Jason Koebler and Joseph Cox explain, “In the 2015 novel Ghost Fleet , the spark that starts World War III is not a nuclear bomb, but a supply chain hack. Singer suggests that Chinese-made microchips embedded in our appliances, devices, satellites, fighter jets, war ships, and tanks could turn against us.”[1] Multiple people familiar with the matter say investigators found that the chips had been inserted at factories run by manufacturing subcontractors in China.” MORE

For example, 3PLs and software vendors did pay more attention to serving the needs of small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) and companies in the Energy and Process Industries (see TMS for SMB: Breaking Down the Barriers , Oil & Gas Companies Focus on Eliminating Supply Chain Waste , and Collaboration and Optimization in the Oil & Gas Industry ). Making supply chain and logistics predictions is like throwing darts at a moving target. MORE

Professionals in supply chain management use various methods to identify best practices to improve the operations. Analysis of case study is certainly one of the most popular methods for people from business management background. In order to accelerate the learning, this article has gathered 20+ most sought-after supply chain case studies, analyzed/categorized them by industry and the findings are presented. MORE

I became very familiar with risk management early in my professional career. Supply chain professionals have to push the envelope on processes and procedures every day to gain incremental improvements in customer service, costs and efficiencies. As in the aerospace industry, pushing the supply chain envelope involves increased risks that need to be analyzed and mitigated, if possible, or at least planned for. MORE

Industrial Manufacturing. Management Consulting. Application Management. Infrastructure Management. Talent Management. BigDataEdge – Insights Management. SmartGridEdge – Smart Grid Management. TalentEdge – Talent Management. TradeEdge – Demand Chain Management. Wealth Management. Supply Chain Management. Supply Chain Management. Supply Chain Matters. MORE

For example, Hailey Lynne McKeefry ( @HaileyMcK ) writes, “Supply chain professionals are talking a lot about blockchain, and how it can be applied to address the increasingly global and complex nature of the supply chain. They are: Tracking products moving through the supply chain. Managing trade documentation. Managing supply chain risk. Managing demand and supply planning. Managing inventory. MORE

In this era when your whole supply chain can be flipped on its head in an instant, communication flexibility, planning, visibility and data gathering are going to be critical weapons to fight back said experts from DHL, Etsy, Alibaba and Tradeshift as part of an eyefortransport by Reuters Events webinar. DHL’s German arm have been engaging in large scale outreach says Markus Reckling, Managing Director for Germany. When do the risks transfer to me? MORE

Most supply chain professionals understand this, which is why the interest in blockchain technology is growing. These can include freight costs that are too high, transit times that are too long or not charging enough for freight.”[1] He writes: “A shipper needs four datasets to be integrated, cleansed, and standardized: 1) shipment data; 2) freight invoice data; 3) track & trace data; 4) order & item level data. MORE

With Black Friday on the horizon, consumer goods of all kinds are making their way from manufacturers to distribution centers and retail locations across the country. The industry experiences more cargo theft incidents when there is a higher volume of consumer goods moving through the supply chain. But while we are in the midst of a season notorious for a spike in cargo thefts , there are a few precautions you can take to protect your freight. MORE

El Niño and Jonas are the latest reminders that weather and other natural events, such as earthquakes, can lead to supply chain disruptions. In light of these risks, developing a flexible supply chain is the best strategy for success, but what does that mean exactly and how can companies get there? That was the central question Matt Castle, Director of Air Freight Services at C.H. Robinson freight forwarding supply chain flexibility MORE