Articles
Viewpoint: Logistics & Supply Chain Analysis
Building Better 3PL Relationships
Third-party logistics (3PL) providers are tremendously popular with shippers for surface transportation in North America. Freight brokers, forwarders, and intermodal marketing companies offer capacity, expertise, technology, and buying power on a scale no shipper can replicate on its own. Not all 3PLs are the same, however. Here are a few tips to help you get […]
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Using Distribution and Fulfillment as Strategic Weapons
Distribution center (DC) assets in the supply chain are often relegated to cost center, necessary evil, or even non-value-added status. But focusing only on costs overlooks distribution and fulfillment’s value to the corporation. In Web retailing, for example, price comparison shopping has neutralized cost advantages to the point where consumers make online buying decisions based […]
Read MoreSelecting Pallet Types: One Size Does Not Fit All
At any given time, nearly 1.5 billion pallets transport products of all shapes and sizes throughout the United States. The majority are wood pallets, which have remained popular with supply chain and logistics managers for decades because they cost less than alternative pallets made of plastic or steel. Because pallets are used across several diverse […]
Read MoreFinding and Attracting C-Suite Leadership
The days of fragmentation characterizing global logistics are drawing to a close. With globalization, more companies are striving to become end-to-end service providers for global customers. They see an opportunity to greatly improve profitability by offering higher-value services and gaining increased market share. To get there faster, they will continue to pursue mergers and acquisitions […]
Read MoreLosing Money in LTL? Try Small Parcel
Complacency is costly. Nowhere is this truer than in the way some companies practice less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping. Many shippers are choosing costlier LTL services when they could be using small-parcel shipping. In fact, the average shipper may overspend by 15 to 20 percent on LTL, which is unconscionable in these cost-conscious times. The problem is […]
Read MoreDoes Your Cargo Insurance Deliver?
Cargo theft amounts to $25 billion in direct merchandise losses each year, estimates the National Cargo Security Council. Full truckload theft in 2008 increased 13 percent over the prior year, reports FreightWatch International. Considering that 675,000 registered interstate motor carriers move 65 percent of the freight in the United States, the odds are good that […]
Read MoreFinding New Value in Truck Leasing
Back when the economy was humming along, business logistics managers turned to leasing for their transportation programs because it enabled them to focus energy on their core business. Today, logistics managers’ priorities have changed dramatically, but leasing still makes sense. Now, with all eyes on the bottom line, businesses choose leasing because it’s a viable […]
Read MoreThe Evolving Supply Chain Manager
Managing today’s complex supply chain requires the skills of a C-level executive, plus the special knowledge of supply chain disciplines including forecasting, purchasing, transportation, inventory management, quality, warehousing, channel costing, and technology. Fifty years ago, nobody managed a supply chain. Departments and individuals teamed up to obtain supply certainty and efficiency. But conflicting departmental and […]
Read MoreCutting the Fat from Equipment Redundancy
During a recent tour of a major logistics company, I was amazed at the emphasis placed on honoring commitments to the shipper. At every step of the process, the company had contingency plans in place to ensure that objectives were accomplished and shippers were satisfied. Then our guide indicated some idle equipment and explained it […]
Read MoreUnloading Trouble at the Loading Dock
Most or all of a shipper’s inventory eventually passes through the loading dock, so it’s essential that the area be configured correctly. Two common loading area problems are inadequately sized dock openings and rough terrain around the dock area. Where either of these conditions exist, load damage and costly delays are likely to occur. Understanding […]
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