Articles

Supply Chain

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Global Air Freight Demand Sees Fastest Pace of Growth Since 2010

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released March 2017 demand growth results for global air freight markets are showing a 14% expansion measured in freight tonne kilometers (FTKs) compared to the same period last year. This was the fastest pace of growth recorded since October 2010. Freight capacity, measured in available freight tonne kilometers (AFTKs), […]

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Embracing the Circular Economy in the Supply Chain

Thanks to digital technologies like IoT, analytics, and sensors, adoption of circular economy business models has accelerated, moving from a specialized concept to a more mainstream business strategy. But according to a recent set of insights from Accenture Strategy, too often programs remain “skin deep.” Too few companies are embracing the “full circle” approach to […]

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Bayonne Bridge Project Will Wrap Up Six Months Early

Governor Chris Christie announced the $1.6 billion raising of the Bayonne Bridge roadway will complete by June 30 – six months ahead of schedule. The raised bridge allows the world’s ultra-large, environmentally friendly container vessels to pass beneath the span, gaining access to the Ports of Newark, Elizabeth, and Staten Island. “The ‘Raise the Roadway’ […]

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Commentary: New Alliances Unlikely to Increase NAFTA Ocean Freight Competitiveness

The new shipping alliances that came into effect a month ago are unlikely to increase ocean freight competitiveness between the United States and its NAFTA partners, according to iContainers, an online freight forwarder. According to data released by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the dollar value of U.S.-NAFTA goods shipped by […]

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Advice for Transportation Departments on Gaining Corporate IT Buy-in for TMS Solutions

Q: What pushback should transportation leaders anticipate from IT when proposing a TMS implementation? A: Corporate IT departments are frequently ambivalent about cooperating; sometimes even actively working to undercut the proposed initiative because there’s a perception that any new enterprise software deployment adds significantly to IT’s workload during implementation, integration, and thereafter with respect to […]

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Is a 3PL Not the Best Fit for You?

Q: While some companies have chosen to rely on 3PLs to manage their logistics, Progressive Converting made the choice to keep its logistics in house. Why? MR: Progressive Converting (Pro-Con) is a service provider to the major paper companies. As such, controlling all aspects of the supply chain is critical in delivering value to our […]

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What’s Your Sourcing Strategy?

Having a current, flexible sourcing strategy can not only reduce costs and increase efficiency, but also serve as a competitive advantage to help organizations increase the top line. Supply chain costs, primarily procurement and transportation, can range from 50 to 70 percent of sales, depending on industry. So it is critical to spend considerable time […]

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5 Steps to Protect Your Supply Chain From Cyber Threats

With cyber threats affecting organizations worldwide, warding off cyber attacks and protecting against cyber espionage is becoming a top priority across industries. Manufacturers, distributors, and organizations, however, are not doing enough to make supply chains more resilient and prepared. Whether your business is large or small, a startup or 40-year veteran, major security issues stem […]

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Finding Untapped Value in Product Returns

The little-known, but dark secret of e-commerce is this: On average, for every three packages a retailer ships, one will be an eventual return. Retailers must shift their focus to processing the continuously increasing number of returns. As retail grows more reliant on analytics, retailers are seeing previously untapped value in data about who is […]

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Working Alongside Robots: No Longer Science Fiction

Working alongside robots in warehouses is the way of the present, rather than the way of the future. The recent ProMat and Automate conferences, in Chicago, featured robotics and automated materials handling equipment. “Solve for X,” the theme of the conference, emphasized the need for manufacturers, warehousing and third-party logistics companies to embrace change to […]

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