Articles
Logistics I.T.
Data-Driven Supply Chain Optimization
Q: What is data-driven supply chain optimization, and why is it important? A: Data-driven supply chain optimization applies prescriptive analytics in mathematical programming and operations research (OR) to provide decision support for supply chain decision-making at the strategic, tactical, and operational levels. By properly capturing the decisions to make (decision variables), the performance metric to […]
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Pop Quiz: Supply Chain Educators Answer 6 Pressing Questions
For much of the decade prior to the pandemic, the number of students in supply chain programs couldn’t match industry’s need for supply chain professionals. “The biggest challenge was convincing students it was a real career path,” says Brian Fugate, chair of the department of supply chain management at the University of Arkansas. As the […]
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The Evolution of Audit Gave Rise to an AI-Driven Smart Audit
Q: What’s in a freight audit? A: It depends on who you ask. Some say a freight audit is a simple process that ensures shippers pay what they’re supposed to. Others consider an audit a vital resource for understanding and making more informed decisions around every shipment. We’ve transformed the traditional freight audit into something […]
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IN BRIEF: New Supply Chain Services & Solutions
Stay up to date on the latest transportation, supply chain, logistics and technology solutions. Transportation The Lufthansa Group is expanding the capacity of Lufthansa Cargo’s freighter fleet. The airline has ordered a total of 10 freighters, including three Boeing 777F freighters and seven 777-8F freighters. Boeing’s next-generation aircraft lowers fuel consumption and has 17% more […]
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What pandemic-era adjustment will have the greatest supply chain impact?
The acceleration of digital twins. The ability to digitally model a company’s manufacturing and distribution network will allow it to quickly assess the impact of large and small disruptions and take appropriate actions. —Allen Jacques Industry Thought Leader Kinaxis The use of data analytics to help suppliers really understand consumer behavior. Suppliers decided to eliminate […]
Read More5 Benefits of Remote Collaboration for Logistics Leaders
Logistics is an industry that doesn’t get attention until there’s a problem. Unfortunately, the pandemic has caused one problem after another, with non-stop delays and bottlenecks around the world. As logistics professionals come out from underwater, they’re dealing with the fact that they cannot resume business as usual. Fortunately, these challenges present a new reality […]
Read MoreUsing Actionable Real-Time Visibility to Impact the Consumer Experience
Across the globe, the hot topic in boardrooms has been improving supply chains and getting products into the hands of consumers. Utilizing technology has become vitally important to improving both last-mile delivery and the end consumer’s experience with a brand. There are important costs for a brand to consider associated with a bad last-mile delivery […]
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Digitally Transforming Your Supply Chain? Here’s How to Make It Meaningful
Q. Digital transformation has made a huge impact in logistics. What is your approach? A. When working with a digital solution, ensuring the reliability of that solution is critical. Tracking a shipment through digital partners is helpful only until a problem occurs. Backups and fail-safes keep business moving. Companies cannot become completely dependent on an […]
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Lean Isn’t Mean and Agile Isn’t Cheap
Back in 2014, I wrote a column extolling the benefits of a lean and agile supply chain, also known as a hybrid strategy. Depending on your product or service, your supply chain may tilt more one way or the other, or it might be segmented but still exhibit characteristics of both. For example, if you […]
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Digital Transformation: The Experience is King
Over the holidays, my wife and I decided to give ourselves the gift of a new couch. Because I work in transportation and logistics, I knew that constraints up and down the supply chain easily could result in a long delivery lead time. So it was a pleasant surprise when the home furnishings company said to expect the couch in about three weeks.
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