Amy Roach, Senior Editor
Amy is a veteran business journalist and editor with a deep background in B2B publishing, who has written extensively on the trends and strategies shaping global supply chains. In her current role, she oversees strategy for Inbound Logistics content including social media, email newsletters, webinars, video podcasts, whitepapers, and other strategic initiatives. Throughout her career, she has contributed to a wide array of publications and businesses in logistics, technology, retail, real estate, financial services, and higher education.
Articles by Amy Roach
Amazon Business Rolls Out New AI Tools for Procurement, Supply Chain Monitoring
Amazon Business is introducing a new set of AI-powered tools designed to automate buying decisions, detect spending anomalies, and help organizations anticipate supply chain disruptions.
Pedal to the Metal: General Motors Orders Suppliers to Exit China Supply Chains
As U.S.–China tensions escalate, General Motors is steering its suppliers toward a full exit from China by 2027.
Surprise: The World’s Biggest Shipping Power Isn’t China
It’s Greece—again. The maritime nation quietly commands the largest fleet by capacity, shaping global trade flows and influencing logistics costs from Piraeus to the Pacific.
New Video: Turning Pallets Into Supply Chain Data Engines
Story and Interview by Amy Roach | November 3, 2025 What was once a simple piece of warehouse equipment is now becoming a data source for supply chain intelligence. That’s the takeaway from Inbound Logistics’ recent video podcast, “Pallets as Supply Chain Intelligence Tools,” featuring Jonathan Parks, Senior Vice President of Supply Chain at iGPS. […]
Macy’s Bets Big on Automation to Reinvent Its Supply Chain
By Amy Roach | October 30, 2025 When Macy’s Inc. cut the ribbon on its new automated fulfillment center in China Grove, North Carolina earlier this month, it signaled something more than a real estate expansion: it marked a strategic reset for one of America’s oldest retail brands. At 2.5 million square feet and with […]
Just in Case (JIC) Manufacturing: What It Is, Benefits, and Drawbacks
JIC manufacturing focuses on keeping extra stock to prepare for unexpected changes in customer demand or supplier delays. This inventory strategy aims to avoid production delays and ensure smooth manufacturing processes by holding more raw materials and finished goods than usual. Companies rely on just-in-case inventory to protect against supply chain disruptions and maintain supply […]
Order Batching: What It Is, Common Methods, and Benefits
Order picking eats up more than half of labor time in most warehouse operations. Ignoring this drains productivity, inflates labor costs, and frustrates teams trying to meet rising customer expectations. Acting on that inefficiency matters. Order batching solves this by grouping orders in such a way that reduces movement, improves the picking process, and helps […]
Certificate of Analysis (COA): What It Is, Key Elements, and Why They Matter
Goods move fast in today’s global supply chain. But speed means nothing without quality assurance. In the complex world of supply chains and regulatory compliance, every handoff, from supplier to warehouse, then to customers, carries a risk: mislabeled, contaminated, or substandard products slipping through. A certificate of analysis plays a key role in stopping that. […]
5PL: Understanding It, History, and Key Functions
5PL refers to a logistics model built around full digital integration and strategic control. It supports businesses with complex logistics needs by managing the entire logistics function through advanced tools and connected platforms.
Reverse Logistics as Value Stream: What Home Depot & Peers Revealed at CSCMP
Home Depot and other companies are transforming reverse logistics by leveraging analytics, resale channels, and circular economy practices.
3PL vs 4PL: Their Key Differences and Benefits
Modern supply chain operations are no longer simple or linear. Companies now manage global sourcing, multiple vendors, shifting customer demands, and fast-changing technologies. Handling all this with outdated systems or siloed operations can lead to delays, wasted resources, and missed opportunities. Implementing an agile supply chain approach can help businesses adapt more quickly and efficiently. […]
Demand Planning vs Forecasting: Their Key Differences
Anticipating future customer demand in logistics is no longer optional. Companies that fail to plan risk excess inventory, late deliveries, and lost revenue. Accuracy in forecasting plays a critical role in ensuring the supply chain operates smoothly. Accurate demand forecasts are essential for optimizing inventory, reducing stock-outs, and improving overall supply chain efficiency. Understanding the […]
As Freight Fraud Evolves, Experts Urge New Guardrails
Stopping freight fraud requires constant vigilance, stronger safeguards, and a cultural shift toward zero trust. Technology also plays a crucial role.
New U.S. Tariffs on Heavy Trucks and Pharmaceuticals Test Global Supply Chains
The latest U.S. tariff package targets imported heavy trucks and branded drugs, creating new challenges—and potential opportunities—for manufacturers, fleets, and global supply chains.
