Articles
Labor Management

Cold Changes
Most cold chain businesses say that taking extra measures to protect the workforce is their No. 1 issue (see chart), according to the Global Cold Chain Alliance’s survey studying the ripple effects of COVID-19. Other key findings include: Common challenges. More than 50% of respondents say that supply chain disruptions, such as keeping up with […]
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5 Lessons Learned During the Crisis
As a major player in the freight forwarding industry, and having been through the SARS epidemic in China, I have learned and implemented some key lessons that are vital not only in navigating a pandemic, but doing so efficiently.
Read MoreReading the Room
Annette Danek-Akey is executive vice president of supply chain at multinational publishing company Penguin Random House. Responsibilities: Manage distribution, transportation, customer service, fulfillment, reverse logistics, and remainder sales. Oversee 1,700 employees in three distribution centers that ship 1.5 million books per day. Experience: EVP and SVP, supply chain, Penguin Random House; SVP and VP, fulfillment, […]
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Let’s Not Forget
Virus Times has reminded us that we have the capacity to quickly adopt "new" technologies, adapt to new working conditions, and remain highly productive. Certainly the "new" technologies for collaborative work are not really new. They are new just to a large swath of workers who had no reason to Zoom under pre-COVID-19 working conditions. […]
Read MoreCOVID-19’s Impact on North American Manufacturers
Manufacturer interest in reshoring, hiring, and apprenticeships is increasing during the pandemic, finds Thomas’ latest COVID-19 Manufacturing Survey.
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Logistics Workforce of the Future
As the country moves toward a “new normal,” what will the workforce look like?
Read MoreFocus on the Future
Robert Johnson is a collaborative leader and considers himself part of the team. His advice: “Don’t assume someone else is steering the ship” and “treat the company as though you own it.”
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Thriving Amidst a Competitive Supply Chain Labor Market
Faced with a labor shortage exacerbated by the pandemic, MD Logistics developed a recruitment strategy to attract talent for present-day conditions as well as allow for continued growth.
Read MoreFive Keys for Turning Challenge into Opportunity
To capitalize on what they’ve learned, transform, and thrive in a post-COVID world, supply chain leaders should focus on the five core pillars: People. Leaders must reassure, clarify, protect, encourage, motivate, recognize, and reward people they manage. Each of these actions can make a fundamental difference in a successful post-COVID-19 transformation. When the crisis hit, […]
Read MoreThe True Value of Supply Chain Transformation
Lyndsi Lee is senior vice president of supply chain with True Value Company, a leading hardware and home improvement wholesaler. Responsibilities: Drive end-to-end supply chain optimization, develop integrated planning and logistics strategies, and build best-in-class sourcing programs. Experience: Division vice president, inventory management and global sourcing, also with True Value; principal, project leader, Boston Consulting […]
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The Next Generation of Warehouse Labor
Working side by side, robots and humans reinvent warehouse work.
Read More10 Tips for Leading Your Team
Clear and effective leadership helps set a company’s culture and motivates employees to work together toward a common goal.
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Making the Move to Warehouse Work
Soaring demand for warehouse space creates a highly competitive labor environment in many markets, especially during the pandemic, says Newmark Research. The following factors are driving employees to leave their jobs and enter the warehousing and transportation sector (see chart), the report says: More space. In the second quarter of 2021, a record 423.7 million […]
Read MorePeak of Perfection
An authentic leader with an open-door policy, Juliann Larimer chooses justice over peace when fighting for her company and employees.
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Uncorking Automation Bottlenecks
Although 57% of organizations say they’re piloting automation processes and 93% of employees are optimistic automation will make their jobs easier, digital transformation efforts often fall apart, according to a new McKinsey survey. Many companies rely on IT to drive transformation without engaging other departments, creating bottlenecks. Company size and the structure of automation efforts […]
Read MoreEmployee Engagement Is Your New Success Metric
Globally, 85% of employees report that they’re either not engaged or are actively disengaged within their jobs, according to a 2019 Gallup study. This is a big factor in employee turnover, because disengaged team members often feel underequipped, underdeveloped, and underappreciated. Logistics leaders who recognize and further engage their employees will reap long-term and short-term […]
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Automated Materials Handling Gets a Lift
A labor market in which it is increasingly difficult to recruit, train, and retain workers is a major factor driving growth of the automated materials handling equipment market in North America, finds a report by BCC Research. The market expects a compound annual growth rate of 7.1% through 2024 and may be worth $28.7 billion. […]
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5 Ways to Manage Warehousing Requirements During Peak Periods
Managing peak period shipment volume is a structural challenge in the U.S. economy. Those preoccupied with executing order fulfillment services spend much of the year thinking about and planning for it. The surge is a three- to four-month peak in first inbound, and then outbound shipments, with overlap. Shipments to retailers come first, followed by […]
Read MoreWhy Talent Management Is Business-Critical
As traditional approaches to hiring and maintaining talent have gradually evolved, so has the importance of supporting and investing in people within a company. The results from a recent McKinsey Global Survey confirm the positive effects of talent management on business outcomes. According to respondents, organizations with effective talent management programs have a better chance […]
Read MoreThe 8th M for Supply Chain Success
In the competitive world of business, every organization is seeking an edge—a catchy marketing phrase, an innovative product launch, improvements in efficiency and productivity—something to create a little separation to provide that illusive competitive advantage. Companies with a strong Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) program constantly use analytics to evaluate their processes to ensure maximum efficiency […]
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