Articles
Supply Chain Management
U.S. Manufacturing: All Systems Grow
North America’s manufacturing sector is on an upward trajectory. But, will a shortage of young talent, compounded by baby boomers’ negative perceptions about millennials, impact continued expansion? ThomasNet’s latest Industry Market Barometer research provides the answer.
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Adding Resilience to Your Supply Chain
MORE TO THE STORY: 4 Tools That Support Supply Chain Resiliency Questions to Answer to Add Resilience to the Supply Chain Natural disasters and other events have exposed weaknesses in lean global, regional, and domestic supply chains, disrupting connections between companies, their suppliers, and their customers. In the next phase of supply chain development, companies […]
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2015 Inbound Logistics Winter Reading Guide
Inclement weather and capacity problems giving your supply chain the winter woes? Chill out! Here are some good reads to keep you up to date on supply chain, logistics, and transportation best practices.
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The Luxury of Logistics Excellence
To expand its footprint in the luxury accessories market, Royce Leather indulged in a solution that connects it to new customers and streamlines fulfillment. That’s how Royce rolls.
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Building a Bridge to Continuous Improvement
Tired of relying on e-mail blasts to place freight, L.B. Foster ups its game with a third-party solution that has transformed the enterprise.
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Managing the Aerospace Supply Chain
Today’s aftermarket aerospace and defense supply chain requirements are changing how companies secure the critical spare parts needed to improve customer service, enhance product uptime and profitability, and increase customer loyalty and retention. It’s nothing short of a global logistical transformation. Budget cuts are helping fuel the transformation, with the need to maintain existing military […]
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Contingency Planning Keeps Freight Moving
In the last few years, everything from a massive earthquake in Japan, to hurricanes on the East Coast threatened our supply chain – a supply chain that increasingly knows no international borders. Whether operations are focused in a small geographic area or span countries and modes, all disruptions have the potential to ripple through our […]
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Steps to Take When Choosing a Bar-Code Scanning System
Managers must carefully consider all factors of their operation before selecting a new bar-coding system.
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Keeping Vendor Risk Under Control During the Holiday Season
‘Tis the season to be jolly. Yet, for logistics managers, ‘tis perhaps the most stressful time of the year. With businesses offering customers attractive deals and promises of just-in-time delivery, logistics managers are under tremendous pressure to make sure that customer orders are fulfilled in time. Nobody wants to see their name in front-page headline […]
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Christopher McGovern: Watch Him Soar
Christopher McGovern is vice president, supply chain management at Aero Precision, a Greenwich AeroGroup company, headquartered in Livermore, Calif. He has held this position since 2014. Responsibilities: Inventory management, sourcing, procurement, and OEM relationships. Experience: Analyst, political/economic department, U.S. Embassy, Oslo, Norway; product researcher, OEM product research leader, program manager—U.S. government, OEM product manager—marketing, manager— […]
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Customer Service: It’s the Thought That Counts
Technology is enabling an unprecedented level of transparency and communication to help shippers and their logistics providers understand each other’s operations, and collaborate in ways that were much more difficult in the past.
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Building an Effective Supply Chain Team
A successful team needs the right mix of talent, skills, and personalities.
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Ensuring Business Sustainability During Disasters, Disruptions, and Service Failures
We have seen horrific natural disasters in recent years that taxed both supply chains and our core businesses. Approximately 85 percent of global supply chains experienced at least one significant disruption during 2013. This affects both an organization’s bottom line and its ability to be there for customers. Businesses that survive natural disasters, operational interruptions, […]
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Adapting Your Supply Chain for the Future…Now
Supply chain practitioners are adept at identifying and adapting to changes in the real world, both in the long and short term. Two examples: One company is preparing its supply chain process for an anticipated explosion of products that don’t exist yet, and many logistics and supply chain practitioners are dealing with satisfying consumer demand […]
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Leslie Dean: Serving Up FroYo Mojo
Leslie Dean is senior director, supply chain at Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt in Encino, Calif. She has held that position since 2013. Responsibilities: Identifying suppliers and negotiating contracts; defining product specifications for proprietary goods; supporting the marketing team in product development; managing third-party distribution relationships. Experience: Director of purchasing/distribution, general manager international operations, quality assurance, Mrs. […]
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Trends—October 2014
UPS, Christmas 2014: ‘Fixed It!’ After the 2013 peak holiday season, e-commerce shoppers took to the phones and social media to tell e-tailers, and, ultimately express transportation companies, how they ruined Christmas. As it turns out, Santa actually drives a big brown truck, and he failed to get a substantial number of gifts under the […]
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A Lean and Agile Supply Chain: Not an Option, But a Necessity
In today’s global, dynamic economy, it is beneficial for companies to operate a supply chain that is both Lean and agile. Using Lean and agile in combination is known as having a hybrid supply chain strategy. A hybrid supply chain strategy may be appropriate for a company attempting to become a "mass customizer"—producing progressively smaller […]
Read MoreLogistics Sector Leads the Internet of Things Revolution
The Internet of Things (IoT) has been hailed for years as the technology wave of the future. But while we were waiting for refrigerators that order from the store when we’re low on milk, the logistics sector has been making the first tangible forays into a real IoT environment. Using connected devices such as sensors […]
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Bridging Performance Gaps with GTM
Q: What is driving investment in global trade management systems? A: From 2003 to 2013, the value of world merchandise trade nearly tripled, with companies from large to small aggressively pursuing emerging markets as a way to grow top-line revenues and reduce costs through low-cost country sourcing. According to a July 2013 SCM World survey, […]
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How to Get More From Your TMS
Q: Capacity is top-of-mind today. How can supply chain partners collaborate around Transportation Management Systems (TMS) to create capacity? A: There are many ways to collaborate to generate capacity. For example, shippers are increasingly participating in general load boards, tapping into capacity that sometimes flies under the radar. To be successful, they need a TMS […]
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