August, 2018

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My Boogie Woogie Trucking Shoes!

Tailwind

I was heading to baseball practice on Friday with my youngest – a newly-minted teenager – when the Eagles song ‘Witchy Woman’ came on the radio. The Eagles were in town that day, and the concert was happening that night. My mother in law, his grandmother, was attending the concert. We all pitched in to give it to her for her birthday: it was on her bucket list.

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Multi-echelon inventory optimization vs inventory optimization

ToolsGroup

Editor’s Note: Last year ToolsGroup became Microsoft’s partner for Multi-echelon Inventory Optimization (MEIO) in Industrial accounts. Microsoft and I collaborated on a blog introducing the basic concept of MEIO, comparing it with Inventory Optimization. You can see Microsoft's version here on their and my slightly modified version below. The subway system is the lifeblood of New York City, carrying an average of 5.7 million people per day across 472 stations.

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Harmonizing production and maintenance: The key to minimized asset debt

DELMIA Quintiq

All too common practice. Asset-intensive businesses, such as mining, airlines, utilities, oil & gas and railroads have one thing in common: internal tension between production and maintenance. In our experience, maintenance is too often viewed as a necessary evil, and maintenance planners have told us that they have to fight for slots to do scheduled and preventive maintenance.

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Overcoming a shortage of supply chain talent

ToolsGroup

Editor’s note: There will be no blog post next week due to summer holidays. There is a shortage of supply chain talent. Supply Chain Insights reports that more than half of all companies are seeing an increase in employee turnover and experiencing unfilled job openings. In certain areas the problem is much worse. One senior manager at Boeing said he saw demand for supply chain professionals exceed existing talent by a factor of six to one.

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Tail Inventory: The Silent Cost Driver You Shouldn't Ignore

Learn how centralizing slow-moving SKUs can help reduce fulfillment costs by $300M+ while boosting fulfillment efficiency.

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The Secrets of Top Performers: Fleet Management as a Competitive Weapon

Talking Logistics

From changing regulatory requirements and increasing freight congestion to excessive detention time and driver shortages , shippers and logistics service providers (LSPs) are struggling to balance the multiple issues impacting fleet management today. In addition, rising customer expectations for faster delivery, on-time shipments and real-time status updates are magnifying the pressure to perform.

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Gamification ideas in business: Your way to a more efficient supply chain

Kinaxis

by Emily Hunt Simply put, gamification involves the application of game design elements in a business setting. Gamification uses both intrinsic and extrinsic motivators to encourage users to perform at their best, fostering engagement through tactics ranging from simple – such as a progress bar, to those that are more complex – such as loyalty programs and immersive storytelling.

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Managing Supply Chain SLAs Through Blockchain: Is Blockchain the New Incoterm?

GlobalTranz

Service level agreements (SLAs) can vary in scope, complexity, duration, and value. Managing supply chain SLAs have the added complication of geographic and cultural barriers. Contract details may vary by region, and individual locations may be subject to unique contractual stipulations that other locations never see. In response, supply chains have relied on a series on defined terms for use in international SLAs, Incoterms.

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Blockchain Gains Traction in the Food Supply Chain

Logistics Viewpoints

12 of the world’s biggest companies, including Walmart and Nestlé, are building a blockchain to remake how the industry tracks food worldwide. The group is focused on solving the traceability problem is known as Food Trust. There are many initiatives using Blockchain. This initiative is further along than any other. The post Blockchain Gains Traction in the Food Supply Chain appeared first on Logistics Viewpoints.

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21st Century Sales Skills for Transportation and Logistics Professionals

The Logistics of Logistics

Download the audio file. Podcast Summary: In this podcast, Joe Lynch welcomes Ann Holm to the show. Joe and Ann discuss their upcoming sales improvement program. The program, 21st Century Sales Skills for Transportation Logistics Professionals begins Wednesday, September 19th, 1:00 p.m. EST and last 10 weeks. The sales improvement program was designed specifically for transportation and logistics professionals and their hectic, unpredictable schedules.

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Tariffs on the Table: How to Brief the Board and C‑Suite With Confidence

“What should we do about the tariffs?” There’s no straightforward answer — every leader has a different expectation. CFOs want numbers. COOs want action. CEOs want strategy. And supply chain and procurement leaders need to be ready with the right response — fast. That’s why GEP has created a simple three-part framework that will help CPOs and CSCOs brief the board and C-suite with clarity and confidence.

