Articles
Logistics
Supply Chain Impatience: No Time To Wait
Supply chains are adapting to serve today’s “hurry up” world of impatient consumers. Meet delivery expectations or customers go elsewhere—faster than a mouse click.
Read More
VMI Strategies: A Matter of Trust
Vendor-managed inventory (VMI) programs rely on strong working relationships, collaboration, and mutual trust between supply chain partners to make things happen.
Read More
Truckload Carriers and E-commerce: Serving the Middle Mile
E-commerce is redrawing the landscape for freight transportation. Do truckload carriers have a place in this new world of high-velocity supply chains, especially as shipments get smaller and delivery windows shrink?
Read More
Blockchain Technology: Good in a Supply Chain Crisis
Blockchain, the technology that underpins digital currencies such as bitcoin, offers substantive benefits to supply chains disrupted by natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods. Blockchain is a digital ledger that creates a chronological and unchangeable record of transactions. It uses an autonomous network of computers to constantly verify the legitimacy of updates to the […]
Read More
Seamless Returns Start With Serial Numbers
Although serial numbers were initially created to track production, they are invaluable tools for reverse logistics. Here’s how they can streamline supply chains. Serialized products are easier to manage during the returns process. If retailers capture a serial number at the point of sale (PoS), they know an item was purchased from them, because they […]
Read MoreThe Benefits of Using the Cloud for Attendance
Cloud-based employee time and attendance systems enable administrators to view and manage employee timesheets in real time, monitor overtime, track when and where workers are on the job, and get a better handle on overall labor costs. For employees, many like the convenience of seeing their worked time, overtime, and benefit time on demand, without […]
Read More
U.S. Manufacturing: Resurgence Sparks Dramatic Change
With one in every six jobs now tied to manufacturing, American-made products are making a profound comeback. Industry 4.0 innovations—3D printing, robotics, big data, and the Industrial Internet of Things—are changing the fortunes of U.S. manufacturing and its workers, with dramatic impact on the domestic supply chain.
Read MoreWhat’s the Supply Chain Buzzword for 2018?
Expect mistakes in the early stages, but by the end of the year I bet we have blockchain results with some serious, long-term impact. Leif Olson Sales Account Manager, Navegate The wider adoption of blockchain technology across other industries indicates that it is time for us to take the leap and start reshaping our industry […]
Read More
3PLs & Shippers: In It For the Long Haul
Shippers choose third-party logistics (3PL) providers for myriad reasons. 3PLs provide infrastructure and up-to-date technology solutions that shippers may not have or be able to afford to invest in. They provide consistent, reliable service that shippers can pass on to customers. They stay updated with the latest regulations and best practices. They can scale up […]
Read More
U.S. Economy Going Strong and Steady
The U.S. economy continues to experience robust growth supported by real wage increases, lower unemployment, and easy access to credit, which all support stronger private consumption, according to the Atradius December Economic Update report. The report’s key takeaways for the U.S. economy include: World trade will see five-percent growth in 2017 and 3.5 percent in […]
Read MoreFunding High-Tech Supply Chain Startups
Singapore-based investment company, Temasek and Kuehne Nagel International AG, a global logistics group, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a joint venture to invest globally in early stage companies developing cutting-edge technology for logistics and supply chains. The joint venture targets investments in early stage companies developing technologies and services with the potential […]
Read More
Venezuela Crisis Surpasses Great Depression
The collapse of Venezuela’s economy has reached historic proportions, equal to or surpassing the 1929 and 1939 U.S. Great Depressions. That’s according to economist Gerver Torres, a researcher at the Gallup Company and senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in a recent lecture at the University of Miami’s Robert and Judi […]
Read More
Realigning Logistics
FedEx Corp. will realign its specialty logistics and e-commerce solutions in a new structure under FedEx Trade Networks, Inc. (FTN), beginning March 1, 2018. The goal is to create an organization focused on serving the unique needs of this important growth driver. "In order to improve our ability to leverage the unique capabilities of our […]
Read More
Special Delivery
With delivery dates of June 2018 and January 2019, Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services, a division of the Ethiopian Airlines Group, is leasing the first Aeronautical Engineers Inc.(AEI)-converted Boeing 737-800 freighters (737-800SF) from GE Capital Aviation Services. “In line with our Vision 2025 Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics strategic roadmap, we are expanding our cargo fleet […]
Read More
Middle East Gain for Crane
Crane Worldwide Logistics has expanded in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, opening a fully operational office based in Dammam. Providing airfreight, ocean freight, and logistics services, the operation is strategically located in Al-Khobar and served by King Fahd International Airport and King Abdul Aziz Port. Crane Worldwide Logistics also has its own entities in both […]
Read More
Status Grow? Yes.
I often disagree with IL’s publisher, but I can’t argue with his perspective in this edition. There is a great opportunity for growth in many business sectors, and supply chain excellence is fundamentally important in that economic environment. It wasn’t always that way, however. This publication’s mission since its inception in 1981 has been to […]
Read More
Fleets Don’t Fail Me Now
The number of active fleet management systems deployed in commercial vehicle fleets in Russia/CIS and Eastern Europe was 4.8 million during the fourth quarter of 2016, according to a new report from analyst firm Berg Insight (see chart, right). Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.5 percent, this number is expected to […]
Read More
WTO Conference Marked by Lack of Consensus on Pretty Much Everything
Nobody left satisfied when the World Trade Organization (WTO) wrapped up its 11th Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires in December 2017. Here are the highlights: The United States largely withdrew from its traditional leadership role at the WTO conference, expressing interest in developing more direct, bilateral trade deals with trading partners. The European Union (EU) […]
Read MorePeak Season Piques Airfreight Demand
Global air freight is on track to achieve its strongest operational and financial performance since the post-global financial crisis rebound in 2010. Demand measured in freight ton kilometers (FTKs) rose in November 2017 by 8.8 percent over 2016 totals, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). While the 2010 gains lasted for about one […]
Read More