August, 2017

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How Pallets Play a Crucial Role in the Supply Chain

GlobalTranz

Pallets are an iconic part of any warehouse or supply chain, but they’re more crucial than most people know — and we’re not talking about using them as material for upcycles or shabby, chic furniture. Why are pallets such a critical part of the supply chain, and how can they contribute to things like worker safety and loading times? More Complicated Than They Appear.

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Cognitive Computing: Getting Clear on Definitions

Supply Chain Shaman

No doubt about it. The decision support technologies that we use today–price management, trade promotion management, network design, supply chain planning, transportation planning, supplier risk management–are on the cusp of redefinition through new forms of analytics. We are on a hype cycle. There is no common definition of cognitive computing and there are many variants.

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Career advice: Keeping your edge as a supply chain professional in the face of change!

Kinaxis

by Dr. Madhav Durbha There is a standalone vehicle emission check shop that I visit to get my car checked prior to the annual tag renewal. For those who are not familiar with the emission check process, you drive your car into the shop. As you wait in your car, a technician hooks your car up to his computer, measures emissions and prints a certificate.

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Gartner’s Five-Stage Maturity Model for Supply Chain Analytics

ToolsGroup

Gartner measures supply chain analytics maturity across seven different dimensions. There are supply chain and demand analytics models that describe the type of analytics being deployed (e.g., descriptive, prescriptive, etc.). Now Gartner has created a different look at the issue by creating a five-stage maturity model for assessing the overall maturity level of your organization in using supply chain analytics.

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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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Solar Eclipses and Supply Chain Risk Management

Enterra Insights

Today, much of the United States will experience a total solar eclipse. That hasn’t happened for nearly 100 years. Because … Continued. The post Solar Eclipses and Supply Chain Risk Management appeared first on Enterra Solutions.

More Trending

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Women in Logistics: Leading Top-Level Supply Chain and Logistics Operations

GlobalTranz

Editor's Note: Today's blog is from Nicole Lewis who talks about embracing the idea of women in logistics for top-level talent. When a young lady turns into grown up, and it is time to make a decision about a future career, how many parents will consider the logistic profession as a good choice? In the variety of modern specializations, they would rather recommend studying one of the liberal sciences.

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Why Is Blockchain Not Hotter?

Supply Chain Shaman

I was sitting with a representative from the United Nations on my way back from Colombia. As we took off from Bogota, we discussed the potential of blockchain to help her with feeding children in the highlands of the Colombian-Venezuelan border. I was surprised that she knew enough about blockchain to have a discussion, and I think that she was surprised to find someone who could help her to have a deeper discussion.

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Supply chain pain points in the Aerospace and Defense industry

Kinaxis

by Alexa Cheater 7 barriers to aerospace and defense supply chain success. As air travel demand soars, aircraft equipment manufacturers continue to innovate in areas like jet engine fuel efficiency, navigation technology and materials science. These improvements, especially around fuel efficiency, are driving demand for newer aircraft models, and speeding up the replacement of previous generations as a result.

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The Best Way to Set Inventory Targets?

ToolsGroup

Source: Gartner, Cover Considerations—How to Optimize Retail and Consumer Product Inventory Targets, 2017. Gartner’s insights are quite good and it’s not often that I disagree. But I have to differ with the conclusions of a recent report, “ Cover Considerations — How to Optimize Retail and Consumer Product Inventory Targets.”. There is a story about Abraham Lincoln arguing a case as a young lawyer.

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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 Unstoppable Digital Supply Chain Movement

Enterra Insights

In many aspects of life — from politics to criminal investigation to investment — the advice you often hear is … Continued. The post The Unstoppable Digital Supply Chain Movement appeared first on Enterra Solutions.

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The Evolution of the Direct-to-Consumer Supply Chain

Talking Logistics

No one can argue that the rise of ecommerce and omni-channel fulfillment has dramatically impacted the supply chain in recent years. Once consumers were shown what was possible in the world of online retailing and home delivery, their behavior – and expectations – began to change. This shift forced retailers to change how they did business, worked with suppliers and served their customers.

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5 Reasons Supply Chain Companies Need to Be Curating Content

GlobalTranz

Sharing content from third-party sources establishes supply chain companies as a go-to resource for all things related to your industry, sector, products, or services. When I hear the word “curate,” I think of an art gallery. I think of someone systematically picking pieces of art to display together. I think of the time and effort it takes to put these pieces together in a cohesive manor.

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Lassoing S&OP

Supply Chain Shaman

A lasso is what supply chain leaders would like to have. Why? To align S&OP. As companies transitioned from regional to multi-national organizations, Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) processes proliferated. The average company has seven S&OP processes, but a global chemical company averages over 30. Each is different, and I have not found a company that can easily roll up a global material balance.

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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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How Kennametal developed an integrated supply chain by connecting its data dots

Kinaxis

by Alexa Cheater Faced with growing global complexity and increasing demand volatility, Kennametal set out to improve its supply chain maturity, increase data integration and improve its bottom line. But doing so meant developing an integrated supply chain connecting data, process and people. Driving the decision to change was the impact of market demands on Kennametal’s revenue.

