The very monotonous nature of the supply chain presents a unique opportunity for supply chain managers that few are aware of and even fewer use to their full advantage. Day after day, week after week, and year after year, companies go through the same processes of acquiring raw materials, shipping them to manufacturing facilities, turning…
Where is the future of supply chain management heading? Read on to learn about the top trends across the best companies in the industry.
The most popular time of year for retailers to begin promoting their Holiday season sales is the first two weeks of November. This year, however, retailers are looking to capitalize on the highest level of consumer spending confidence seen since the end of the recent economic recession. Many are beginning their promotional launch for the…
The Federal Reserve issued a report this week that highlights strength in manufacturing, among other sectors of the economy, which bode well for the outlook of both the national and the global economy. Leading the way are the manufacturing of automobiles, appliances, and home furnishings. There were also solid gains in mining and utilities.
The Laker’s Carrier Association (LCA) represents vessel operators on the Great Lakes. U.S. flag Great Lakes Freighters, or lakers, carried 10.5 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in the month of August. This is an increase of more than 1 million tons, or about 10.6 percent compared to the same month of last year. It was…
Jobs in the supply chain have long suffered from a stigma of low-paying, blue collar work, according to SCM Talent Group president Rodney Apple. This misconception has led to a shortage of well-trained and highly qualified workers in the field. This meant that even during the recent severe recession, graduates in supply chain management still were…
Whitebread PLC is a leading hospitality company operating in the United Kingdom. Their brands include TGI Friday’s, Premier Travel Inns, Costa, Beefeater, and David Lloyd Leisure. For many years, Whitebread’s Food Logistics team operated successfully under a warehouse management system from Chess Logistics, however there was room for improvement in their processes to reduce costly…
A recent study released by Motorola Solutions indicated that almost half of all distribution center managers plan to implement task interleaving within the next few years. Many vendors of warehouse management systems advertise task interleaving as part of their packages. When implemented correctly, task interleaving can boost productivity within the distribution center, lowering labor costs…
As businesses, individuals, and the government continue to keep their fingers on the pulse of the economy, it continues to give mixed signals about what the future holds. Some sectors, such as automotive sales, continue to be strong, as new jobs are added and unemployment rates continue to shrink. However, consumer confidence and consumer retail…
Biannually, officials from the business industry and transportation industry hold a meeting to discuss issues affecting the transportation of raw materials and goods. This year’s meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, September 17 in Bismark, North Dakota, is expected to be consumed with discussion about new federal regulations expected to be handed down by the Obama administration…