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How to Standardize Fuel Surcharges
MORE TO THE STORY: DRILLING DOWN FREIGHT SPEND A wise person once stated that if you have two watches, you never know what time it is. When considering the effects of fuel surcharges on line-haul rates, this analogy is appropriate. If both are allowed to fluctuate, making sense of total freight spend and the intrinsic […]
Read MoreWhy Shippers Should Care About Total Landed Costs
The unprecedented economic downturn, combined with the very unpredictable changes in key supply chain variables over the last few years, shows why shippers should take a more holistic approach when making network configuration decisions. The dramatic spike in fuel prices last year serves a perfect example. The fuel ≥crisis≤ was a catalyst that forced companies […]
Read MoreIt’s 2009. Do You Know Where Your Freight Dollars are Going?
The last two years have proven to be very stressful ones for most supply chain managers. Hundreds of firms have failed and thousands of jobs have been lost throughout the industry. Most managers of virtually all functions are under more pressure to meet corporate goals than ever before. According to the recent CSCMP State of […]
Read MoreChemical Logistics—June 2009
The chemical industry copes with an uncertain economic climate.
Read MoreMeasure Your Way to Exceeding C-Suite Expectations
With organizational performance demands at an unprecedented high, the C-Suite is scrutinizing every cost of doing business and looking for places to cut costs while enhancing customer service. Constantly changing corporate goals and the mandate to do more with less adds stress to heightened business goals. One thing is clear: Changes made to your business […]
Read MoreMake Sure TMS Stands for ‘Time-to-Market Savings’
Broad agreement exists nowadays among logistics managers that Transportation Management Systems (TMS) are a useful—many would say powerful—addition to their arsenal of tools. After all, a good TMS will automate quoting, tendering, billing, and a host of other shipping activities. It will optimize modes, routings, and costs while providing unprecedented visibility to shipment status and […]
Read MoreHow to Close the Supply Chain Value Gap
When it comes to IT investments in Supply Chain Management, what you see isn’t always what you get (WYSIAWYG for short!). Studies indicate that there’s a huge gap between what customers in various industry groups perceive as required investments and satisfaction with the delivered IT solution. Nevertheless, in today’s competitive and vulnerable economy, it becomes […]
Read MoreA Slice of Time for Logistics
As the global economy shrinks and slows down, manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, and merchandisers have to squeeze every ounce of efficiency from their operations. In the rush to cut costs, however, they sometimes overlook the impact that time has on the ability to sell more products or to be more efficient. Time is a precious commodity […]
Read MoreHow to Manage Risk Among Logistics Partners
MORE TO THE STORY: SAFEGUARDING AGAINST RISKY BUSINESS Businesses face their own unique challenges in today’s waffling economy, with credit largely frozen, consumerism measured, supply lines lengthening, and transportation-related costs reaching record thresholds. Aside from these internal and market-driven obstacles, companies also encounter considerable risk partnering with carriers, forwarders, and third-party logistics providers laying down […]
Read MoreHow to Develop Infrastructure to Support Mission-Critical Logistics
MORE TO THE STORY: 6 STEPS TO SUPPLY CHAIN ENLIGHTENMENT here are critical logistics requirements and then there are mission-critical demands. The difference is end-user impact: a lost customer because of a late shipment, or a lost product line—and countless lost customers—because a critical part can’t be replaced in time. When companies move high-value shipments […]
Read MoreHow to Negotiate Ocean Carrier Contracts
MORE TO THE STORY: WHEN YOU APPROACH THE TABLE What you put into contract negotiations dictates what you get in return. So begin by putting together a prospectus of your industry and your company and where it is moving—with input from all departments and levels of management within the extended enterprise. Assess and understand where […]
Read MoreHow to Drive Excellence in Food Service
MORE TO THE STORY: FOOD LOGISTICS EXCELLENCE A LA CARTE Concerns over food product safety and integrity have ramped up efforts in the food supply chain to improve service, efficiency, and transparency—despite already robust regulatory oversight. Picking up and delivering shipments on time with no claims is the expectation among food service companies. Service is […]
Read MoreHow to Capitalize on Importer Security Filing (10+2)
MORE TO THE STORY: MAKE 10+2 WORK FOR YOU Sometimes opportunities present themselves in the unlikeliest places—in the bureaucracy of Customs compliance, for example. When U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) introduced the idea of Importer Security Filing (10+2) early in 2008, many global shippers and consignees greeted the proposal with reservations. The mandate requires […]
Read MoreHow to Gain Supply Chain Visibility
MORE TO THE STORY: 6 STEPS TO SUPPLY CHAIN ENLIGHTENMENT If there is one buzzword that continues to define supply chain management, itπs visibility. Everyone wants it but few seem to ever approach true nirvana. Part of the difficulty in this endless search for total insight and control is that companies have different interpretations of […]
Read MoreGrowth and Structure of the Third-Party Logistics Industry
In these challenging economic times, it may be difficult to think of industries that achieve meaningful growth irrespective of the economic cycle. Historical trends, however, suggest that the third party logistics (“3PL”) industry has been able to accomplish just that. During the last recession, gross revenues for the domestic industry grew 17.8% from $65.3 billion […]
Read MoreDetermining When to Outsource Supply Chain Management Services
In today’s highly competitive and dynamic global business environment with vastly extended supply chains, companies can often be confused by the many logistics options and sources available to them when seeking to implement a highly visible supply chain management (SCM) solution. Before making a decision on how to best integrate advancing technologies into your company’s […]
Read MoreChemical Logistics—June 2008
Chemical Supply Chain Comes of Age Chemical shippers now view supply chain management as integral to success. For years chemical supply chain managers have been trying to educate senior management that logistics is not just a line-item cost, but a vital part of the organization, as important as manufacturing and sales. Their mission is far […]
Read MoreOne Good Turn (sponsored by SmartTurn)
Every business wants to grow, but rapid expansion presents challenges as flourishing companies struggle with more complex inventory and warehouse management operations. Osteogenics Biomedical recently faced this situation as it coped with breakneck growth, a small 2,500-square-foot warehouse, and an outdated management system. The Lubbock, Texas-based company is a leader in the development of innovative […]
Read MoreTechnology + Execution = World Class Global Transportation Management
Several years ago Active On-Demand’s parent company, Active Aero Group (AAG) made the commitment to become the preeminent on-demand global transportation manager and backed it up with a multi-million dollar investment to expand our already industry-leading technology systems. We knew then that our technology had to be linked with exceptional personnel execution and expertise as […]
Read MoreWaco. We Do.
Greater Waco is a growing dynamic market in Central Texas with a diversified economy. In Waco, we do a lot of different work, make a variety of products and can get them easily to markets throughout North America and around the globe. We also do the things necessary to help businesses compete. Hence, Waco We […]
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