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Commentary: 4 Reasons Why Asia Pacific Drives the Life Sciences & Healthcare Supply Chain
The seeds were sown some 15 years ago, when a few pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies began investing in Asia Pacific. Over several years of favorable growth conditions, the life sciences and healthcare (LSH) industry gradually matured across the region, becoming a hosting platform for the majority of LSH key players today. So what makes Asia […]
Read MoreAsia Accelerates Contract Logistics Growth
The overall contract logistics market grew by approximately 3.9 percent in real terms in 2016, according to TI’s Global Contract Logistics 2017 report. Despite stronger global growth in 2016, many developed markets struggled to match even the modest growth rates seen in their contract logistics markets in 2015. This reflects trends in the global economy, […]
Read MoreWill Stagnant World Trade Hurt Air Cargo?
Global airfreight demand, measured in freight tonne kilometers, grew by 3.8 percent in 2016 compared to 2015, according to data released by The International Air Transport Association (IATA). This was nearly double the industry’s average growth rate of 2 percent over the past five years. Freight capacity, measured in available freight tonne kilometers, increased by […]
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Delivery Robots: Coming to a Sidewalk Near You
Major package delivery stakeholders such as UPS, FedEx, DHL, and Amazon have poured considerable resources into technology that will deliver packages by airborne drone. But their efforts face constant regulatory obstacles that slow the speed at which the technology can be tested and developed. In the meantime, a start-up is testing an idea that has […]
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New Innovation Center Uses Technology to Advance Supply Chain Management
When industry and academia team up, benefits abound. Consider a new collaborative effort between J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., a transportation services company based in Lowell, Ark., and the University of Arkansas to advance supply chain management efficiency through technology. J.B. Hunt is investing $2.75 million in the University of Arkansas to create the J.B. […]
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New Rail Service Will Link the UK and China
Details of the trade future between the United Kingdom and the European Union may be uncertain, but the UK’s trade with China is on track—literally. The Chinese government’s "One Belt, One Road" initiative checked off another milestone in April 2017 as a freight train left London’s DP World London Gateway, bound for Yiwu in eastern […]
Read MoreWill Same-day Production and Delivery of Replacement Parts Become Standard?
Manufacturing replacement parts and shipping them to the customer the same day could soon become the industry standard. Same-day production and delivery is possible if communications between production and logistics is fully automated. This was illustrated in a live demo conducted by Deutsche Post DHL in partnership with AXIT and evosoft – IT companies that […]
Read MoreBlockchain Survey Shows Awareness, Key Applications, and Implementation Plans
The primary use for blockchain is improving supply chain transparency and traceability, according to a new benchmark survey focused on blockchain in supply chain management and trade finance. Other important advantages include transaction cost reductions and enhanced trust between supply chain partners, according to Chain Business Insights’ Blockchain in Supply Chain: Edging Toward Higher Visibility. […]
Read MoreSpot Truckload Rates Trending Up
National average spot truckload rates for van and flatbed freight rose during the week ending May 20 while the rate for spot refrigerated freight remained at its highest mark since January, said DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT network of load boards. The number of available loads on DAT load boards increased 5.4% compared to […]
Read MoreCommentary: Three Ways Technology Is Transforming the Life Sciences and Healthcare Supply Chain
Pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers are facing a variety of challenges, perhaps the greatest of which is compliance. Since 2013 and the European Commission’s introduction of good distribution practice (GDP) rules, companies have upped prioritization of compliance in order to meet increasingly rigorous life sciences and healthcare standards. In particular, companies must now ensure temperature-controlled […]
Read MoreHow Labeling Helps Meet Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Challenges

The pharmaceutical supply chain is highly complex. Many ingredients are often shipped in bulk, repackaged, and reshipped before they find their way to the manufacturer producing the branded end-products. Multiple tiers of suppliers and wholesalers are often involved. Oftentimes, borders are crossed. Labeling is essential to smooth the flow of the pharmaceutical supply chain, where […]
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Electrifying Big Truck Fleets
Hyster Company is testing high capacity lift trucks with electric motors. The company suggests that, in the near future, ports and heavy industry will be able to electrify their big truck fleets, producing zero emissions while achieving comparable full shift performance. “Using a modular approach and innovative technology, applications will soon have maximum flexibility when […]
Read MoreStudy Finds U.S. Retailers Lead the Way in International Expansion

The retail industry’s international expansion slowed a bit in 2016 from its strong pace of a year earlier as retailers adjusted to e-commerce and shifting exchange rates, according to CBRE Group Inc.’s 10th annual study of international retail expansion. The study found that retailers’ activity in entering new markets increased by 2 percent last year, […]
Read MorePort of Baltimore Sees Record First Quarter
The public marine terminals of the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore got off to a fast start in 2017 by posting a record first quarter with 2,560,065 tons of general cargo. This record surpassed the previous record for the best January through March performance of 2,443,062 tons set last year. General cargo includes cars, […]
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Supply Chain Commentary: 4 Ways to Cut Transportation Spending
Transportation represents a significant expense within many company’s supply chains and is vital to ensuring that goods and services are delivered on time. Due to the line item cost, transportation can be under constant pressure for cost reduction. And given how critical it is to the success of a company, those running the department must […]
Read MoreMidwest Association of Rail Shippers Opens Summer Meeting Registration
Registration is now open for the 249th meeting of the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS) that will be held July 10–11, 2017 at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wis. The theme for this meeting is What’s Coming Down the Tracks for Rail Shippers? “It is unclear what impact regulatory, economic, and trade […]
Read MoreCompanies Preparing for Supply Chain Digital Disruption
In today’s digital supply chain landscape, electronic linkages between customers and suppliers is on the rise, and double-digit growth is expected in 2017 and beyond, according to new research released from B2Bi Managed Services provider DiCentral, in partnership with SAP and the Global Supply Chain Institute at the University of Tennessee (UT) Haslam College of […]
Read MoreFour Tips for Cargo Theft Prevention
Although Memorial Day can mean a three-day weekend for most, it’s also the perfect time for thieves to steal cargo. Memorial Day weekend is one of the most popular times for cargo theft with 98 cargo thefts reported in the past 4 years, according to CargoNet. In contrast to non-holiday weekends, Memorial Day weekend has […]
Read MoreTechnological Advances That Will Improve the Supply Chain
Technological advances to improve operations and profit margins are prominent within the supply chain services industry. Optimization and integration are two areas where technology continues to play a prominent role in logistics, while machine learning and Uberization are significant trends to watch. Supply chain optimization and efficiency are targets every logistics provider is aiming for […]
Read MoreSchneider Expands Intermodal Network With Baltimore Ramp
Intermodal shipping in the Mid-Atlantic region just got easier. Schneider, a truckload, intermodal, and logistics provider, has started offering inbound and outbound intermodal ramp service in Baltimore. The Baltimore ramp allows Schneider to provide customers with more efficient intermodal services by creating additional Mid-Atlantic southbound/northbound lanes previously unavailable in Schneider’s network. The new lanes connect […]
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