Articles
Supply Chain
3 Signs of a Siloed Supply Chain—and How to Fix Them
To keep up with the speed of mobile commerce and the impatience of consumers, supply chains must be faster and more agile than ever. Today’s consumers expect items to be delivered to them quickly and seamlessly no matter how, when, or where they made the purchase. Siloed supply chains can slow down the process, causing […]
Read MoreSupply Chain Shout Out: In Appreciation of Truck Drivers
Truck driver appreciation week ends tomorrow, Sept. 16, 2017, but appreciating truck drivers merits year-round attention. There is no better evidence of the critical role of professional drivers than during the natural events that have occurred throughout the past few weeks. Over the course of my career as a logistics analyst with a regional produce […]
Read MoreDigital Change: Realizing the Potential
Digital Transformation (DT) is coming of age. Eighty percent of respondents to a recent IFS Digital Change Survey see themselves as “enabled”, “enhanced” or “optimized” to leverage DT. More impressively, 89 percent say they have “advantageous” or “adequate” funding in place for digital projects—a clear acknowledgment that the time of disruptive technologies is here, and […]
Read MoreU.S. Manufacturers Respond to Regulatory Plans
Manufacturers and wholesale distributors are optimistic about the perceived impact of the Trump administration’s plans for trade deregulation on their businesses, according to new research commissioned by business software provider Exact. Sixty-three percent of respondents anticipate that the plans will be beneficial to their businesses. Fifty percent of manufacturing respondents anticipate that the plans will […]
Read MoreTrucking Industry Celebrates National Truck Driver Appreciation Week
ATA Recognizes 3.5 Million Professional Truck Drivers
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Low Bridge, Everybody Down!
As the historic Erie Canal celebrates its 200th anniversary, it’s also enjoying another milestone: commercial traffic volume that’s five times higher than in recent years. Built in 1817 to transport goods and people from one side of New York to the other, today the canal is primarily a recreational waterway. Commercial volume on the state’s […]
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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 […]
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Supply Chain Commentary:
Freight Transportation in the Wake of Hurricane Harvey
Harvey’s impact is being felt throughout the Southwest as transportation spot market pricing is expected to spike. The consumption of transportation resources through the combined effects of idling labor, equipment damage, and relief efforts will have ramifications for many months. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, spot market pricing jumped 20 percent and […]
Read MoreWhat Retail Apocalypse?
Retailers Open 4,000+ Stores in 2017
U.S. retailers are opening 4,080 more stores in 2017 than they are closing and plan to open more than 5,500 more in 2018, according to a new report from research and advisory firm IHL Group. The report, Debunking the Retail Apocalypse, was released on August 30, 2017. The research reviewed more than 1,800 retail chains […]
Read MoreAmazon Closes Whole Foods Acquisition: 3 Experts Weigh In
Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods Market closes today August 28, 2017, and the deal’s impact will be felt immediately. Whole Foods Market will offer lower prices starting today on a selection of best-selling grocery staples across its stores, with more to come. In addition, Amazon and Whole Foods Market technology teams will begin to integrate […]
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How Reduced Packaging Waste is Key to Sustainability
Aiming for a green supply chain not only reduces costs but also is socially responsible. Shippers are turning to innovative solutions to reduce packaging waste and emissions as key components of their sustainability efforts. More customers than ever choose to purchase from sustainable companies. In fact, 91 percent of global consumers expect companies to do […]
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Is Ransomware Holding Global Trade Hostage? Here’s How to Safeguard Your Supply Chain
In June 2017, another major cyberattack targeted several large multinational corporations. The malware Petya (or NotPetya or Nyetya) was able to breach dozens of Russian and Ukrainian companies, including Russian oil and gas giant Rosneft, as well as leading global businesses across multiple industries. This time, two giants in the logistics industry, Maersk and FedEx, […]
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It Happens Automagically
I heard the phrase “it happens automagically” not long ago, and it reminded me of an editorial I wrote in 2000, when I mused that one day we’d have “a global internet without wires, melded with interaction free detection—finding something without looking.” Today, it is real and it happened sooner than I expected. The Internet […]
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Chris Ward: Get the Food to Church’s On Time
Chris Ward is vice president, supply chain, with Church’s Chicken, a chain of fast food restaurants specializing in fried chicken with about 1,600 domestic and international locations. He has been with the brand since August 2011. Responsibilities: Purchasing, distribution, logistics, freight, all food and packaging products. Experience: Director, global supply chain, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen; vice […]
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5 Ways to Execute a High-Performing Demo Program for Medical Devices – SEKO
Now more than ever, healthcare supply chains are key differentiators for best-in-class manufacturers. Leading companies effectively use their supply chains as a competitive advantage to drive revenue growth and achieve cost containment goals. At the same time, logistics practitioners face a unique and growing set of challenges that directly affect the bottom line. Current pressure […]
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Recent Industry Disruptions Challenge, Improve Retail Logistics and Supply Chain – WSI
American consumers are now living in an era of supply chain domination, in which we sometimes sacrifice privacy for convenience, or a few extra dollars for speed. Amazon drones drop small packages on our doorstep the same day. Meals arrive on urban doorsteps via tiny robots moments after placing the order. Naturally, the retail industry […]
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Insights into Complexities of Managing Secure Global Transportation for the Government – General Dynamics IT
Operating one of the largest supply chain and logistics operations on behalf of the government, General Dynamics IT, a 2017 Inbound Logistics Top 100 3PL Provider, functions as a 3PL provider and is responsible for the shipment of goods around the world to high-threat and isolated posts. In addition to meeting contract door-to-door terms and […]
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Developing Innovative Delivery Services That Delight Customers
To compete in today’s retail landscape, companies must differentiate themselves to meet consumer demands and drive brand loyalty. Many retailers are reassessing every aspect of their supply chains—including their delivery services—and implementing digital processes to ensure superior consumer experiences. Many consumers are willing to pay more for a better shopping experience. In recent years, retailers […]
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E-Commerce: The Great Retail Equalizer
From small, local businesses to national giants, merchants fashion e-commerce strategies to attract and delight consumers in an ever-more competitive market.
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Keeping Your DC in Peak Shape:
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
Whether your temporary peak periods are linked to holidays or seasons, these tips will keep your distribution center merry and bright.
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