IPEF – Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Agreement
The United States has been working to reduce reliance on China in the past few years, and at the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) meetings held […]
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Retailer Debt Hangover from the Pandemic Could Spell Trouble
The pandemic created quite a bit of retailer debt and the effects have yet to be fully felt. It’s been a rough and tumble several […]
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Determining the Optimal Inventory Levels for Your Supply Chain
Determining the optimal inventory levels in a warehouse, distribution, or fulfillment operation involves finding a balance between meeting customer demand, minimizing stockouts, and minimizing holding […]
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Extreme Weather Events: Protecting the Supply Chain
Are you taking steps to mitigate supply chain disruptions due to weather events? While no one can predict when tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, or wildfires will […]
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Automated Unloading Systems are Making Life Easier
The use of automated unloading systems (UAS) is on the rise. These systems are essentially robots that can unload or load a truck and they […]
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Productivity Quotas Being Banned by States
States have started banning productivity quotas with 5 already banning or considering a ban on productivity quotas. The labor shortage is woven into the fabric […]
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Freight Fraud is Growing: How to protect yourself
Incidents of freight fraud are ramping up. How can you protect yourself? Supply chains are inherently dependent on shipping and for years, freight brokers have […]
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What is Friendshoring and How Does It Impact the Supply Chain?
Friendshoring, is the trend to partner with nations considered friendly to the United States and its allies. For decades now, the supply chain has operated […]
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Supply Chain Complexity Can Be a Good Thing
Conventional wisdom holds that to reduce risk, supply chains should also reduce supply chain complexity. Yet a new study out of Penn State is claiming […]
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Global Supply Chain Attacks are on the Rise
Global supply chain attacks are on the rise and hackers are growing ever more sophisticated, and a recent software supply chain attack likely originating in […]
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Gravity-Based Battery Systems
A new technology using gravity-based battery systems could provide a simple solution to a complex problem. As the world gears up to use alternative energy […]
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OPSdesign Consulting Launches New Website Highlighting Innovative Supply Chain Consulting Solutions
OPSdesign Consulting is excited to announce the launch of its new website, www.OPSdesign.com, designed to provide an enhanced user experience and highlight the company’s innovative […]
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TPRM: Third Party Risk Management on the Rise
Third Party Risk Management (TPRM) is on the rise. The more complex the supply chain, the higher the risk to organizations. Challenges ranging from natural […]
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Small Parcel Shipping: What Dynamic Pricing May Mean for Shippers
Small parcel carriers—which are in high demand these days—have yet to develop a method for adjusting shipping rates according to supply and demand even as […]
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The Dark Side of AI
While everyone is fascinated by how artificial intelligence (AI) might enhance the workplace in the near future, that fascination is also accompanied by fear. It […]
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Can Improving Manufacturing Processes Fix the Supply Chain?
Manufacturing processes are at the heart of the supply chain. The pandemic’s many disruptions proved that global supply chains were not ready for prime time. […]
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The Hydrogen Solution
Is Hydrogen the solution to a clean and efficient supply chain? The U.S. Infrastructure Act is investing heavily in the development of hydrogen hubs, and […]
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Where Does Drone Delivery Stand
Back in December, eCommerce giant Amazon made a big announcement about drone delivery—officially launching it in California and Texas, following years of development. However, when […]
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Wireless Charging For EV Trucks
The interest in electric trucks is there, but barriers remain before they can become widespread. Range concerns and a lack of infrastructure on the nation’s […]
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A Look At Train Derailments
The rails are an essential part of the intermodal logistics equation. Companies depend on them for affordable cargo transportation, and the railroads have responded with […]
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PROMAT 2023 – Driving Forklifts Remotely
Having attended Promat 2023 in Chicago last week, it was apparent that the theme of “supply chain technology and automation” continues to be of central […]
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Unfair Practices Surged During The Pandemic
A new report out of Cornell University is highlighting several unfair supply chain practices that arose during the pandemic and continue to this day. They […]
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Logistics Advice From Chef Jose Andres
He might seem like the unlikeliest logistics consultant, but in his mission-driven work to provide meals at disaster sites, Chef Jose Andres has a pretty […]
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MHI Forms AEC Group
As demand for advanced energy solutions grows in every segment of the supply chain, the Material Handling Industry (MHI) announced the formation of a new […]
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Can AI Assist In The Last Mile
The pandemic has put a spotlight on the shortcomings of long supply chains, as consumer demand well outstripped the ability to get products to customers […]
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The Modern-Day Truck Driver
Stories abound about the nation’s truck-driver shortage–currently estimated at about 80,000 drivers—along with solutions to the problem. The industry desperately needs to recruit and retain […]
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Supply Chain Execs Disappointed In Tech Investments
Not a day goes by that supply chain executives aren’t reminded of the importance of technology in today’s supply chain. The need for tech is […]