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Finding a Warehouse in Today’s High-Demand Market

Talking Logistics

Finding the right warehouse is arguably one of the most important decisions your company will make. It has the potential to be not only be a powerful, industry-leading storage and shipping center, but also the literal hub of your logistics — including returns, reshipments, and other nuanced supply chain tasks. It needs the ability to grow with your ambitions without demanding too much of your bottom line, and there are a lot of configuration and feature choices to weigh before signing on t

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Software Planning: Satisfaction is Like a Flip of a Coin

Supply Chain Shaman

This week, after ten years, I am test-driving cars. I have not owned a car for a decade. City living has come to an end and it is time for me to get some wheels. Buying a car is overwhelming. I just want one that works. I find the process of negotiation, and comparison shopping tiring. My goal is safety and comfortability. It is hard to sort through the options.

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How manufacturers optimize their inventories

ToolsGroup

Editor’s Note: Microsoft’s Colin Masson, Global Industry Director of Manufacturing Solutions (that's him on the left), sat down with me to discuss how manufacturers optimize their inventories. You can see a longer version of the interview here on the Microsoft website or my slightly abridged version below. Colin: What are some of the global trends currently impacting demand modeling, supply chain planning, and supply variability?

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Logistics Automation and Blockchain: What’s the Potential?

GlobalTranz

Up to 64% of supply chain leaders consider Big Data Analytics the best way to overcome supply chain challenges, asserts Antonia Renner of ComputerWorld, but new technologies, such as logistics automation and blockchain, may hold much more opportunity than meets the eye. Logistics automation and blockchain have potential applicability to payment processing, freight location monitoring, order fulfillment, and more.

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How to Modernize Manufacturing Without Losing Control

Speaker: Andrew Skoog, Founder of MachinistX & President of Hexis Representatives

Manufacturing is evolving, and the right technology can empower—not replace—your workforce. Smart automation and AI-driven software are revolutionizing decision-making, optimizing processes, and improving efficiency. But how do you implement these tools with confidence and ensure they complement human expertise rather than override it? Join industry expert Andrew Skoog as he explores how manufacturers can leverage automation to enhance operations, streamline workflows, and make smarter, data-dri

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Warehouse Robots Enable a Digital Transformation

Logistics Viewpoints

A leading MRO began a digital transformation three years ago. Because about half of this company’s 2017 revenues are related to warehousing services, several of their digital projects have been related to improving efficiency in their warehouses. This case study describes their approach to testing out mobile logistics robots. The post Warehouse Robots Enable a Digital Transformation appeared first on Logistics Viewpoints.

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Improve Manufacturing Performance with Total Productive Maintenance

Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy

When I first came across Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) I was sceptical of yet another ”blue sky” approach to pursuing manufacturing excellence. Surely, this would soon be replaced by the next set of buzz-word initials dreamed up by sharp-suited consultants. But no; I saw the light and now I’m a firm believer in this technique that originated in Japan.

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Research: What Leading Shippers Do to Obtain Better Truckload Rates and Performance

Talking Logistics

No doubt about it: this trucking environment is sending plenty of truckload budgets into the red. What can shippers do to navigate this market? Take your cue from the latest findings of MIT researchers. Using data from TMC, a division of C.H. Robinson , the researchers examined the best practices that separate Leaders from Laggards in getting better truckload rates and performance.

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Healthcare: A Call For Action

Supply Chain Shaman

In 1960, when I was in the first grade, healthcare spending was 5% of the US economy. Today, it is 17.9%. By 2025, the projection is 19.9%. Yowza! This is trillions of dollars. To put it into dollars and cents, health care spending rose 4.3% to $3.3 trillion in 2016, or a cost of $10,348 per person. Being a supply chain gal, I think that supply chain leaders can help.

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A Roadmap For Modernization: How To Break Free From Your Monolith Before July 31, 2026

Speaker: Jason Cottrell and Gireesh Sahukar

Retailers know the clock is ticking–legacy SAP Commerce support ends in 2026. Legacy platforms are becoming a liability burdened by complexity, rigidity, and mounting operational costs. But modernization isn’t just about swapping out systems, it’s about preparing for a future shaped by real-time interactions, AI powered buying assistants, and flexible commerce architecture.

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Why Warehousing Matters

The Network Effect

There are few people today who believe that warehousing is simply a storage function – but many still have logistics. The post Why Warehousing Matters appeared first on The Network Effect.

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[PODCAST] How Shippers Can Compete Against Rising Transportation Costs & Competition Using Data

GlobalTranz

Hello and welcome back to another episode of “The Freight Project Podcast!” On today’s episode we welcome Hannah Testani, Chief Operating Officer of Intelligent Audit , a global logistics and freight audit company. We hope you enjoy “The Freight Project Podcast.” You can subscribe and find this podcast on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Soundcloud , YouTube , and iHeartRadio!

