2024 Supply Chain Management Resource Guide: There's Only One Way Off a Burning Platform
Volume: 28
Edition: 1
Risk can’t be avoided, but it can be managed. In some cases, it can even enhance a company’s competitive stature, provided the right steps are taken to prepare for it. In others, companies standing on the proverbial burning platform have no choice but to make the leap.
In our annual Supply Chain Management Resource Guide, you’ll find dozens of experts from multiple disciplines, writing about the tools that companies will need to address the mega-challenges and the persistent uncertainty that has plagued supply chains over the past few years.
View the Digital Flip Bookhere, or scroll down to read the articles in our February issue.
Here, you’ll find dozens of experts from multiple disciplines, writing about tools to address the mega-challenges and persistent uncertainty that has plagued supply chains over the past few years.
What’s particularly attractive about shopping malls is that they offer the possibility of creating a hybrid facility that combines logistics and fulfillment activities with in-person activities for shoppers.
With near-term consumer demand uncertain, and high interest rates likely to continue for some time, corporate belts are tightening. So what are companies spending money on today?
Considering the huge cost of food fraud in global supply chains, it might come as a shock to consumers to learn how weak are the current efforts to put a stop to it.
We’d like to think that all participants in a food supply chain are equally committed to sustainable and environmentally responsible production; never mind the cost. If only that were true.
There may indeed be a disconnect between frontline workers and their employers, but a new survey suggests that the latter are making a sincere effort to repair it.
Most corporate survival strategies are crafted to help businesses withstand any number of unanticipated supply chain disruptions. But how many are poised to profit from times of adversity?
There’s likely to be a “second wave” of automating warehouses as retailers adapt to the new world of e-commerce, along with the latest technology.
What are the lessons learned?
Logistics professionals who don’t add themselves to the list of unsung heroes of disaster relief are selling themselves short — and under-estimating the life-changing potential their expertise brings.
By staying current with the industry’s ever-evolving trends and technologies, businesses can remain competitive and improve their efficiency and effectiveness — while delivering an exceptional customer experience.
Expect to see users of cotton seeking to improve the visibility of their multi-tier supply chains to avoid regulatory fines, protect themselves from reputational damage, and understand their risk exposure.
By embracing HITL AI freight forwarders reach a new plateau of efficiency, resource optimization, accuracy, and the ability to perform tasks faster and with more precision.
As this vital technology continues to advance at an exponential rate, businesses that embrace AI in their supply chain operations will be well-positioned for long-term success.
Nearshoring is going to alter global supply chains for years to come. By considering the right factors upfront, you can avoid unexpected costs and complications.
By exploring intermodal transportation options, improving network visibility and advancing sustainability initiatives, the chemical supply chain can transform to meet the moment.
Organizations that prioritize professional development and training in technological skills for their employees will be better equipped to capitalize on exciting new technologies.
If an organization fails to perform a greenfield analysis before establishing a new facility, it may encounter challenges and risks that can have significant negative consequences.
While many shippers have made great strides toward building resilience into their supply chains over the years, it’s important that they don’t pump the brakes on progress.
As software bills of materials
analysis yields business-relevant risk information, customers will use it to make more informed decisions about what to buy and how to price risk transfers.
Companies must leverage historical industry expertise as they look to incorporate cutting-edge technologies like IoT and AI to optimize manufacturing processes and adapt their organizations to future ways of working.
Although achieving net-zero carbon emissions is a lengthy journey, manufacturers can implement minor adjustments that significantly decrease emissions.
Mexico is emerging as a pivotal player in the near-shoring phenomenon, drawing attention from global investors and companies seeking to relocate from China.
Business leaders from both shippers and 3PLs must move beyond the conventional “what’s in it for me?” mindset, and make the shift to “what’s in it for we?”
Shippers should have contingency plans in place, maintain flexibility in their logistics strategies, and regularly assess their carrier partners' financial stability and performance.
The LTL market continues to consolidate, and capacity will fluctuate. It is how you set yourself apart from other shippers that will make the most difference.