Everything Businesses Need to Know About Freight Consolidation: Definition, Challenges, and Benefits
Paying more for half-empty trucks? That’s a clear signal something’s off in the shipping process. Many businesses waste money and resources without realizing that smarter logistics can change everything. Freight consolidation is the game-changer here. It’s the practice of combining multiple small shipments from various shippers into one shipment—a more efficient and cost-effective approach to […]
Uber Freight and Tesla, Watco and Intramotev: Two Tracks for Electrifying Logistics
Logistics companies are experimenting with EVs—but questions around cost, infrastructure, and scalability remain.
Chemical Supply Chain: What It Is, Challenges, and Management Strategies
Every product in the chemical industry depends on a reliable chemical supply chain. Chemical supply chains are often complex supply chains, involving intricate networks of suppliers, manufacturers, and logistics partners that must work together seamlessly. From raw materials to chemical products, each step requires careful coordination to keep production steady and safe. A chemical supply […]
Target Expands Next-Day Delivery, Raising the Stakes in Retail Logistics
The retail giant is shifting its fulfillment model to reach more customers, faster.
IoT Manufacturing: Components, Benefits, and Challenges
Factories are no longer just metal, noise, and manpower. Smart machines now collect data, talk to each other, and help manufacturers make faster, better decisions. Welcome to the age of IoT manufacturing, where efficiency and insight come from connected technology. Across the manufacturing industry, companies use IoT devices and smart sensors to track machines, boost […]
Cloud-Based Warehouse Management Systems (WMS): What It Is, How It Works, and Benefits
Cloud-based warehouse management helps businesses improve inventory management, reduce errors, and gain real-time visibility across operations. Companies boost control, reduce costs, and adapt quickly to changes in the supply chain.
Supply Chain AI Adoption Accelerates as Logistics Startup Augment Secures $85M Series A
With $110M raised in just five months, Augment’s AI assistant “Augie” is gaining traction across freight providers, signaling the rapid integration of automation in supply chain operations.
Rewiring the Waste Stream: Could Biomass Gasification Change the Logistics of Garbage?
A proposed biomass gasification facility in Orange County, New York, just cleared a major regulatory hurdle for construction and operation. And it isn’t just another piece of green tech — if it works, it could fundamentally shift how waste is collected, transported, and converted into energy across the region.
Carbon Neutral Shipping: What It Is, How It Works, and Benefits
Growing demand for greener logistics has made carbon-neutral shipping a key strategy for reducing carbon emissions and shrinking the carbon footprint of global trade. By adopting neutral shipping, companies help lower global greenhouse gas emissions, meet environmental goals, and stay relevant in a fast-changing market.
Digital Twins in Logistics: What They Are, How They Work, and Benefits
Digital twins in logistics turn live data into smart decisions. These models improve planning, boost speed, and raise accuracy across modern supply chain management strategies.
Supply Chain Predictive Analytics: What It Is, Key Components, and Benefits
Supply chain predictive analytics helps companies navigate uncertainty, reduce waste, and make better decisions using real-time data and intelligent forecasting. By applying predictive analytics in supply, teams improve supply chain management, cut delays, and align with future trends.
Predictive Analytics in Inventory Management: Definition, How It Works, and Benefits
As markets shift quickly and supply chains grow more complex, predictive analytics inventory management has become a key strategy for staying ahead. It uses historical data, algorithms, and statistical models to improve how businesses handle stock, supply chain operations, and customer demand Instead of reacting to problems after they happen, companies can now use predictive […]
Panasonic’s $4 Billion Battery Factory Set to Transform U.S. EV Supply Chain
This state-of-the-art facility will ramp up domestic EV battery production, helping reduce reliance on overseas suppliers and supporting faster, more sustainable vehicle manufacturing.
Taiwan Expo USA 2025: Elevating Innovation, Culture, and U.S.-Taiwan Partnership
Nation’s Largest Taiwan Expo is Free and Open to the Public
Transportation Risk Management: What It Is, Types, and How to Choose
Learn how transportation risk management helps supply chains minimize disruption and improve resilience. Explore risk types, mitigation strategies, and how to choose the right solution for your business.
4PL: Definition, How it Works, and Benefits
Global supply chains are no longer simple. Businesses now manage hundreds of moving parts across multiple countries, from sourcing to shipping orders, tracking inventory, and handling freight forwarding. Distribution and fulfillment centers serve as strategic hubs in the supply chain, where inventory is stored, managed, and shipped to optimize logistics efficiency. Without the right system, […]