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A Maturity Model for Supply Chain Design

Logistics Viewpoints

LLamasoft has developed a maturity model related to supply chain design solutions. As a leading supplier of supply chain design solutions, this is a natural extension for them. Developing a maturity model, however, is not for the faint of heart. The model explicity ties ROI from a design project to the maturity level. The post A Maturity Model for Supply Chain Design appeared first on Logistics Viewpoints.

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FMCG cost savings versus sales & marketing budgets!

Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy

There is your dilemma. You need to save cash towards an expensive year-end holiday but you really do not know the best place from where to take the money. Do you take it from your day to day current account which is already set up to pay the routine monthly bills and invoices? Do you take funds out of an investment account that has not yet actually matured?

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Revolutionizing Hiring: Remote-Insourcing That Slashes Turnover & Training Costs!

What is Remote-Insourcing? Sounds like an oxymoron, right? Not anymore. Remote-Insourcing isn’t outsourcing—it’s a revolutionary staffing model that lets our clients fill key entry-level positions with top-tier, loyal, long-term talent, integrated seamlessly into their businesses—just like local employees but without the turnover or W2 HR hassles. With under 4% unwanted attrition, you train once and keep the same team for years.

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The Digital Transformation Journey: The Alignment of Industry, Company, and Technology

Talking Logistics

In today’s market, it is imperative for process businesses to pursue digital transformations to meet changing customer expectations, global market demands, and increased competition. Process industry businesses that embark on digital transformation journeys are becoming disruptors in the industry. Smart executives know that a digital transformation can be a catalyst for growth and will drive shareholder value.

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Transitioning to Digital Supply Networks

Kinaxis

by Mike McAllister By APICS CEO Abe Eshkenazi, CSCP, CPA, CAE. This article was originally published on apics.org, and is republished with permission. With the advent of the fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0, supply chain professionals are expected to embrace many new technologies – from artificial intelligence and robotics to predictive analytics and cloud computing.

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How manufacturers optimize their inventories

ToolsGroup

Editor’s Note: Microsoft’s Colin Masson, Global Industry Director of Manufacturing Solutions (that's him on the left), sat down with me to discuss how manufacturers optimize their inventories. You can see a longer version of the interview here on the Microsoft website or my slightly abridged version below. Colin: What are some of the global trends currently impacting demand modeling, supply chain planning, and supply variability?

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Supply Chain Facilities Management: It’s More Than Just Facilities

GlobalTranz

Supply Chain Facilities Management includes unique challenges and requires out-of-the-box thinking to be successful. Successful supply chain management includes successful Facilities Management , meaning the facilities must work at maximum efficiency to meet guest demands, explains Inbound Logistics. However, supply chain facilities can range from warehouses to forward-stocking locations in the supply chain network.

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Enterprise ABM Marketing Tools: A Marketers Guide

Savvy B2B marketers know that a great account-based marketing (ABM) strategy leads to higher ROI and sustainable growth. In this guide, we’ll cover: What makes for a successful ABM strategy? What are the key elements and capabilities of ABM that can make a real difference? How is AI changing workflows and driving functionality? This Martech Intelligence Report on Enterprise Account-Based Marketing examines the state of ABM in 2024 and what to consider when implementing ABM software.

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Devon Energy Uses Real-time Visibility to Improve Trucking Operations

Logistics Viewpoints

Devon Energy generates huge volumes of data. The company’s real-time data system monitors 6.5 million data points from multiple sites, with more than 10,000 updates per second. Devon Energy has worked to change real-time visibility into actionable insights for better truck scheduling. The post Devon Energy Uses Real-time Visibility to Improve Trucking Operations appeared first on Logistics Viewpoints.

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FMCG Supply Chains – The most important roles?

Enchange Supply Chain Consultancy

I am often asked which job in the extended Supply Chain is the most important. For FMCG producers this may be the demand planner while for retail partners the key role could be innovation planning. I do have a view on this so park the question for now and read on.

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Optimize Your Freight Spend Without Negotiation

Talking Logistics

Companies across all industries are dealing with rising transportation costs and a key question many CEOs, CFOs, and supply chain executives are asking is, “What can we do to better manage and control our freight spend in today’s market?” To get an expert’s response to that question, I interviewed Michael Falls, Senior Manager of Operations at enVista , in a recent episode of Talking Logistics.