Archive: Nov 2017

6 Strategies for Finding the Right 3PL Partner

RFP season is upon us. It’s the time of year when shippers request bids and plan their optimal logistics strategy for 2018. Shippers are increasingly involving 3PLs in the request for proposal (RFP) process for access to tens of thousands of pre-qualified carriers, industry expertise, and advanced logistics technology that provides supply chain visibility and […]

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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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China Ups Delivery Service to the U.S.

Two leading express companies are joining forces to leverage their complementary networks, service portfolios, technologies, and logistics expertise. China’s Ministry of Commerce approved a planned joint venture between UPS and SF Holding, the parent company of SF Express. The agreement allows UPS and SF to collaborate on developing and providing international delivery services from, initially, […]

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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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More Temperature-Sensitive Medicines Moving by Ocean

Over the years, the ocean freight market has been fraught with capacity and wildly fluctuating rates. By 2016, the market underwent a series of consolidations including a bankruptcy of a major container carrier. In addition, rates fell to historic lows but began to recover towards the end of the year. Meanwhile, air freight rates remain […]

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Debt: A Rising Risk in Your Supply Chain

Of all the sources of risk supply chain managers face on a daily basis—cargo theft, natural disasters, long lead times, and unpredictable demand—none is currently at an inflection point quite like debt. This topic was addressed in a recent webinar by two leading authorities on corporate financial health: Dr. Edward Altman, Professor of Finance, Emeritus, […]

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H.O.W. | How to Manage Your Carrier Relationships After the ELD Mandate

H.O.W. | How to Manage Your Carrier Relationships After the ELD Mandate

As the mid-December deadline approaches for the implementation of the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate for most commercial truck drivers, shippers are, not surprisingly, worried about how it will affect their supply chain capacity. MORE TO THE STORY: 4 ways to manage capacity post-eld Under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules, most trucks built after […]

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GOOD QUESTION | What is the best business book you ever read and why?

One of the best quick-study books I have read is Winning Every Day by Lou Holtz. Catering to the sports enthusiast, the book reminds readers the fundamental element of business is that people are led, not managed, to success. Defining the differences and connection between talent, motivation, and attitude, Holtz lays out a game plan […]

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H.O.W. | How to Transform the Supply Chain for Omnichannel Retailing

H.O.W. | How to Transform the Supply Chain for Omnichannel Retailing

As retailers transform their market strategy to embrace new e-commerce and marketplace channels, their supply chain must be ready to pivot as well. Some brick-and-mortar merchants are adding online sales, direct and through partners, while some online retailers are investing in physical stores. Either way, e-commerce will continue to play a larger role in retailers’ […]

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