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Supply Chain Visibility: Closer Than You Think
Running a sustainable company isn’t as simple as it looks. "Compliance and recycle/reuse is about knowing what’s in your product—materials, chemicals, substances," says Christoph Wilfert, CEO of London-based everycs, developer of a technology solution—currently in beta testing—that screens global supply chains for risks and impacts. "But suppliers, like chemical companies, hate formula or percentage composition […]
Read MoreTransportation Industry Leads the Way in Preventive Maintenance
Trucks need to keep rolling. Conveyor belts aren’t much good if they don’t convey anything. Cargo planes don’t move freight if they can’t fly. Ships don’t deliver from under the water. Business logistics managers can’t ignore the importance of preventive maintenance because the costs of reactive maintenance can have a heavy impact on the bottom […]
Read MoreGrowing Your Small Business: How to Find Your Next Supplier in Mexico
Is Mexico the New China?
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Intermodal Bounces Back in Q1
Intermodal freight volumes returned to growth in the first quarter of 2017 following declines during 2016, according to the Intermodal Association of North America’s (IANA) Intermodal Market Trends and Statistics report. International and domestic containers rose 2.9 percent and 1.3 percent respectively, and intermodal trailers posted minimal gains of 0.3 percent. "All intermodal market segments […]
Read MoreE-commerce Fulfillment Survey Finds Evidence of Retailer Growing Pains
Business is booming for e-commerce retailers according to a new global market study by Peoplevox, an e-commerce Warehouse Management System (WMS) provider. Peoplevox’s “The 2017 E-Commerce Fulfillment Report” found sales of 82% of the e-commerce and multichannel businesses taking part had increased in 2016, with only 6% reporting a decrease in orders. While many voiced […]
Read MoreCommentary: What Uber Freight Will Mean for Shippers
Uber recently announced the launch of their newest service, Uber Freight, which allows trucking companies to automatically match with loads in need of transportation. While reviews of the new service are mixed, Uber executives claim that their shift toward infiltrating the trucking industry is in full force and that they already have a network of […]
Read MorePutting an End to Black Box Shipping
Sometimes, for even the most critical shipments, the only two data points that the shipper receives is when the shipment left their hands and confirmation from the destination that the shipment has arrived. This can be likened to a black box in computer science, where a function is considered a black box when the developer […]
Read MorePortMiami Welcomes Largest Container Ship to Call Florida
MAERSK SHANGHAI, a 10,081 TEU container ship, the largest to ever call a Florida deep-water port was at PortMiami last week. The MAERSK SHANGHAI is part of the TP11 Service (Maersk Line), AMERICA Service (MSC), USEC-1 Service (2M Alliance, Maersk & MSC). The vessel is 1,063 feet (324 meters) long and 159 feet wide, which is equal to about […]
Read MoreReport: New Data Shows Extent of E-Commerce’s Differing Impact on Retail Categories
E-Commerce has generated significant volumes of sales in the U.S. electronics and clothing industries but has yet to gain traction in other retail sectors, according to a CBRE Group, Inc. analysis of recently released government data. U.S. Commerce Department figures show extensive e-commerce penetration in certain retail categories such as electronics and appliances, with a […]
Read MoreCommentary: The Shift from Fleet Management to Mobility Management
Today’s digital economy impacts how people, goods, and services move throughout the marketplace. From app-based, ride-share companies to connected data and analytics, transportation is entering a new era and changing the role of traditional fleet managers. We’re seeing a shift from fleet management to mobility management. How can businesses adapt and employ new tools to […]
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Commentary: IoT and Analytics to Usher in New Era in Logistics
With millions of shipments being moved, tracked, and stowed by a variety of vehicles and people each day, it is no surprise that logistics and the Internet of Things (IoT) form a promising partnership. Trucks need smarter management systems that will help in increasing their utilization, reduce downtime, lower costs, and increase revenues. The movement […]
Read MoreReport: Traditional Industrial Distributors at Risk
Asset-light e-marketplaces and other nontraditional shopping channels, combined with shifting demographics, are upending industrial distributors’ inventory-heavy model more rapidly than previously thought. As a result, distributors must quickly adapt and address threats with everything from sharper mobile offerings to upgraded customer service, a new white paper from UPS (NYSE: UPS) shows. According to the […]
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Celebrating the Family’s Chief Logistics Officer: Dad
Companies need a Chief Logistics Officer, but so do families. This Father’s Day, remember all that Dad does – fixing, building, hauling, managing, protecting, teaching, providing – to make our homes and our lives safe and happy.
Read MoreCommentary: What You Need to Know About Trump’s $1 Trillion Infrastructure Plan
On May 23, 2017, President Trump released the first glimpse of his highly anticipated plan for a $1 trillion infrastructure package. According to the budget, the rebuilding plan would inject $200 billion into transportation projects over the next 10 years with the goal the administration would meet its $1 trillion target through a mix of […]
Read MoreOnline Shoppers Turning To International Retailers
Nearly half of avid U.S. online shoppers bought items from international retailers, demonstrating the need for retailers to offer more personalized services as a way to compete against lower prices, according to the sixth annual UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper study. The UPS study found that almost all avid U.S. online shoppers (97%), made […]
Read MorePenske Truck Leasing Agrees to Acquire Old Dominion Truck Leasing
Penske Truck Leasing announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Richmond, Virginia-based Old Dominion Truck Leasing. Financial terms were not disclosed. "Old Dominion Truck Leasing and Penske Truck Leasing customers will benefit from synergies in our products, technology, and services available across our combined network of facilities," said Brian Hard, president and CEO, […]
Read MoreAPICS Expands Supply Chain Stem Program
APICS, a professional association for supply chain management, launched a new, expanded Supply Chain STEM Educational Outreach Program. The program aims to introduce K-12 students to the concept of supply chain, demonstrate the importance of supply chain management, and highlight promising career paths within the industry. This latest investment will extend the reach of the […]
Read MoreStudy: U.S. Manufacturing, Logistics Industries Grew Dramatically Over Last Generation
Contrary to public perception, U.S. manufacturing and logistics industries experienced dramatic growth over the past generation, says a new report from Ball State University. U.S. manufacturing production grew 11 percent since the dot-com bust (2000-03) and the ensuing economic turbulence of the 2001 and 2007-09 recessions, according to Manufacturing and Logistics: A Generation of Volatility […]
Read MoreLG Honored For Supply Chain Sustainability
LG Electronics (LG) was honored for innovation in supply chain sustainability by the Green Electronics Council. Presented at CES Asia 2017, the GEC Catalyst Awards seek to inspire innovation in the design, manufacture, and use of electronics to advance global sustainability. LG’s special distinction as 2017 GEC "Catalyzing Impact at Scale" Honoree recognizes LG OLED […]
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Commentary: Supply Chain System Security Starts in the Cloud
The May 2017 ‘WannaCry’ ransomware cyberattack swept 150 countries, crippling hospitals, paralyzing government entities, and completely halting businesses by exploiting vulnerabilities in outdated operating systems. By infiltrating systems, locking down digital assets, and making all files and folders inaccessible, the attackers effectively shut down entire organizations. No fulfillment. No new client acquisition. No checking inventory. […]
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