Supply Chain Management Archives - Page 25 of 41

Communication is Key When Optimizing Logistics Networks

Within any logistics network there are vendors, warehouses, distribution centers, service operations, transportation routes and hubs, carriers, freight forwarders, importers, exporters, and more. The idea of optimizing all of it is enough to give anyone a splitting headache. The goal of optimization is to reduce costs while becoming more efficient. To do this, some companies […]

The World is Your Warehouse, 2.0

Inbound Logistics regularly reports on the benefits of better linking demand to supply lines. Given the new and ever-growing crop of supply chain technology solutions delivering global visibility and ability to execute, we sometimes refer to the world as your warehouse. That’s why Apple’s patent #8,989,773 caught my eye. Granted on March 24, 2015, by […]

Maximizing Intermodal Efficiency

Intermodal transportation was developed to improve efficiency as U.S. consumer demand and shipment volume grew. When a trucking entrepreneur realized it would be more efficient to use the same conveyance for different shipping modes, without having to handle the cargo, intermodalism was created. The resulting interoperability of the assets themselves—containers, chassis, railcars—is evidence of improved […]

Judi Griffin: Sinks Her Teeth Into Her Work

Judi Griffin is director of logistics at Burkhart Dental, a supplier of equipment, technology, and consumables used by dental practices. She has worked for Burkhart Dental since 2009, and has held her current position at the Tacoma, Wash., firm since 2013. Responsibilities: Distribution centers, purchasing and customer service teams, hand piece repair center, and inbound […]

Trends—April 2015

Supply Chain Modeling: Believe It! The supply chain sector is increasingly adapting and deploying technology to better understand the unknown. Big data provides a wealth of information and historical precedent to benchmark and optimize current and future events. Modeling and design software similarly affords users the latitude to engineer and plan for potentialities before they […]

Global Logistics—April 2015

Larger Ships, Larger Losses? When Maersk Line introduced its Triple-E class of containerships in 2013, it raised the bar for the ocean shipping industry. China Shipping Container Lines and Mediterranean Shipping Company have since brought vessels online that top the 19-thousand TEU threshold. But now France’s CMA CGM SA, the third-largest container line in the […]

| Lean Supply Chain | Logistics | Site Selection | Supply Chain Management

How Location Decisions Impact a Lean Strategy

Companies often don’t consider the location decision to be a Lean concept, but they should. Moving goods efficiently from raw material sites to processing facilities, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and customers is critical to remaining competitive in today’s global economy. When manufacturers make location decisions, their priority is to minimize cost. Retailers look to maximize revenue […]

Taking Steps to Embrace ACE

With other countries transitioning to a single-window-to-government paradigm, all eyes are on the United States as the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) brings a modernized, integrated approach to government. The initiative, which allows shippers to electronically transport import and export data to the government through a single window, can be considered a mature program with well-defined, […]

| Logistics | Logistics I.T. | Supply Chain Management

Tracking Isn’t Just Tracking Anymore

In the 1990s, carriers, shippers, and third-party logistics providers were always asking: "Where’s my truck?" In response, automatic tracking systems grew rapidly as the Global Positioning System (GPS) became available for commercial use, and expanding satellite and cellular networks increased connectivity even in remote areas. The first generation of tracking systems charted the location, speed, […]

Three Supply Chain Risks and How to Address Them

Companies face three main sourcing supply chain risks: regulatory, brand erosion, and social compliance. Any one of these issues could lead to lost profits, product recalls, and customer erosion. At the same time, the longer the supply chain—with more levels of suppliers, disparate geographies, and other middle men, the more complex and challenging compliance becomes. […]

| Big Data | Lean Supply Chain | Logistics I.T. | Supply Chain Management

The Next Frontier of Supply Chain Innovation: Analytics, LEAN and the Power of Big Data

Ongoing breakthroughs in big data and advanced analytics are nothing short of revolutionary. Executives at Gartner have said, "Information is the oil of the 21st century, and analytics is the combustion engine." The excitement is not simply about the scale and speed of information generation. It is also about big data’s potential impact. An example […]

3PLs Put Technology Front and Center

3PLs tap into data-based solutions to help shippers meet their goals.

Choosing to Be a Shipper of Choice

Q: In the face of increasing capacity issues, rising equipment costs, and new regulations, carriers prefer to work with shippers that will support their business needs. How can companies become "Shippers of Choice"? A: In a word, it’s about partnerships. Q: Are there best practices for achieving this goal? A: Yes. Pre-planning helps carriers anticipate […]

Strategic Shipping Solutions

Q: How is predictive modeling reshaping logistics? A: Predictive modeling is changing the dynamic that exists between the carrier and the shipper. It’s creating more of a collaborative environment, where the carrier and shipper can now talk openly about their goals with the transparency required to create and maintain a great relationship. The shipper now […]

| Global Logistics | Logistics | Partnership | Supply Chain Management

How to Forge Successful Value Chain Partnerships

Q: How can value chain partners cooperate to create and share efficiencies? A: With an unprecedented global reach, access to new markets, increased regulation, and huge advances in technology, today’s supply chain environment is more complex than ever. Coupled with increasing customer demands for speed, flexibility, cost efficiency, quality, and customization, it is very difficult […]

Offshore vs. Outsource for Transportation & Logistics

Many transportation and logistics professionals hear outsourcing and think offshoring, but there is a big difference.

| 3PL | Logistics I.T. | Manufacturing | Supply Chain Management

Using Technology to Maximize Value Chain Partnerships

Q: How can value chain partners cooperate to create and share efficiencies? A: You just have to use your imagination and dig in. There are so many ways you can help your customers. You just need to ask and listen. Some third-party logistics (3PL) providers get deeply involved to provide technology so they stand out […]

| Logistics | Logistics I.T. | Supply Chain Management

Improving Operations With a Yard Management System

Q: What is the role of a yard management system? A: Two main roles come to mind—visibility and communication. Today’s best systems offer visibility into basic information including the location, status, and contents of assets on the yard. They are also able to offer more detailed information including historical data, load detail down to the […]

The Race is On: Chain of Custody in the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

New regulations ensuring the integrity of the pharma supply chain are nearing the finish line. While some companies have taken an early lead to compliance, others are late getting out of the gate. Which team are you on?

| Distribution | Logistics | Supply Chain Management | Transportation

Collaborative Distribution: Taking Off the Training Wheels

To break the cycle of needless, duplicative logistics costs, many competitors are choosing to work in tandem.

Supply Chain Management

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