March, 2016

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Tackling the Unknown: Trying to Figure Out New Forms of Analytics

Supply Chain Shaman

The new world of supply chain analytics is my current research project. Using unstructured and stream data is a brave new world. The possibilities of data variety and velocity to improve supply chain management excite me. As I study the market; today, I have more questions than answers. There is a great need for improved supply chain analytics. New solutions offer great promise.

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Warehouse Statistics and KPIs Every Logistics & Warehouse Manager Should Know

GlobalTranz

When discussing warehouse statistics many key performance indicators are mentioned. Stock movement, order duration times, utilization of equipment and personnel, error rates and many more. So what are the most important figures needed to run a warehouse? Depending on the warehouse design and complexity there are at least a hand full of statistics that any manager needs.

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What's wrong with ABC inventory classification?

ToolsGroup

ABC inventory classification has been around so long that most planners just assume it’s the only way to segment your inventory. In fact, it’s not. And it’s not even nearly the best way. It’s actually a throwback from technology developed during the 1960s that hasn’t responded to the orders of magnitude increase in computer power that has enabled far better ways of solving the problem.

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7 Habits of a Highly Effective Supply Chain Manager

Supply Chain Opz

The supply chain is evolving more rapidly than ever before due to outside factors such as geopolitical influences, an increase in natural disasters and the proliferation of technology. In such times of change, it is critical to have a supply chain manager in the catbird’s seat to help it navigate resource allocation. In today’s world of finite resources, competent management of time, materials, facilities and human talent means allocating them to the uses that create the highest value.

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Speeding Robotics Automation with AI

The $53 trillion manufacturing economy in the US is undergoing a major automation paradigm shift due to Artificial Intelligence (AI). Thanks to new practical frameworks, automation projects that were once impossible or inefficient to implement are now being fast-tracked, and robotics automation is becoming increasingly relevant to a growing number of users and scenarios.

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What Your Company Needs to Succeed in Today’s Retail Landscape

AIMMS

It’s no mystery that some of the world’s largest retail chains are struggling to survive. Walmart is closing a record number of stores (269) in the U.S. and abroad this year. Trusted names like Sears, J.C. Penny, and Gap have also lost their momentum. In Europe, V&D , a major Dutch department store, and Brantano , a large footwear retailer operating in the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK, have officially declared bankruptcy.

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Measuring Up?

Supply Chain Shaman

The average manufacturing company’s supply chain organization is 15 years old. Historically, the traditional supply chain focused on improving costs. Today, more mature supply chain teams focus on delivering value. While companies want to improve supply chain performance and drive value, it is easier said than done. The first question to answer is, “What defines value?

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Wearable Technology in the Supply Chain: 3 Core Benefits

GlobalTranz

Do you ever watch Undercover Boss? Think back to 2012 when Sam Taylor, CEO of Oriental Trading Company , went undercover in his own company. One of the most surprising parts of the episode showed a warehouse worker using a voice-automated picking system (see video below), and the worker would then scan the product with a scanner on the tip of his finger.

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What’s New in Inventory Optimization?

ToolsGroup

Principal Analyst James Cooke of Nucleus Research just published his 2016 Inventory Optimization Value Matrix which highlights this year’s key trends, including functionality and usability. The report is available below and the following also includes some comments from a recent discussion with Cooke. Nucleus is known for focusing on the financial impact of technology, so that is where Cooke begins.

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Making Sense of New Data in the Supply Chain

Supply Chain Opz

Right now we are seeing a tremendous increase in the amount of data available throughout the supply chain. The problem is, there is so much data that no one really knows what to do with it. Harnessing the power of data is vital for ensuring your supply chain is meeting customer expectations. To get started making sense of all this data, supply chain managers should adhere to the following steps: 1.