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The Power of Downstream Data for Sensing Demand

ToolsGroup

Source: Supply Chain Insights, “The Power of Downstream Data”, July 2017. POS data helps sense and respond to localized demand. The blue bars represent historic average order demand profiles, while the colored lines represent regional POS demand patterns. Editor's Note: Due to the summer holidays, there will be no blog post next week. Lora Cecere, CEO of Supply Chain Insights, has released a useful new report entitled “The Power of Downstream Data” which describes new value proposition data for

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Digital Transformation in Trade Promotion: What Must Change?

Supply Chain Insights

You’re hearing it every single day now… Digital Transformation. If “going digital” implies changing the way things work, then how must digital transformation change the way trade promotion works today? While that may require several volumes, let’s focus on five areas we know must change. #1: Failed Promotions. Oh heck, why not just tackle the big one right away?

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Editor’s Pick: Profiles in Yard Management Excellence – Universal Logistics

Talking Logistics

Note: Today’s post is part of our “ Editor’s Pick ” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide practical knowledge and advice on timely and important supply chain and logistics topics. In this post, Rafael Granato from PINC Solutions summarizes a video case study we featured recently on Talking Logistics, part of our “Profiles in Yard Management Excellence” series where we highlight companies (in this case, Universal Logistics) that are

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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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Comparing Parcel and LTL Shipping: When Do I Choose What in Order to Save the Most Money?

GlobalTranz

More than 25 million small packages , otherwise known as parcels, are shipped daily. Meanwhile, the top 10 commodities shipped tend to be bulky and require less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping. But, the lines between parcel and LTL shipping have started to blur in recent years. Parcel carriers are spending less per shipment, and LTL shippers are spending less by reducing the “work” that goes into shipping.

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Lassoing S&OP

Supply Chain Shaman

A lasso is what supply chain leaders would like to have. Why? To align S&OP. The processes are out of control. Let me explain. As companies transitioned from regional to multi-national organizations, Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) processes proliferated. Today, the average company has seven S&OP processes, but a global chemical company averages over 30.

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Does supply chain’s image need to catch up with the times?

Kinaxis

by Bill DuBois This guest post comes to us from Argentus Supply Chain Recruiting , a boutique recruitment firm specializing in Supply Chain Management. It’s our perpetual hobby horse here at Argentus that Supply Chain needs to be doing more as a field to attract young people. And the industry has started to pick up the slack. Whether it’s organizations partnering with universities to provide information and educational opportunities, or industry associations holding informative events aimed at t

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Webinar: Newest Software Innovations (and Pay-Offs) for the Global Food Supply Chain

3GTMS

If you’re like many companies struggling with the complexity of food logistics, you likely have too many manual processes and/or outdated systems to manage the environment. This disparate approach doesn’t work in an industry that’s undergoing rapid change, from omni-channel demands and regulatory changes, to dynamic carrier bases and multi-modal transportation needs.

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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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The Self-Service Customer: Revolutionizing Customer Service

4WL Consulting

Logistics is no longer a conversation between a 3PL and their client; the end consumer has a permanent eavesdropping position that needs to be respected and catered to. Rather than functioning as a point of positive difference, customers in eCommerce spheres now expect reasonably straightforward access to their tracking information on product shipments.

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This Week in Logistics News (July 31 – August 4, 2017)

Talking Logistics

Last week I asked “What can potentially stop or bring down Amazon?” In case you’re wondering, the top vote-getter in our highly unscientific poll was “A massive asteroid hitting the Earth.”. It’s actually not a far-fetched possibility. “A leading astrophysicist from Queen’s University Belfast has warned that an asteroid strike is just a matter of time,” states an article published this past June in Phys.org.

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The Many Types of Inventory Management Technology

GlobalTranz

There are diverse types of inventory management technology and systems, designed to properly sort, control and act upon information with a company’s inventory. As explained by Kenneth Hamlett of the Houston Chronicle , the two dominant types of inventory management technologies include manual and automated systems. But, there are additional levels of inventory management in between.

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Has China lost its relevance as a production location?

Supply Chain Movement

China’s position as a production location is currently a hot topic amongst global thought leaders in supply chain. The general price level of products made in China is rising rapidly, and it has been claimed that some of the products actually originate in North Korea. So has the time come to look beyond China for low-cost production facilities? This is one of the most common questions that I’m asked when holding keynote speeches, workshops or supply-chain training courses.

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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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Plant-location decisions and potential supply chain risk

Kinaxis

by Melissa Clow This guest post comes to us from Jim Fulcher , Blogger on the Supply Chain Expert Community. Last week, Toyota and Mazda signed an agreement to enter a business and capital alliance to further strength their partnership. The outcome is expected to either significantly impact an existing automotive supplier network or prompt manufacturers and suppliers to move or begin operations.

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Life Sciences Industry Inventory Optimization Health Check

Logility

Over the last 100 years the average lifespan has doubled from 35 years to more than 70 years mostly due to advances in medicine and medical devices. In fact, experts predict that babies being born in developed countries today could have an average life expectancy approaching 100 years. Not many will argue against the benefits of advanced healthcare, but many believe we can get there at a lower cost.

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The Self-Service Customer: Revolutionizing Customer Service

4WL Consulting

Logistics is no longer a conversation between a 3PL and their client; the end consumer has a permanent eavesdropping position that needs to be respected and catered to. Rather than functioning as a point of positive difference, customers in eCommerce spheres now expect reasonably straightforward access to their tracking information on product shipments.