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.” We do not approve or authorise any production of Rip Curl products out of North Korea.” It’s very likely that North Koreans are producing garments for other brands too, either in the country or as slave labor in China. MORE

Mexico and Canada are heading into 2018 with no clear plan for saving the North American Free Trade Agreement,” states a Bloomberg article published on December 15. North Korea : The more missiles North Korea launches and tests, the greater the risk for military conflict — or worse. In short, relations between the United States and North Korea have significantly degraded this past year and it doesn’t look like things are going to improve anytime soon. MORE

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. 4 “Transportation time is too long and no longer competitive”. In other words, the location itself – and hence the transportation time – is the same as it was. If you choose China as a production location, it shouldn’t be for the transportation time; I don’t believe it ever has been. MORE

If they actually follow through on their promise and oil prices continue to rise next year, how will transportation, inventory, and sourcing policy decisions change in response? Russia, Iran, North Korea, and ISIS : Call them “The Unpredictables” (you can probably add China to the mix too). The size and scope of the potential problem means that OSA presents a critical safety issue for all modes and operations in the transportation industry. MORE

trillion in “infrastructure” We have had a massive problem with poor infrastructure in our airports, roads, bridges, and other transportation channels for many, many years. Emerging Issues in Supply Chain Forecasting Global Supply Chain Impact of Trump on Supply Chain Supply Chain Economics Supply Chain Management Transportation Planning Working Capital Management MORE

The kids are back at school, we have air conditioning again, and North Korea tested a nuclear bomb yesterday. “If According to the press release: The new Matternet M2 drone is completely autonomous [and] can transport up to 2 kilograms (4.4 As depicted in the graphic below, LogFire will become part of the Oracle SCM Cloud offering, coupled with the company’s transportation management system (TMS) and global trade management (GTM) solution. MORE

Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and even astrological events, such as solar flare ups, can impact the ability of supply chain entities to transport goods. This also includes supply chains who are not directly transporting goods to and from other countries. As seen recently with additional sanctions levied against North Korea and other countries, a change in politics may result in the cutoff of critical supply chain functions. Risk permeates supply chains. MORE

Entire warehouses full of products, as well as significant links in the global supply chain could be affected, as well as transport and other nodes. South China will be exposed to hurricanes, and South Korea which is next North Korea (and the location of production of 50% of the world’s semiconductors) is in a precarious situation. MORE

The Supply Chain Resource Cooperative held its bi-annual Industry Partner Meeting in the Talley Student Center at North Carolina State University this past week. He began by discussing how Free Trade Agreements, along with labor costs and transportation rates, are among the three most critical elements to factor in when analyzing global supply chain decisions. MORE

State Department responded to the media reports by blacklisting Thailand – essentially placing constraints on Thai trade similar to those placed on North Korea. The enabling variables span multiple tiers of the supply chain, including recruitment and transport subcontractors—many of which seafood buyers are unaware of. Introduction. Shrimp tacos. Blackened catfish. Grilled mahi-mahi. Salmon burgers. MORE

But at Tailwind Transportation Software we are lucky because we have a Brad. So, with two busy boys and twins on the way, they have been granted refugee status from Vancouver’s Lower Mainland (where the housing costs are just north of Stupidsville). I have been coaching him not to be such a ‘stiff upper lip’, like this guy, who is far too serious about his CNN debut as an expert on North Korea. appeared first on Tailwind Transportation Software. MORE