Daimler Trucks North America committed to lean management in 2012 and its seven parts distribution centers are full participants in that initiative. Carlos Billingsley, director of operations at the parts DCs, explains how the lean program has created a culture of continuous improvement.

SupplyPro Inc. has introduced SupplyScale, a weight-based inventory-management tool that can be integrated into a new or existing SupplyPro system.

Matt Harding, principal in the Freight Market Intelligence Consortium of Chainalytics, offers a snapshot of the current transportation environment, looking at rates, regulation and other major factors.

Any attempt to apply "lean" thinking to a manufacturer or retailer's supply chain must have merchandise lifecycle plans in alignment with supply chain strategy to succeed, according to the vice president of strategic services at software company JDA.

Savi Technology Inc. has launched Savi Insight, a cloud-based sensor-analytics tool designed for the Internet of Things.