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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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What Your Company Needs to Succeed in Today’s Retail Landscape

AIMMS

It’s no mystery that some of the world’s largest retail chains are struggling to survive. Walmart is closing a record number of stores (269) in the U.S. and abroad this year. Trusted names like Sears, J.C. Penney, and Gap have also lost their momentum. In Europe, V&D , a major Dutch department store, and Brantano , a large footwear retailer operating in the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK, have officially declared bankruptcy.

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Ready For The Future Of Freight?

Freightos

Want to know the future? In 2012, The Economist assessed the impact that technology developments will have had on business by 2020, surveying and interviewing global technology and business leaders. At the time, the predictions seemed unreal. But 2016 marks the halfway point and it seems that the predictions were on the mark. These particular conclusions (slightly paraphrased here) should sound familiar to business leaders in the logistics industry: Few industries will remain untouched by disrup

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Seeing Beyond the Firewall

Supply Chain Shaman

Supply Chain Operating Networks: The building of supply chain applications using many-to-many architectures to connect multiple parties to multiple trading partners to improve multi-tier supply chain visibility, planning and execution to improve relationships in extended value chains. . The winds of a recession are whipping. Trade winds are changing.

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5 Future Applications of the Industrial Internet of Things in Manufacturing & Logistics

GlobalTranz

Manufacturers are set to invest up to $70 billion in the Industrial Internet of Things ( IIoT ) by 2020, reports John Greenough of Business Insider. However, actual investments could easily exceed these expectations. The development and deployment of autonomous vehicles, machine-to-machine communication abilities and preventative maintenance could all team up to result in even greater savings in 2016, which will further increase investments for the Industrial Internet of Things.

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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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Ferrari: Under the Hood

ToolsGroup

Today we interview Bob Ferrari, executive editor of the blog Supply Chain Matters ( www.theferrarigroup.com/supply-chain-matters ) and founder and managing director of the Ferrari Consulting and Research Group. Bob’s supply chain experience spans more than 30 years at private sector and analyst firms, making him one of the most experienced supply chain authorities in our profession.

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Made in “I Really Don’t Know”

Talking Logistics

In this week’s Ripped from the Headlines segment, another example of how many companies still have poor visibility and control of their end-to-end supply chains. As first reported by Fairfax Media , a factory in North Korea has been making high-priced surf and snow gear for Australian surfwear company Rip Curl since at least 2014, with the garments labeled “Made in China.

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Divestitures: 3 Ways to Navigate Your Supply Chain During Transitions

Logistics Viewpoints

When companies increase focus and concentration on core capabilities to improve their service offerings and increase shareholder value, divestitures can often result. A major transition that impacts all areas of a business, including supply chain reliability and efficiency, divestitures have the potential to be positive or negative. You decide. While restructuring assets of a business portfolio can help sharpen strategic focus for large companies, divestitures also create challenges for supply c

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Cold Chain – Why Is It Growing So Fast?

The Logistics of Logistics

The Cold Chain is Booming. Between now and 2020, the cold chain is predicted to grow 15% CAGR according to industry analysts. It is growing much faster than the world’s economy and the rest of the logistics sector. So what exactly is the cold chain and why is it growing so fast? Cold Chain – A Brief Overview. A cold chain is a temperature-controlled supply chain for perishable food products, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals in order to maintain their quality and increase their shelf-life.

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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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My Take: E2open Buys Terra Technology

Supply Chain Shaman

As an analyst in the supply chain market for 15 years, I have written many articles on best-of-breed technology companies purchased by a larger company. Today I am writing my take on the acquisition of Terra Technology by E2open. In the market announcement yesterday the terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. I have followed both of these companies for 15 years and writing this post is bittersweet.

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The 5 Benefits of Virtual Reality in Manufacturing

GlobalTranz

In February 2016, Good Morning America brought virtual reality experiences to the masses as everyone went with “GMA on Safari,” reports Fortune magazine (video below). This safari took viewers with smartphones and a cardboard cutout into a 360-degree experience, representing the startling shift towards virtual reality applications in everyday life. However, virtual reality hasn’t always been as accessible, and actual virtual reality is slightly different than GMA’s experience.

