Facility Location Planning

Clarity Brought to Window Maker's Supply Chain

May 1, 2001

Unreliable advance planning in the building trades, multiple manufacturing sites and the fragile nature of its products were just some of the logistics challenges faced by Pella Corp. It needed a total set of logistics solutions throughout its widespread enterprise.

Hershey Kisses Its Supply-chain Inefficiency Good-bye

April 1, 2001

Kurt C. Hoffman

Rapid growth, acquisition of a company with different distribution characteristics and a troubled ERP implementation created supply-chain problems for Hershey Foods in the late 1990s. A new strategy that focused on fulfillment speed and agility helped turn things around.

Increased European Sales for Staples? Yeah, We've Got That

February 1, 2001

The pioneer of the office-products superstore has big plans to boost sales and market share in Europe by increasing stores, catalog orders, contract stationery business, and internet retailing. But it must balance growth with the challenge of a multi-channel supply chain.

Hitachi Data Moves to the Heartland for Faster Distribution

October 1, 2000

Kurt C. Hoffman

For 20 years, the high-end data storage system and server assembler had used DCs on each coast. But a self-imposed $1m penalty for unavailability of parts required a faster logistics network. Indianapolis was the answer.

Amazon.com Sees Supply-chain As Crucial To Its Future

September 1, 2000

Malcolm Wheatley

Key Amazon.com executives in Seattle and Europe - including founder Jeff Bezos - talk about how the company's supply-chain strategies and fledgling European operations are shaping its prospects.

Hamilton Beach Distribution Center Blends Great Location with High-tech Inventory Control

June 1, 1999

Kurt C. Hoffman

Working closely with consultant Kurt Salmon Associates, the appliance manufacturer decided that mixing its proprietary inventory management system with a new distribution center in Memphis was a recipe for success.

Frans Maas Keeps Parts Flowing to AutoEuropa

November 1, 1998

A thriving logistics partnership between Dutch frieght forwarder Frans Maas and a Portuguese auto plant is giving new meaning to the term "just in time."

Mikasa Redesigns Distribution To Match Retail Demands

September 1, 1998

Kurt C. Hoffman

To meet changing retailer requirements and sales growth demands, tableware designer Mikasa built a new, highly automated distribution center in Charleston, S.C., adopting an unusual design that conserves both energy and space.

Global Sourcing Helps Home Depot Keep Prices Low, Quality High

April 1, 1998

Jean V. Murphy

Home Depot has centralized its import operations, opened a major import distribution center in Savannah, Ga., and installed purchase-order and import tracking software from RockPort Trade Systems to support its continuing, rapid-fire growth.

Audiovox Uses Public Warehouses, FTZs to Quiet Supply-chain Static

March 1, 1998

Kurt C. Hoffman

Consolidation of North American distribution points, a major shift from company-owned and -operated facilities to public warehousing, and economies from a little-known program with U.S. Customs helped slash inventory and associated costs for the Audiovox Corp., a consumer electronics company in Hauppauge, N.Y.

Facility Location Planning

The latest news, analysis, services and systems for facility location planning and network design and their impact on global supply chains. Today’s companies are planning their location of facilities and the underlying transportation network in order to deliver goods in a more timely and efficient manner than ever before. New technologies are transforming the way companies search for and choose the right location for a facility in a region — allowing them to stay ahead of the competition in their industries. As these services continue to evolve, businesses are discovering new ways to increase efficiency and cut costs. Learn how companies are using facility location planning solutions to power their supply chains.