Articles
Supply Chain Management
Tim O’Brien: Exuding Star Power
Tim O’Brien is senior director, supply chain, with Purchasing Power, a specialty e-commerce retailer that provides goods and services to customers who make payments through payroll deductions. He has held this position since October 2012. Responsibilities: Transportation and logistics, including carrier and 3PL relationships, vendor compliance, and onboarding. Experience: Director, e-commerce shipping strategies and vendor […]
Read More
Yone Dewberry: Engineering the Supply Chain
Yone Dewberry is chief supply chain officer with Land O’Lakes, Inc., a member-owned cooperative with operations ranging from agricultural production to consumer foods. Based in Arden Hills, Minnesota, Land O’Lakes had 2016 sales of $13 billion. Responsibilities Supply chain strategy, operations, and talent management. Experience Executive positions in supply chain with Land O’Lakes; managing director, […]
Read More
What would you put in a logistics time capsule for people to open 50 years from now?
I’d put in a bunch of data such as the average weight of a truckload, the price of fuel, transit times, etc. so that people in 50 years could compare it to what they are doing and wonder how we survived. Kyle Merop U.S. Air Force Veteran Logistician I still have a few air waybills […]
Read More
Golf Ball Maker Hits Supply Chain Sweet Spot
Sporting goods manufacturer Acushnet took a swing at a demand-driven replenishment process for finished goods and met peak season demand to a tee.
Read More
Supply Chain Commentary: Stop Reacting to Problems, Start Predictive Planning
Most planning systems deploy a reactive strategy rather than a predictive one. When a problem is identified regarding a capacity shortage, material shortage, or arrival of a high-priority order, the system addresses the issue by rearranging the plan. This is not optimal. It’s a Band-Aid solution that should be avoided. For example, if you release […]
Read MoreRecruiting Supply Chain Talent
New technologies, consumer demands, and the rise of the mobile workforce are shifting the business landscape quickly, making specialized supply chain and logistics workers more valuable than ever. It’s imperative for organizations to have a strategy in place to recruit and retain these talented workers. Tisha Danehl, vice president of staffing agency Ajilon, offers this […]
Read More
The Perfect Amount of Packaging
Sustainable packaging helps shippers’ bottom line and brand as well as being easier on the environment.
Read MoreMaking Sense of the $13B SCM Software Space
Gartner’s recent report that the supply chain management (SCM) software market will be worth more than $13 billion in the U.S. by the end of 2017 has likely turned many heads – both within the manufacturing and supply chain spaces, as well as with external audiences. In reality, this news that expenditures in this space […]
Read More
How Walmart’s OTIF Policy Creates New Baselines for Suppliers
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. caught many shipping companies off guard when it released its new “On-Time In-Full” (OTIF) policy. This program mandates that if any shipment arrives early, late, or on-time but not packaged properly, the shipper will be charged 3 percent of the total items’ value. It was only a few months ago that Walmart […]
Read More
Updating Einstein?
Einstein said the faster an object moves, the slower time seems to pass. Well, not for me. The increased speed at which products now move through the supply chain seems to have the same impact on my calendar. I can’t believe half the year is gone, and in the blink of an eye it will […]
Read More
Supply Chain Visualization at a Glance – ProTrans
At ProTrans, our customers’ needs drive continuous improvement and innovative solutions every day.
Read More
Summer Reading Guide 2017
Add these books to your summer reading list to keep your logistics and supply chain skills sharp, even while you enjoy some time away from the office.
Read MoreRoute Planning: How Good Logistics Makes E-commerce Companies Great
The e-commerce industry is growing at an incredible rate, according to Route4Me. Consumer expectations are growing as well. A decade or two ago, people were happy as long as their orders got to their house within a day or two of the scheduled arrival date. Now, people expect retailers to offer next-day or even same-day shipping. Also, […]
Read MoreSupply Chain Management Insight: Study Reveals Top Supply Chain Priorities
From Now to Next in Supply Chain Management
Read MoreTransportation Industry Leads the Way in Preventive Maintenance
Trucks need to keep rolling. Conveyor belts aren’t much good if they don’t convey anything. Cargo planes don’t move freight if they can’t fly. Ships don’t deliver from under the water. Business logistics managers can’t ignore the importance of preventive maintenance because the costs of reactive maintenance can have a heavy impact on the bottom […]
Read MoreSupply Chain Report: Why Suppliers Hold Back
Supplier collaboration and sustainability can drive innovation and growth in top supply chains, but only 43 percent of suppliers feel fully empowered to collaborate with their partners, says new research from 3M. Surveying 237 suppliers in the United States, the report uncovers insight on the most urgent trends, opportunities, and challenges facing suppliers today. Collaboration […]
Read More
3 Tips for Building a Successful Restaurant Supply Chain
When it comes to the foodservice supply chain, there is little room for trial and error. A simple mistake could cause serious problems in the supply chain that can result in lost revenue or wasted product, can more broadly hurt a brand or lose otherwise loyal customers, and at its worst, put consumers at risk […]
Read MoreHow Labeling Helps Meet Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Challenges

The pharmaceutical supply chain is highly complex. Many ingredients are often shipped in bulk, repackaged, and reshipped before they find their way to the manufacturer producing the branded end-products. Multiple tiers of suppliers and wholesalers are often involved. Oftentimes, borders are crossed. Labeling is essential to smooth the flow of the pharmaceutical supply chain, where […]
Read MoreSupply Chain Management: Soft Skills Required to Maintain Relationships
Supply chain management is often viewed as solely a statistical endeavor, but soft skills are often required in maintaining buyer and supplier relationships, according to new research from Penn State. Researchers suggest that levels of trust between companies may be an important influence on how they operate and perform. “In business settings, we tend to […]
Read More3 Main Sources of Supply Chain Complexity
The concept of “less is more” does not so easily apply to supply chain management. As organizations look to increase revenues by expanding their product portfolios, they’re also introducing complexity and risk into their supply chains. While it might seem like a good idea to just reduce your portfolio overall, that’s not always an option. […]
Read More