-lose. The result: two years of distrust, retaliatory measures, and […]

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Automated Materials Handling Gets a Lift

Automated Materials Handling Gets a Lift

A labor market in which it is increasingly difficult to recruit, train, and retain workers is a major factor driving growth of the automated materials handling equipment market in North America, finds a report by BCC Research. The market expects a compound annual growth rate of 7.1% through 2024 and may be worth $28.7 billion. […]

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VERTICAL FOCUS | Automotive

VERTICAL FOCUS | Automotive

On the Road to Sustainable Mobility Mercedes-Benz, working with Circulor, a startup specializing in blockchain technology, is conducting a pilot project dubbed Ambition 2039 that aims for a carbon-neutral new passenger car fleet in less than 20 years. This transformation will require detailed knowledge of all climate-relevant processes associated with the entire vehicle value chain. […]

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Predicting the Future of Consumer Demand

Predicting the Future of Consumer Demand

Improving demand forecasting is a priority for manufacturers—61% of respondents to a recent AIMMS report say that improving forecast accuracy is either important or extremely important for their organizations. However, only 2% of respondents are extremely satisfied with their forecasts. Many bet on new technologies such as machine learning and demand sensing to improve forecast […]

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