Articles
Ten Tips
Importing Food Safely
With recent incidents of food contamination making headline news, tracking the food supply chain has never been more important. Here are some tips on ensuring food import safety and accountability from Michael Lahar, food and drug administration team leader for A.N. Deringer Inc., a St. Alban’s, Vt.-based third-party logistics provider. 1. Verify your trading partners […]
Read MoreSelecting Global Trade Management Software
Looking for guidance on selecting a flexible global trade management software (GTM) package that easily integrates into your supply chain strategy? Here’s some advice from Brian Hodgson, vice president of marketing and business development for Kewill Americas, Marlborough, Mass. 1. Set clear requirements and well-defined scope. Determine, for example, whether you need import or export […]
Read MoreHow to Request 3PL Proposals
Thoroughness and honesty are the keys to a successful 3PL request for proposal (RFP) bid process, according to Will O’Shea, chief sales and marketing officer for Atlanta, Ga.-based logistics provider 3PD Inc. Here are his tips for getting the best results from your 3PL RFP. 1. Be selective. If you send out RFPs in a […]
Read MoreManaging Expedited Shipments
There are two kinds of expedited shipments: critical and time-sensitive. Knowing the difference between the two and understanding your customers’ supply chains can help you make decisions that translate into cost-effective expedited shipment strategies. Here’s some advice from Greg Humes, president of Detroit-based third-party logistics provider NLM. 1. Hire the right people. Employing a staff […]
Read MoreBoosting Supply Chain Visibility
Improving supply chain visibility is a top priority of companies striving to maximize global operations performance. Nathan Pieri, senior vice president of marketing and product management for East Rutherford, N.J.-based Management Dynamics, a global trade management solutions provider, offers these tips for using technology to increase visibility. 1. Look at the big picture.Make sure your […]
Read MoreGenerating Accurate Global Documentation
Improper documentation can stop import shipments dead in their tracks and you may not even know they are stuck. Beth Peterson, president of BPE Global, offers advice for achieving fast, reliable customs clearance.
Read MoreEasy Come, Easy Go: Keeping the Yard Running Smoothly
Some companies consider yard management a low priority, but an inefficient strategy can bleed dollars from the bottom line. Wilson Rothschild, industry and product marketing supply chain manager for Infor, an Alpharetta, Ga.-based warehouse management software company, offers these tips for making yard management a strategic imperative. 1. Lead an initiative to review yard management […]
Read MoreClearing Customs Quickly and Efficiently
Efficient customs clearance requires technical knowledge and respect for procedure, as well as an ability to understand the game, speak the language, and build good relationships throughout the supply chain. Mike McCarron, managing partner, MSM Transportation, offers 10 tips for fast, reliable customs clearance. 1. Focus on what you can control. When you ship globally, […]
Read MoreShipping Hazardous Materials Safely
Shipping hazardous materials requires more attention to detail than transporting regular goods. The changes in paperwork and procedures since Sept. 11 have further complicated an already convoluted process. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the International Air Transport Association govern hazmat shipping at the federal and global levels, but transport buyers may encounter additional […]
Read MoreSelecting a Global Trade Management Provider
Language barriers, distance and time differences, security issues, and customs rules make global sourcing difficult to manage. Selecting the right global trade management (GTM) solution can help. Here’s some advice from Graham Napier, CEO of TradeBeam Technologies. 1. Look for immediate value. Identify a GTM provider with solutions that deliver immediate impact in core areas. […]
Read More