Articles

Supply Chain

IN BRIEF: New Services and Solutions

PRODUCTS The new BG Line Sorter from BEUMER increases the handling mix of materials handling operations by utilizing active slat-belt technology and offering the handling capabilities of a high-speed, cross-belt sorter. With the ability to be reconfigured, the BEUMER system offers scalability and uses low-friction components. Panasonic Connect North America unveiled the TOUGHBOOK 40, a […]

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2022 Inbound Logistics Perspectives: 3PL Market Research Report

2022 Inbound Logistics Perspectives: 3PL Market Research Report

Our 17th annual 3PL market research report takes a deep-dish dive into the dynamics of logistics partnerships in 2022. Rampant inflation, including high transportation costs. A tight labor market. Commodities shortages. Uncertainties tied to the war in Ukraine and the pandemic. There seems to be no end to the obstacles ready to frustrate shippers as […]

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Building The Smart Supply Chain

Building The Smart Supply Chain

With more objects embedded with sensors, and better communication, decision-making and automation capabilities, traditional supply chains are becoming more intelligent. The new “smart” supply chain presents huge opportunities for reducing costs and improving efficiency. Some refer to this concept as Supply Chain 4.0: the application of the Internet of Things (IoT), advanced robotics, and big […]

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Leveraging the Spot Market

Leveraging the Spot Market

When your contracted carrier can’t meet your shipping needs, consider the spot market. Using one-time spot rates typically requires a commitment from the customer to ship within a specific time period. Spot pricing fluctuates depending on multiple factors, so shippers often don’t have a lot of control over the spot market rates quoted. Here are […]

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Rinchem Solves Complex Supply Chain Issues

Rinchem Solves Complex Supply Chain Issues

When a semiconductor manufacturer faced possible shutdown, Rinchem reorganized logistics assets and coordinated all moving pieces within a tight timeframe to ensure the on-time delivery of a critical chemical. THE CHALLENGE Semiconductor manufacturer supply chains are some of the most complicated and demanding in the world. Part of what makes things so complex is the […]

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That’s the Spirit! Partnership Brings Supply Chain Visibility Into the Mix

That’s the Spirit! Partnership Brings Supply Chain Visibility Into the Mix

Non-alcoholic spirit company, Lyre’s, turned to SEKO to gain access and visibility into every part of their supply chain and root out inefficiencies. Here’s how SEKO delivered. THE CHALLENGE Operating in a rapidly expanding market, the Lyre’s team found themselves leveraging multiple shipping channels across multiple states, leading to a very inefficient supply chain. Not […]

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Freight Audit and Payment Solutions Bring Immediate and Long-Term Benefits

Freight Audit and Payment Solutions Bring Immediate and Long-Term Benefits

Q: Why do companies need visibility to compete in today’s environment? A: Companies that do not have visibility across their whole logistics operations are likely to miss out on opportunities to work more efficiently and deliver cost savings. For example, a customer told me they spent around $95 million on a single lane from the […]

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Leveraging Freight Brokerage to Solve Supply Chain Disruption

Leveraging Freight Brokerage to Solve Supply Chain Disruption

As shippers deal with capacity issues, rate volatility, and service disruptions, a freight broker can help mitigate challenges so shippers can focus on their core strengths. Aligning your organization with a reputable freight broker with robust solutions and real-time visibility can solve many transportation disruptions. There are many types of brokers in the market—the key […]

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Data-Driven Supply Chain Optimization

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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Thriving on Change, Growth, and Opportunity

Thriving on Change, Growth, and Opportunity

Fresh out of grad school, Thad Bedard moved to the San Francisco Bay area hoping to become a professor of American literature. But teaching jobs were scarce. “To make ends meet, I started working as a warehouseman,” recalls Bedard. “I enjoyed the industry. The work challenged a lot of my preconceived notions about business.” He […]

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NOTED: The Supply Chain In Brief

NOTED: The Supply Chain In Brief

The latest mergers & acquisitions, logistics contracts, sustainability initiatives, humanitarian logistics efforts and more. Good Works The Coca-Cola Company, based in Atlanta, donated $1 million to the Technical College System of Georgia Foundation’s Commercial Truck Driving Program. The donation funds driver training programs and helps ensure more drivers are in the pipeline to fill trucking […]

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What pandemic-era adjustment will have the greatest supply chain impact?

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 […]

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Why Procurement Is the Key to Preparing for the Next Supply Chain Crisis

Why Procurement Is the Key to Preparing for the Next Supply Chain Crisis

There is no clear sign when the global supply chain crisis will end. It began during the COVID-19 pandemic, worsened with the surge in demand that followed the lifting of national lockdowns around the world, and further deepened amid recent global events. Some corporate leaders contend that the crisis, triggered by these exceptional events, could […]

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