After demonstrating significant success with lean manufacturing, Johnson & Johnson decided to apply lean principles for reducing waste to its supply chain.

Erica Bash, general counsel and director of Dawson Logistics, discusses the fundamentals of emergency response logistics, and what it takes to strike the ideal balance between cost and service.

There are many opportunities to recapture value from returned products and, in the process, strengthen customer relations, says Jeff Jorgensen, vice president of supply chain execution at Spinnaker, a global supply chain and execution company.

Aljex Software Inc., a vendor of software and systems for third-party logistics providers and carriers, is offering free accounts to carriers and brokers willing to serve as beta testers for software improvements.

It's common practice for companies to view cold-chain management systems for pharmaceutical and bio-technology products as point solutions, whether related to packaging, training or carrier services, says Gary M. Hutchinson, president of Modality Solutions. Integration of all those elements, however, results in a "much more holistic system," he says. "You maintain product quality all the way from manufacturer to point of use. Until you integrate it into one system, you're not tackling it properly."