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A 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 […]
Read MoreLogistics Partnerships: Are You Ready to Be a Partner?
According to the most recent GMA Study, manufacturers will expend nearly 7% of their sales on logistics costs. Many of those companies will look to the experts in the logistics marketplace to assist them in controlling and reducing said costs. Many of these manufacturers and others will potentially compile comprehensive RFP’s in the coming year […]
Read MoreHow to Tackle Mission-Critical Logistics in an Emerging Market
MORE TO THE STORY: FOUR STEPS TO FOLLOW Mission-critical logistics in the United States is manageable; acceptable in Western Europe; and nearing acceptability in maturing Asian markets, yet still manageable. In emerging markets such as Latin America, service parts logistics is incredibly immature. Businesses looking to grow in these areas must balance the risk/reward of […]
Read MoreHow to Locate a Contingency Port
MORE TO THE STORY: 4 STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION Shippers and consignees on the u.s. west coast are well aware of the challenges they face when capacity is squeezed and time parameters are tight. As a result, many have begun managing their supply lines from point of origin, controlling the inbound shipment process to […]
Read MoreHow to Find The Right Outsourcing Solution
MORE TO THE STORY: PICKING YOUR PARTNER As the rules of engagement for operating in a global world continue to shift and expand, businesses increasingly find that the myriad pressures of running a core business do not lend themselves to doing all things well. In the interest of doing what they do best and providing […]
Read MoreHow to Select an Ocean Carrier
MORE TO THE STORY: BEFORE YOU CHANGE COURSE Ocean freight buyers are often limited by the geography of their offshore suppliers/manufacturers and stateside customers and the urgency of the shipping season when they consider making changes to their carrier networks. But there is always room for optimization. Shrewd logistics professionals periodically research and take advantage […]
Read MoreHow to Streamline Import Documentation
MORE TO THE STORY: THE 411 ON AMS AND 10+2 Businesses continue to turn to offshore manufacturing locations and strategic global outsourcing partnerships to exploit cheaper production and labor costs. Often lost in the process, however, is the value global businesses can extract by capturing data deeper in the supply chain to scale inventory demands […]
Read MoreHow to Use Transportation Metrics to Drive Profit and Service
MORE TO THE STORY: WHAT TO DO IF YOUR COMPANY IS… How do you measure efficiency when you are already doing the best job possible? Talk to any over-the-road shipper that finds itself increasingly handcuffed by institutionalized transportation and fuel-related costs and it would likely tell you the "best job possible" doesn’t cut it anymore. […]
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