If the economy plays out favorably, freight volumes will increase, and capacity constraints will emerge. That could put pressure on companies when shippers scrambled to find available truck space.
The personalized nature of autologous CGT results in complex manufacturing challenges, driving costs high when transitioning from clinical to commercial scale.
Successful strategies will use a combination of high-quality primary data — like that of the SmartWay program — and other global frameworks to meet freight efficiency goals and reporting requirements.
As trade compliance regulations become more complex and nuanced, this is a pivotal moment for global organizations to build a more holistic framework of compliance risk mitigation.
In light of the shifting CBSA regulatory landscape, businesses in 2024 should be focused on optimizing their Customs operations to protect profit margins.
As we navigate the e-commerce age, the pivot toward automation underscores the industry's commitment to meeting the demands of a dynamic market while fortifying against unforeseen disruptions.
Taking these precautions beforehand, and working with trusted logistics partners, can help your organization maintain the streamlined operations it needs to succeed.
Development of SRM tools using artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies is rapidly proliferating, but supply chain organizations shouldn’t forget to personally nurture supplier relationships.
It’s time to challenge using some of the common “best practices,” such as the RFP process, and instead introduce more collaborative approaches when selecting more strategic suppliers.
The grocery industry's approach to managing fresh products, integrating technological advancements, and aligning with consumer preferences will be critical in shaping its sustainable future.
Organizations face mounting pressure to ensure the sustainability of not just their operations and supply chains, but also those of their domestic and overseas supply chain partners.
In the coming year, here’s how producers of three essential food categories can proactively plan their supply chains to mitigate risks associated with extreme weather and climate change.
Despite the many advantages offered by satellite internet, especially in areas lacking traditional telecom infrastructure, it’s crucial to acknowledge and address the associated environmental impacts.
Expect the next generation of TMS to help provide consumers with even faster delivery speeds, and businesses with greater volumes of information, better recommendations and more accurate predictions.
Shippers and logistics companies must become more agile to meet customer expectations, close the “black holes” of visibility in transportation networks and reduce risk.
As capacity tightens with the continued rise in demand, digitizing tendering processes within transportation management systems will grow in popularity among shippers.
While a TMS can provide access to operational and market data, effectively utilizing that information to optimize supply chain operations goes beyond simply implementing the right technology.
An understanding of ESG risk will become essential in light of investor and consumer demands, the financial impact of regulatory penalties, and carbon taxes
The power of 2D barcodes lies in their ability to provide extensive content and visibility, meeting the demands of both consumers and supply chain stakeholders.
Although the global business community has been confronting modern slavery for years, it hasn’t been able to slow its rise. But there is an opportunity for that to change.
For the past few years, the topic of the microchip shortage dominated media headlines. Now, another shortage is creating obstacles on the path to equilibrium in the semiconductor supply chain: talent.
The time for pandemic-era thinking is over. This will be the year of strategic supply chain design — but companies must be shrewd in their technology and vendor selection.
Supply chain orchestration entails a higher level of digital maturity and connectivity to standardize and integrate internal, partner and third-party contextual data in a real-time, continuous flow.
Businesses now have the freedom to match carriers to their more specific needs seamlessly and simultaneously, loosening the grip of core carriers on logistics operations.
Generative AI (GenAI) has the potential to transform the contracting practices of companies by significantly reducing the contract authoring, review times, and making negotiations of commercial agreements more effective.
Companies planning longer-term fulfillment strategies for growth and resilience will need direction in reaching "order and delivery excellence," allowing them to move beyond siloed operations.
How can 3PLs provide their clients with outsourced logistics support
in an operating environment characterized by increasingly scarce labor, unexpected and often disruptive events, and information overload?
This guide helps you navigate the complexities of the choice, ensuring that your chosen partner not only aligns with your brand's goals, but also elevates your customers' experience.
Warehouse operators can increase the density of their pick operations by installing pick towers and mezzanines within their current facilities, boosting throughput inside their existing building.