OPSdesign’s Consultants, Engineers, and Analysts are supply chain logistics subject matter experts, authors, and speakers. We have written books, have been published in respected trade journals and business magazines, and are frequent speakers at leading supply chain conferences. Check back here often for our latest insights on trending supply chain logistics topics.
Geographic Center of Gravity Modeling In The Supply Chain
In today’s fast-evolving, cost-sensitive, and service-driven supply chain landscape, determining how many distribution centers (DCs) operate and where to locate them is a strategic decision...Continue reading→
Designing Packing Stations for E-Commerce Fulfillment
In e-commerce fulfillment, the packing station is the final frontier before the order departs from the warehouse. It is the last opportunity to influence order...Continue reading→
Raising Warehouse Productivity on a Shoestring
Raising warehouse productivity can seem like an insurmountable task. Warehouses are under relentless pressure to deliver faster, cheaper, and with fewer errors. Yet most operations...Continue reading→
The Rise of NILF: Labor Force Withdrawal Among Able-Bodied Young People
NILF, or Not in the Labor Force, refers to individuals aged 16 and over who are neither employed nor actively seeking employment. This category is...Continue reading→
Understanding The Difference Between AGVs & AMRs: Definition, Types, Applications, & Navigation Technologies
AGVs & AMRs (Automated Guided Vehicles and Autonomous Mobile Robots) are reshaping the way materials are moved in manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, and fulfillment operations. Although...Continue reading→
Climate Conscious Contracts
As global efforts to combat climate change accelerate, industries across the board are being challenged to play a more active role in creating a sustainable...Continue reading→
Considering AI in the Supply Chain? Check These Boxes First
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept or an emerging trend, it’s a present-day force that is actively reshaping industries across the globe....Continue reading→
The Future of the Supply Chain
The future of supply chain management is being shaped by a convergence of technology, sustainability, and human capital. Disruptions caused by global events, shifting consumer...Continue reading→
Comparative Analysis of Six Sigma, 5s, Lean, and Related Frameworks
In the modern industrial and supply chain environment, organizations continuously seek ways to improve operational efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance product and service quality. To...Continue reading→
Designing Highly Efficient Warehouse Workstations
Well-engineered workstations harmonize process optimization, digital system integration, infrastructure flexibility, and labor efficiency. In modern supply chain operations, the demand for agility, customization, and value-added...Continue reading→
Understanding Racking Options
Pallet storage racks are the unsung heroes of any warehouse operation. As the foundation of material handling and inventory storage, the right racking system can...Continue reading→
NFC or RFID: Which Tracking Option Should You Pick
Accurate, real-time inventory tracking has become essential for operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Two technologies often considered for this purpose are Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)...Continue reading→
How the Fourth of July Impacts the Supply Chain
The Fourth of July is a time of celebration for many, but behind the scenes, it creates a flurry of operational activity across supply chains...Continue reading→
The Definition of “Data Cortex” in Supply Chain Context
A Data Cortex is a unified, intelligent data infrastructure that acts as the “brain” of supply chain operations — integrating data from across systems, applying advanced analytics...Continue reading→
Are Autonomous Mobile Robots Right for Your E-Commerce Operation
The e-commerce landscape has undergone a radical transformation over the past several years. Increasing consumer demand for faster delivery, greater order customization, and 24/7 availability...Continue reading→
Location Modeling, Transportation, Logistics, & Distribution Network Analysis Network Rationalization
How many distribution centers (DCs) should your company operate? Where should they be located? How large should each facility be, what inventory should reside in...Continue reading→
Robots As A Service (RaaS)
RaaS or Robots As A Service is a great way to lower the financial barriers to automation and speed up implementation. In recent years, automation...Continue reading→
Warehouse Labor Availability and Automation Trends
A recent jobs report reveals warehouse labor availability in the United States. While immediate disruptions are minimal, the long-term outlook is shaky. The U.S. labor...Continue reading→
Why are Cubic Velocity and Cubic Inventory Important?
Cubic Velocity by SKU and Cubic Inventory by SKU and aren’t just metrics—they’re the key to more effective warehouse automation. In the age of e-commerce...Continue reading→
Why Supply Chain Projects Fail
Supply Chain projects fail every day. Avoiding a crash-and-burn scenario requires not just ambition, but alignment, rigor, and foresight. In 2025, supply chain transformation is...Continue reading→
To 3PL Or Not To 3PL? That Is The Question
In 2025, the question of whether to manage your own warehousing, distribution, or fulfillment operations or to outsource to a third-party logistics provider (3PL) is...Continue reading→
Warehouse Shelving & Rack Collapse
Warehouse shelving and rack collapses—like the one pictured—remain one of the most preventable yet devastating hazards in industrial facilities today. These incidents can destroy millions...Continue reading→
Blockchain Integration in the Supply Chain
Blockchain integration in supply chains is enhancing transparency, traceability, and trust. Modern supply chains are incredibly complex. Spanning across countries and involving dozens—sometimes hundreds—of partners,...Continue reading→
Aging Infrastructure in America’s Logistics Backbone
Aging infrastructure the a quiet crisis that plagues the country’s must vital ports, highways and rail systems. The American logistics network is a marvel of...Continue reading→

