Menlo Worldwide Logistics has established a new distribution center in Genk, Belgium.

Take a close look at any supply chain - even a single entity within it - and you're likely to uncover a hodgepodge of disciplines, each with its own method for forecasting demand, and each convinced of its superiority over everyone else's. So it only makes sense that companies would dream of coming up with a single forecast upon which all departments could agree.

Supply chain managers fight a tough battle in trying to meet management demands to decrease costs while creating efficiencies and implementing sustainability measures. Economic growth has improved but lacks the stability to provide companies comfort to budget for implementation of many of the innovations in their long- or short-term plan. However, companies can stagnate without taking the time to identify opportunities to innovate. With pressure to sustain its competitive edge, leading organizations are beginning to consider their reverse supply chain to find hidden value.

Worldwide Express, a package and freight-shipping company based in Dallas, has developed version 2.0 of its technology platform, consisting of SpeedShip and SpeedFreight.

United States freight carload traffic gained ground during the week ending March 16, 2013, up 0.5 percent measured against the comparable week in 2012, said the Association of American Railroads.