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Proud to be Recognized as One of Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employers for 2016

Kinaxis

by Melissa Clow As a leading supply chain management cloud provider, we are proud to be named one of Canada’s Top Small & Medium Employers. First created in 2014 by the editorial team at Canada’s Top 100 Employers, Kinaxis has won the national honor every year since its inception. Designed to recognize outstanding private-sector commercial organizations with fewer than 500 employees, the award helps Canadians learn what the most innovative small and medium employers have to offer.

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A Truth About Global Transportation: It Happens Locally

Talking Logistics

As shippers of all sizes expand their global sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution operations, they have to navigate the complexities involved with global transportation management. What are the main challenges global shippers face today? “It depends on who you are as a company,” said Mike Skinner, Vice President at CLX Logistics , in a recent episode of Talking Logistics.

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Breaking The Commerce Bottleneck: Your SAP Exit Plan Starts Now

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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Building Blocks of Supply Chain Visibility

Logistics Viewpoints

If you see an iceberg coming and don’t react quickly or appropriately, you may become the subject of a major motion picture. And, although the soundtrack was nice, the results were not so stellar for the people on the boat. While the issues you encounter managing your supply chain on a daily basis are seldom this extreme, you need visibility to actionable information that allows you to predict disruptions or delays and make course changes […].

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How Consumers Are Transforming Supply Chain

Supply Chains Rock

For an industry that is transformed by the everyday behaviour of consumers, supply chain should not only respond to socio-economic growth, but help to facilitate it. In this digital age, supply chain systems are of much greater importance to the consumer.

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Getting Smart With Logistics Big Data

Freightos

Here at Freightos, we’re big fans of making global logistics work better by bringing data online (and especially instant freight quotes!). And, like many other logistics startups , we’re particularly enthusiastic about how Big Data can change the way goods are moved around the world. In this guest post, Kevin Everson the Vice-President of Supply Chain Solutions at RMG Networks , investigates two examples of driving more supply chain value with logistics big data and data visualizati

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4 Infographics Showing How Technology Is Transforming Global Manufacturing & Supply Chain

GlobalTranz

This year looks like it's going to be one of the most innovative years for manufacturing technology. Purchasing and supply executives predict that the global manufacturing industry will continue to expand. The ISM projects a 4.1 percent net increase in revenue for 2016 , and as we’ve briefly mentioned past blogs , technologies such as predictive data analytics, virtual reality, smart connectivity and 3-D printing will drive this growth and reshape the global economic competition between U.S. and

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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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Can you win with a broken chain?

Kinaxis

by Carmen Humplik. If you’re not familiar with the sport of downhill mountain biking, it basically involves racing down a mountain on a steep, narrow, and gnarly track to reach the finish line as fast as possible. Currently, one of the most dominant riders on the downhill racing scene is an American by the name of Aaron Gwin. Gwin, who until very recently rode for the Specialized bike company, is the 2015 overall UCI Downhill Mountain Biking World Cup title holder.

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Sports Authority: Another Not-So-Great Moment in Supplier Relationship Management

Talking Logistics

File this under “Not-So-Great Moments in Supplier Relationship Management.”. Last week, Sports Authority — which filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this month — sued more than 160 suppliers over “vendor claims to consigned goods on the shelves of the distressed retail chain, which has already begun liquidating 140 stores and has little time to save the rest in bankruptcy.

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What Is New in Sustainability Reporting? What Do Supply Chain Professionals Need to Know About It?

Logistics Viewpoints

these kinds of reports help supply chain and operations professionals understand what may be required of them in the not so distant future. So for example, a vice president of procurement can look at this chart and realize that while their company is only screening business partners on ethics and sustainability issues to a very limited extent, there is a good chance that in a few years his company will require his department to do so much more extensively because this is where this industry is h