Articles
Manufacturing
Untangling Supply Chain Challenges
Digitization and complexity present overwhelming challenges, finds a new Körber study. 91% of supply chain professionals cannot stay ahead of their challenges as manufacturing and fulfillment complexities continue to grow. 51% of businesses can only tackle one supply chain challenge at a time. 48% of supply chains saw complexity grow in the past year, driven […]
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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True Manufacturing Embraces More Efficient, Visual Load Building
By turning to MagicLogic Optimization and integrating Cube-IQ, its load planning optimization software solution, True Manufacturing reduced work hours and increased efficiency.
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Outsourced Manufacturing: Achieving Quality and Financial Goals
Manufacturers have been outsourcing noncore production processes for decades, and the trend continues. The key to successful outsourcing is assuring the 3PL value-added assembler (VAA) has a quality management system.
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Manufacturers Remain Optimistic
Despite continued impacts across industries (see chart), approximately 91% of manufacturers believe that North American manufacturing can recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey by Thomas Insights. The report also highlights the following key findings: A significant jump in COVID-19-related impacts occurred—89% of manufacturers surveyed say they felt impacts from COVID-19 in April […]
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Tailoring Apparel Supply Chains for the Future
Apparel brands and retailers can use the COVID-19 crisis to take stock of existing business models and create more stable and sustainable supply chains for the future, finds GlobalData. Fashion retailers in key consumer markets across Europe and North America fight for survival as stores close, sales slump, and inventories mount. For many, the response […]
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Extreme Networks Rewires Its Supply Chain
Any company that has gone through a merger and acquisition knows how challenging it can be to integrate manual and disparate supply chain processes across the newly combined organization.
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The Road Map Out of This Mess
For years, I have been a proponent of operating a lean and agile supply chain, but some now say the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the shortcomings of a supply chain that is perhaps too lean. To be “lean,” however, doesn’t mean maintaining extremely low inventory levels with no coordination or backup plan. It also appears […]
Read MoreHow Shippers Are Handling COVID-19
Shippers are quickly responding to the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a survey by Echo Logistics. Shipping volumes demonstrate the resilience of companies and their ability to produce essential products during disruption, and highlight the important role transportation plays, according to Echo. Shippers’ responses shifted during just a two-week period: 28% of shippers said the virus […]
Read MoreCreative, Agile Leaders Look to Technology for Answers in a Post-Pandemic World
These are trying times as the current healthcare crisis affects us in ways never imagined. This is certainly the case in the supply chain, logistics and transportation sectors. What hasn’t changed, however, is the importance of strong, agile, creative leaders. These are the ones able to pivot their companies in response to anticipated lower volumes […]
Read MoreDistributors, Shippers Eye Surcharging to Stay Afloat Amid COVID-19 Outbreak
Logistics is one of the many sectors currently grappling with the impacts of COVID-19 on the bottom line. The need for seamless supply chains is paramount, with much of the world looking to the industry to feed families, maintain infrastructure, and even deliver essential medical equipment to front-line healthcare workers. Although the industry is among […]
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5 Steps to a Contract High
In the mid-2000s, a U.S. computer manufacturer signed a long-term contract with an overnight delivery service to transport its products. By the eighth year of the 10-year contract, both the manufacturer and carrier wanted out. But both companies knew ending the agreement would be a lose-lose. The result: two years of distrust, retaliatory measures, and […]
Read More6 Work From Home Tips for Manufacturing Professionals
When you begin working from home, you may feel a sense of freedom wash over you. Telecommuting means more free time and no stressful commute. However, after a few days, you may start to feel isolated, uninformed, and less effective than usual—especially if you’ve been asked to work from home because of a traumatic event, […]
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AI Powers Sustainable Manufacturing
One of the greatest potential benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) is helping the world become more sustainable. This includes addressing the three P’s of sustainability—people, planet, and profit—in manufacturing.
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Coronavirus Precautions
The Chinese government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak has impacted 280 supplier sites near Wuhan, China, according to Bindiya Vakil, chief executive officer of Resilinc, a provider of cognitive supply chain monitoring and mitigation solutions. Businesses could experience supply chain disruptions for three to six months, which is comparable to disruptions caused by the swine […]
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Conquering Overflow Leads to a Long-Term Partnership
When a global medical device manufacturer turned to Suddath to manage overflow product, it found a long-term partner that also provided warehousing and value-added services.
Read MoreImplementing Industry 4.0 to Streamline Your Supply Chain
How beneficial will the fourth industrial revolution be for manufacturers? Adrian Burton, from Harrison Castings, explores three ways Industry 4.0 may help streamline your supply chain.
Read MoreAre You Ready to Join the Circular Supply Chain?
It may be time to revisit how your company produces and delivers products as consumers and retailers become more environmentally aware and shift to a circular supply chain.
Read MoreTop 10 Manufacturing Predictions
What’s ahead for global manufacturing? "Manufacturing companies are transforming from efficiency-oriented operations to resilient organizations driven by a tighter connection to markets and customers," says Kevin Prouty, vice president, Manufacturing Insights, IDC. Here’s what Manufacturing Insights predicts for the years ahead: 1: By 2023, 65% of global manufacturers will realize a 10% savings in operational […]
Read MoreThree Steps Manufacturers Can Take to Improve Supplier Collaboration
We all use technology to make our lives easier. We have software to manage household budgets and smart watches to keep us on schedule. And in the manufacturing world, technology can give real-time visibility into the entire supply chain process and empower collaboration with suppliers. Yet somehow, nearly two-thirds of manufacturers working in complex, highly-regulated […]
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