Getting a Seat at the Leadership Table
Supply chain management’s evolution from a purely tactical to a critical strategic function has earned logistics executives a seat at the leadership table. What attributes do you need to earn that chair — and keep it? According to Korn/Ferry International studies of best-in-class executives, success is about 50 percent attributable to leadership characteristics, 40 percent […]
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3PL Partnerships: Finding Your Better Half
Just like people, companies seeking long-lasting relationships need to keep a strategic focus when choosing their “other half.” In the high-stakes world of international shipping, smart companies considering logistics outsourcing for their supply chain needs should carefully consider the question, “How do I choose the right provider?” Here are five tips to help you properly […]
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Currency Events
Recent actions by the U.S. House of Representatives and calls from the Obama administration may impact global trading patterns next year. One such resolution — H.R. 2378, the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act passed in early October 2010 — allows the United States to peg import tariffs directly to what is determined to be […]
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Global Logistics – October 2010
Northern Wind Blows Off Course Efforts to build offshore wind farms in Northern Europe are meeting gale force resistance because of supply chain limitations, according to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal. The United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium are among the countries seeking to expand capacity to meet European Union mandates […]
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Great Logistics Sites: Supply Chain Central
At some spots on the map, the elements combine to create the perfect setting for logistics success.
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Integrate Contract Packaging Into Distribution Operations to Cut Costs by 30%
Specific consumer products look exactly the same when they roll off the manufacturing line. To satisfy retailer requirements, however, these identical products are wrapped, sealed, tied and packed in dozens, even hundreds, of different ways for presentation on the retail shelf. Consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies often outsource final packaging to outside contract packagers, adding […]
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Memphis: America’s Aerotropolis
Geography, transportation infrastructure, and a strong distribution sector make Memphis a natural logistics hub.
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Reassessing Rail Reregulation
Will rail reregulation untie captive shippers but tie up rail productivity?
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Randall Plost: Plugged Into the Pipeline
NAME: Randall Plost TITLE: Houston distribution manager COMPANY: Victaulic, since 1981 PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: Travel agent; inside sales representative, Orbit Valve; customer care and distribution manager, Victaulic EDUCATION: University of Texas, Austin, BBA in marketing, 1978 Randall Plost didn’t worry much about his warehouse when he managed inside sales in Houston for Victaulic, a global […]
Read MoreOptimizing Global Supply Chain Management
Today’s complex and dynamic global business environment presents increased operating challenges for companies striving to achieve sustainability while working with an array of global trading partners, regulations, business requirements, risk management concerns, cost control issues, and competitive objectives. Andrea Robinson, business development manager-United Kingdom, at supply chain management software provider CargoWise, offers these tips for […]
Read MorePredicting Demand Levels Down the Road
No business wants to face a drop in demand for its products, but many companies have experienced just that during the global economic downturn. One such company, Wichita, Kansas-based polymers and fibers manufacturer INVISTA, seized the opportunity to get better visibility into, and control over, its demand and inventory planning. As one of the world’s […]
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Trends—October 2010
U.S. Transportation Investment: A Political Pothole Drive any measurable distance across the United States and you’re bound to run into “Schneider Eggs”— trucker slang for sometimes-scrambled orange construction barrels. As much as road construction is an obstacle to efficiency and timeliness, it’s also a sign of progress, investment, and your tax dollars at work. Ironically, […]
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Supplier Disruptions: Preparing for the Unpredictable
Supplier disruptions are a reality for most shippers. In fact, 75 percent of supply chain professionals responding to a recent AMR Research poll indicated that at least 10 percent of their supply partners had experienced a disruption in the past year. Even worse, 12 percent of respondents saw half or more of their suppliers experience […]
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