News
The Delay in Hiring Supply Chain Consultants: Why Wait?
There seems to be a delay in hiring supply chain consultants even within organizations with underperforming warehousing and distribution operations. In today’s rapidly evolving and […]
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Women Are Populating The Ranks of The Supply Chain
If you attended any sort of supply chain management trade show a couple of decades back, one thing was a given: unlike a concert venue […]
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Should You Consider A 3PL
Having a third-party logistics partner could greatly benefit your warehouse as warehousing and logistics are complicated business these days. Long gone are the old, dusty […]
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Labor Disputes May Impact Small Parcel Delivery
There are looming labor disputes in the small parcel deliver sector that could impact the supply chain. The United States is currently facing a modern-day […]
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Warehouse Worker Wages May Be Stabilizing
There are signs that ever increasing warehouse worker wages may be stabilizing. Ask any warehouse manager and they will tell you that right now, their […]
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Last-Mile Delivery is Driving Supply Chain Innovations
Last-mile delivery is now a key area of focus for many supply chain managers. Ecommerce was already surging prior to the pandemic, but home delivery—done […]
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Investment In Tech Is Up
Back in 2019, when the Material Handling Industry (MHI) surveyed its members about planned investment in tech, specifically innovation and supply chain technology, most respondents […]
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Forklift Safety
The Industrial Truck Association (ITA) recently held its 10th annual National Forklift Safety Day, convening as a group in Washington, DC, to highlight recommendations from […]
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Making The Circular Economy Profitable
Fears and misconceptions have long hampered the supply chain’s ability to launch a circular economy. Yet, if your company needs an incentive to buy into […]
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The Rise of The Machines
You can go back to George Orwell’s “1984” if you want to find some of the earliest predictions about the rise of the machines and […]
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Autonomous Trucks Facing Legislative Headwinds
Are Autonomous Trucks the future backbone of the supply chain? With a continuing truck driver shortage, many supply chain professionals yearn for the day when […]
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Drought Conditions in Panama Canal Disrupting the Supply Chain
Traffic in the Panama Canal is being impacted by severe drought conditions in Central America. Climate change continues to serve as a disruptive factor in […]
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Transportation Management Systems for Small Business
You make think that affordable Transportation Management Systems for small business are a unicorn that doesn’t really exist. In the overall picture of supply chain […]
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The Healthcare Supply Chain: Maintaining Continuity
When the pandemic began in March 2020, the first logistics system to reveal its cracks was healthcare supply chain. Essential personal protective equipment, such as […]
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Putting Blockchain Technology to Work in the Supply Chain
Blockchain technology continues to make its imprint on supply chain management. As it evolves in capabilities and as the supply chain adopts it, blockchain is […]
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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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