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Changing Sustainability Measurements
As climate change and sustainability become bigger priorities for companies, there’s a trend change in how to measure and manage related targets. The model of […]
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The Latest Iteration of “As A Service”
For several years now, software as a service (SaaS) has been a popular way for companies to keep technology costs down. Robotics as a service […]
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Adding Mobile Robots? Don’t Overlook Your Floors
As mobile robotics proliferate around the warehousing industry, businesses are reaping the rewards. They lead to greater productivity, enhance your existing labor force, and deliver […]
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New Trucking Bill Welcomed
Rare is the day that both parties of Congress, as well as trade organizations, can all line up behind a bill. But with the introduction […]
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National Security Driving Supply Chain Mapping
As the dust settles following the pandemic era of disruptions, all companies are noticing a paradigm shift: where once supply chain management was an under-the-radar […]
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The State of The Lithium Supply Chain
While there is plenty of talk about EV trucking—and signs that it will become increasingly available—its future is still dependent on a reliable lithium supply […]
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Dubai’s International Humanitarian City
As supply chains struggle to get back in balance following the past few years of disruption, the latest issues to arise are harking from the […]
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What Might Be In Short Supply In 2023
Three years ago, at the start of the pandemic, supply and demand turned upside down. From toilet paper to hand sanitizer, and then home improvement […]
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The Latest On Inventory Management Strategy
Following the widespread supply chain disruptions of the past few years, many companies are examining their inventory management strategies, especially retailers. While the model of […]
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North American Countries Focus On Supply Chain
As every region of the world looks to rebound and rebuild supply chain resiliency after the past few years, the United States is partnering with […]
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What Can IoT Sensors Do For You
With the many tech terms flying around in relation to improved supply chain management, it’s common to see companies leap before learning. One of the […]
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What Will A Tesla Semi Mean
It’s been almost five years since Tesla announced its intent to create an EV Class 8 truck, but now it appears on the verge of […]
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The Downside of Technology
We’ve reached the point in supply chain management where software and other technologies are essential for remaining not just competitive, but afloat. Yet all that […]
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Interested In Robotics? Plan for Integration
As robots grow in popularity, especially in light of the labor shortage, more companies are getting on board with the idea of adding them to […]
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Supply Chains Are More Complicated Than You Realize
A recent study by Harvard Business Review dove into the size and complexity of average supply chains and revealed that supply chains are vast, deep, […]
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Managing In A Labor Shortage
Among the difficulties of managing supply chains over the past few years has been the sizable labor shortage. While technology and robots can help with […]
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Bursting At The Seams
If you’re a retailer, you are probably facing an inventory glut right now. Last week we focused on optimizing your returns management—and you should—but you […]
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Understanding Mobile Vehicles
As the pinch from the labor shortage continues, more facilities are turning to automated vehicles to take the place of, or enhance the work of, […]
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Returns Deserve A Bigger Seat At The Table
You’ve probably read the headlines about major retailers and their massive glut of returned inventory. Some are so under water, in fact, that they’re offering […]
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Supply Chain Automation Combats Labor Issues
As labor costs continue to climb and workforce availability tightens, warehousing mechanization and automation alternatives are becoming increasingly attractive. Many of our clients are exploring […]
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ProMat Is Upon Us
Thanks to the pandemic, ProMat hasn’t gone forward as a live event in several years, but for 2023, the material handling industry’s giant show is […]
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How Chatbot May Impact Supply Chain Management
Recently there has been headline after headline on the topic of OpenAI’s launch of ChatGPT. Over one million users have signed on, and its impact […]
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What Caused The Supply Chain Crisis & What Can Be Done To Avoid Future Risk
While we can point to a plethora of underlying triggers forming the “perfect storm” (Covid 19, Russia/Ukraine, Oil Cartels, Highly Polarized World Politics, etc.), the […]
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East Coast Ports Replace The West As Nation’s Busiest
In a sign of the ever-changing times, the ports of New York and New Jersey have taken over as the busiest in the nation, surpassing […]
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Move Over Panama Canal
For more than 100 years, the Panama Canal has been the gold standard for shipping between the Atlantic and Pacific, saving companies countless hours and […]
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Exoskeletons In The Warehouse
One of the toughest aspects about attracting labor to the warehouse is the wear and tear on a body. Companies often look for the obvious […]
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The Role of Blockchain In Your Supply
The alphabet soup of supply chain management continues to expand, with ever new forms of technology flooding the marketplace seemingly monthly. Where, how and when […]
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The Chips & Science Act
In the flurry of legislation passed by the federal government of late, it was easy to miss the CHIPS and Science Act, which will invest […]
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