Quality control standards have evolved to fit different production methods since the Middle Ages but it wasn’t until shortly after the Industrial Revolution that quality inspections and specialized departments for quality control came into being. Quality assurance as it is known today was first introduced in Japan in the mid 1940s. Q.A. found its place…
According to the latest Carbon Disclosure Project Report, 70% of global corporations and suppliers believe that climate change could significantly impact their revenues in the near future. Extreme weather conditions are the biggest concern, already affecting nearly a third of the organizations included in the report.
Apple’s supply chain has received a lot of media attention recently. The company broke the record for shipping the most mobile phones in a quarter, but unfair labor practices, environmental concerns, and supply chain changes have shed a more negative light on the mobile tech leader.
Wal-Mart announced changes to their supply chain policies shortly after a clothing factory in Bangladesh went up in flames. The fire killed over 100 employees at a facility subcontracted by a Wal-Mart supplier without the retail giant’s approval. Under Wal-Mart’s current policy, suppliers have three chances to rectify noncompliance issues like this, but that will…
Mobile technology makes it easier to stay connected on both business and personal levels. Companies are already using mobile apps to check inventory, pricing, and distribution information, but some global leaders are taking mobile computing innovation to new levels in supply chain management.
Whether you have 20 years of procurement experience or you’re new on the supply chain scene, negotiating contracts with suppliers is often intimidating and stressful. Procurement professionals aren’t always trained in the art of negotiation, although the salespeople they’re working with are usually very well-trained. These easy steps will give you the edge you need…
When operational dysfunctions occur, the source of the problem is usually linked to the supply chain. Effective supply chain systems integrate seamlessly into a company’s operations and need a great deal of teamwork for success. A dysfunctional supply chain can drag a business under very quickly. Here are some of the most common signs to…
Coal, fertilizer, salt, grain, and other valuable commodities depend on the Mississippi River for transport, but the nation’s largest waterway may soon be inaccessible to the barges that move these products. Recent drought conditions have diminished the water level of the Mississippi to the lowest its seen in more than a decade, with some experts…
The ninth annual PwC Global Supply Chain Survey shows that strategy is everything when it comes to supply chain success. Businesses that realize the strategic importance of their supply chain achieve 70% higher performance and are more profitable. In 2013, PwC surveyed more than 500 supply chain experts around the world, representing a range of…
The apparel industry is under fire for their hazardous use of chemicals during the manufacturing process. In July, 2011, Greenpeace International launched the Detox campaign “to expose the direct links between global clothing brands, their suppliers and toxic water pollution around the world.” Along with a global network of consumers, Greenpeace is urging clothing brands…