Reefer capacity on the containership fleet is expected to increase by 22 percent over the next five years, at the expense of a declining specialized reefer fleet, according to Drewry's latest Reefer Shipping Market Annual Review & Forecast.

Global companies increasingly view emerging markets not only as a source of supply but also as a source of sales. Clive Geldard, group vice president for retail and supply chain at Solving Efeso, discusses supply chain challenges that these markets present and steps companies can take to improve performance.

Truckload freight availability remained elevated compared to previous years despite a seasonal dip, according to the DAT North American Freight Index, a measure of truckload freight demand and capacity in the United States and Canada. Same-month volume was up 32 percent compared to 2013, when freight volume was unusually robust. Spot market volume typically peaks in June; this year's seasonal contraction was 11 percent in July compared to the 10-year average decline of 19 percent.

Big Heart Pet Brands is the parent company for many of the biggest selling pet foods, including Kibbles 'n Bits, Meow Mix, Milk Bone and 9Lives. Ryan Dimond, manager of supply chain optimization, discusses how Big Heart uses supply chain design to support its many brands and employs supply chain modeling to make better decisions.

Organizations need an agile supply network to be able to respond to unplanned events and continuing market volatility, says Jake Barr, CEO of BlueWorld Consulting. Barr explains what an agile supply network encompasses and outlines steps that companies can take to build agility into their supply chains.

When Kevin Smith and his partners started a solar energy firm in Santa Monica in 2008, they expected to sell their technology to advanced economies in Europe and the United States. But much of the action has been in a part of the world Smith initially wrote off: Africa.