Leaning Out Your Supply Chain
Moving toward a lean supply chain means eliminating waste in three ways: reducing working capital; enhancing operational productivity; and improving “build-in” quality and reliability (implementing quality controls on the front end of any process or procedure). Here are 10 ways to get lean, according to Ian Truesdale and Glen Clark of CEVA Logistics, a Jacksonville, […]
Read MoreSite Selection: Think Globally, Act Locally
The globalization of commerce has created a new infrastructure that is fast becoming the backbone of our information economy. This change also affects worldwide logistics operations. Because of the global economy, companies have a greater need to operate their supply chains at maximum efficiency. To achieve these results, many Fortune 500 corporations—along with small and […]
Read MoreTransportation as Corporate Change Agent
For many years, transportation was considered the backwater of the business world. Over the last decade, however, forward-thinking companies have identified transportation as a driving force for change. As a result, they realized increased profits and improved customer service throughout the supply chain. Wal-Mart, for example, uses its distribution savvy to dominate the retail field—and […]
Read MoreRestricted Party Screening: Who Are You Doing Business With?
Exporters and financial institutions historically used Restricted Party Screening (RPS) solutions to determine whether the names and addresses of their consignees appeared on any “denied parties” lists. Today, companies recognize that they may not deal in any way with certain blacklisted parties. Since Sept. 11, 2001, regulatory agencies have made clear their expectations that companies […]
Read MoreForklift Fleet Cost Management: It’s a Question of Time and Savings
Abundant questions and costs surround forklift fleet management; finding the answers and controlling those costs can be illusive. Many forklift fleet managers have a difficult time providing accurate answers to the myriad questions that need to be addressed (see sidebar, below). But accurately answering these questions can mean the difference between saving tens of thousands […]
Read MoreCustomers Handle the Final Mile for Wal-Mart?
The first job of my post-college career included replenishing inventory at a large book distributor’s New York City warehouses. Like many urban warehouses, the multi-storied building took advantage of a vertical footprint, rather than the horizontal footprint of today’s warehouses. All inventory moved in and out via the dreaded “freight elevator.” Dim lights, no air, […]
Read MoreHello? I’d Like to Order a New Fulfillment System, Please
A new order fulfillment system keeps catalog retailer Redcats purring.
Read MoreDesigning the Perfect Warehouse
Designing the perfect warehouse is an area where even angels can fear to tread. The devil is in managing myriad details, complicated by the fact that a design made in heaven is never the same for any two facilities-even within the same organization. While the process is exhaustively detail-laden, fortunately it can be broken down […]
Read MoreWarehouse Safety: It’s No Accident
Careful planning and a dedication to safety are top priorities for keeping warehouse workers injury-free. Here is your no-slip, no-trip, ergonomically correct guide to warehouse safety.
Read MoreNavigating U.S. Site Selection
A regional guide to U.S. logistics and distribution hotspots.
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