Articles

Warehousing

Supply Chain Commentary: Boost Productivity, Efficiency, and Security in Your Warehouse

Smoothly running logistics—a key factor in successful warehouse operations—depends on a three-legged stool of productivity, efficiency, and secure operations. Today, software underpins many warehouse functions, giving leaders a new source of productivity and efficiency insights—and a new concern for corporate security. Measuring and Optimizing Productivity Optimizing labor productivity is the number one goal within warehouse […]

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Supply Chain Needs More Accurate Costing Information

Supply Chain Needs More Accurate Costing Information

Supply chain professionals need more accurate and effective cost information to help their decision-making, highlighting the need for supply chain and finance departments to work more closely together. They also need to adopt progressive costing practices that are focused on informing internal decisions. That’s according to a joint research report from APICS, the professional association […]

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The Human Experience

I am adding something to the acronym alphabet soup: HX or the Human Experience. In the ever-evolving supply chain process—shaped by automation, co-bots, and the global search for the lowest skilled hourly wage—are the cards irrevocably stacked against the humanity who grind the operational logistics gears that make it all happen? Recent developments in supply […]

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Jennifer Benson

Want to Run a More Successful 3PL? Learn from the Best. – 3PL Central

Today’s third-party logistics and warehouse community is accomplishing spectacular things in our rapidly changing environment. From increasing productivity, to growing their customer base, to raking in higher profits, warehouses are thriving in today’s marketplace. Like any 3PL owner, you’re always looking for ways to improve your own results, as well. At 3PL Central, we have […]

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E-Commerce Warehouses: SuperSize Me

E-Commerce Warehouses: SuperSize Me

Thanks to e-commerce, the average footprint of warehouses built in the United States since the early 2000s has more than doubled. The largest expansions are in metro areas with the big populations that online sellers covet and the ample land that developers need, according to a new CBRE report. The real estate firm analyzed the […]

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Supply Chain Commentary: How to Reduce Supplier Inventory Costs

Managing supplier goods can be a complex process with multiple stakeholders. You have planning that drives forecast and production scheduling, and procurement that purchases materials based on forecasts. Operations oversees the flow of incoming goods and warehouse management receives inbound shipments. While the titles and roles may vary among organizations, the basic supplier workflow is […]

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How AR Can Take the Sting Out of Seasonal Surge Training Costs

Every holiday season, warehouses expand their workforces two times or more to handle peak retail demand that can make or break the entire year. Time spent training and upskilling temporary employees is typically under two weeks for 90 days of work, while many warehousing organizations rehire a good portion of the same seasonal workforce year […]

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Staffing Your Warehouse: Addressing Hidden Risks

The warehousing sector and staffing industry depend on each other. In fact, they are so closely tied that the Department of Labor often considers warehouses and staffing companies “joint employers.” The rules for being a joint employer significantly increase the risks and exposures otherwise thought to be transferred to the staffing agency. Payroll Taxes Did […]

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Reducing Packaging Costs

While most businesses are ramping up for peak season, some parcel carriers sent their own early greetings with holiday surcharges. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean your company has to raise prices or take a financial hit. Try these packaging moves to help offset higher parcel costs farther up the supply chain, says Rajiv Saxena, supply chain […]

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Supply Chain Shout Out: Forklift Power

Powered industrial trucks, or forklifts, are an indispensible part of doing business for logistics operations. They are used to move and lift materials and offer load capacities from a few thousand pounds up to 180,000 pounds. They also come in all shapes and sizes, depending on the application: lift trucks, tow tractors, rough terrain vehicles, […]

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Are Warehouse Insurance Policies Covering Today’s Emerging Risks?

Warehouse legal liability insurance has always been one of the most misunderstood insurance contracts in existence. In general, insurance companies and brokers have limited industry knowledge and understanding of what warehouse operations entail. Not only that, but warehouse risks and vulnerabilities are increasingly complex, and many policies simply aren’t keeping up with today’s sophisticated new […]

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New Warehouse Lease Pre-Commitments Reach New High

Almost half of the 167 million sq. ft. of U.S warehouse space currently under construction — 72 million sq. ft. — is already pre-committed to tenants, primarily e-commerce, third-party logistics, and retail users, according to a new report from CBRE Group, Inc. The current tally of pre-committed warehouse space is the highest since 2000. In […]

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