Warehouse operations can be the throttle or the chokehold of a supply chain, a truth that has become more evident with the growth of e-commerce, says Robert Carver Jr., IBS director of sales. Carver discusses how technology is helping companies address challenges and opportunities in today's warehouse.
As a growing 3PL, ProTrans is taking a proactive approach to finding mid-sized, regional carriers that are a good match for its network. Shawn Masters, COO, discusses the company's carrier program and its proprietary carrier-matching software application.
Consumers' demand for ever faster service and the overall rapid pace of change in today’s markets will force companies to completely rethink their supply chains over the next few years, says Thomas Craig, president of LTD Management.
Tim Brown, managing director of the Supply Chain & Logistics Institute at Georgia Tech, describes how supply chain education has evolved over the past two decades and highlights how the Institute is employing internet and hybrid classes to expand its continuing education program.
Steve Lovejoy, senior vice president for the Starbucks global supply chain, discusses initiatives that the company has under way to meet the "whenever, wherever" demands of today's consumers as well as projects aimed at understanding the consumer of tomorrow.
As warehouse workers get older and heavier it becomes harder for them to meet the physical demands of their job. Dr. Volker Schmitz, president of Schmalz Inc., a material-handling equipment manufacturer, explains how low-cost lift-assist equipment can alleviate this problem, while improving productivity.
Redbox has an unusual supply chain, with 10 new product introductions a week and no replenishments. An algorithm effectively allocates new DVD's among 43,000 kiosks, but this allocation is quickly skewed when customers use different kiosks to rent and return. Matt James, vice president, explains how the company solves this problem.
MBM Corp. is a customized food products distributor to 28 restaurant chains in the U.S. and abroad. Because truck drivers are a critical part of MBM's operations and its primary customer contact, driver recruitment and retention are crucial strategies, says Mark Luttrell, vice president.
The use of aero-robots, or drones, in the supply chain may be nearer than you think, and potential applications extend far beyond delivery of small packages, says Jonathan Evans, CEO of Skyward. Evans discusses the technology behind commercial drones and Skyward's role in helping build a digital airspace infrastructure.
Stage Stores operates 850 small-footprint department stores across the country, including the Peebles, Bealls and Goodys chains. Gough Grubbs, senior vice president for distribution and logistics, explains why the company adopted a centralized distribution strategy and how that strategy is supporting corporate growth.