Articles

Feature Stories

Supply Chain Careers: An Inside Look

Whether you are a supply chain newbie—fresh out of school perhaps—or an industry veteran, chances are you give great thought to the future of your logistics career. Every industry—pharmaceutical, services, automotive, even the military—needs purchasing, operations, and logistics managers. The demand for supply chain managers is rising, and will continue to increase due to the […]

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Speeding Global Shipments

The increasingly complex nature of supply chains makes velocity imperative in the global air/expedited freight sector. From port congestion to increased security measures to demand for visibility, here’s an inside look at what’s driving the need for speed.

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RadioShack’s Supply Chain Tune-up

Thanks to a strong foundation created after a three-year, company-wide supply chain project, RadioShack has a new direction, new goals, and new customer markets.

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CLM 2004: Following The Leaders

What are the hot logistics topics for 2005? IL sat down with a number of different logistics solutions providers and practitioners at this year’s Council of Logistics Management conference to track the latest buzz in global supply chain trends.

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Going Global: 3PL or Solo?

As companies expand their global reach, they are increasingly leveraging the infrastructure, resources, networks and expertise of third-party logistics providers to enhance capacity while minimizing risk.

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Maritime Security: Open to Risk?

The U.S. maritime sector offers an attractive target to terrorists. But the ocean community is taking steps to help protect maritime trade from catastrophic events.

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Smooth Sailing: Managing Ocean Transport by Lane

Are your ocean shipments moving via the most efficient and cost-effective method? The type of goods, time of year, and ultimate destination of your cargo are just some factors to consider when contracting with ocean carriers. Here, a best-practices guide for managing ocean shipments and ensuring cargo arrives on time, intact, and under budget.

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China: The Dragon Awakens

Chinese cities are teeming with manufacturing initiatives, prompting numerous expansions of the country’s transportation and logistics infrastructure.

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Motor Carriers & Technology: Optimizing Like Never Before

Motor carriers were once notorious laggards when it came to IT investment. No more. A robust freight market and higher margins are driving truckers to once again invest in their IT infrastructures. And the motor freight buyer comes out the winner.

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The Transformation of Truck Transportation

Join us for a look back at the history of trucking in the United States, lessons motor carriers have learned through the years, and what the road ahead looks like for shippers and carriers.

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Consumer Products Logistics: Driving Shoppers to the Mall

Today’s consumers are demanding. They want lower prices, higher product availability and easier returns. Meanwhile, retailers continue to push inventory and costs back to the manufacturers. Consumer products logistics professionals meet these tough consumer and retailer requirements by developing supply chain innovations and breakthroughs that keep store shelves stocked and customers coming back for more.

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Apple of Your IT: Technology at the Core of Food Logistics

Food retailers and manufacturers are struggling to cut costs as they battle various channel service requirements, customer demands, and excess inventory. Here’s how a steady diet of electronic commerce, data synchronization, electronic product codes and RFID is serving up savings.

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Cargo Crossroads of the World: Alaska

Throughout history, Alaska has been the crossroads of human migration and exploration. When coastal tribes first ventured over from Siberia into present-day Alaska more than 10,000 years ago, they marked the first evidence of human habitation in North America. Since the discovery of petroleum reserves in Prudhoe Bay in 1968, and the completion of the […]

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From Tactical to Strategic: The 3PL Continuum

Outsourcing operational functions is often the first step for companies testing the 3PL waters. As they gain more confidence, however, these outsourcers move further along the 3PL continuum, shifting from tactical to strategic relationships. Here’s a look at how companies travel the 3PL continuum, and optimize their outsourcing relationships.

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Mega DCs: How Big is Big Enough?

Establishing a network of centrally located, mega DCs has its advantages—proximity to the customer, lower inventory, less building overhead, and cost savings driven by economies of scale. But setting up a big-box warehouse network can also bring big challenges. Here’s some advice on siting and sizing your distribution center network.

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