Working closely with consultant Kurt Salmon Associates, the appliance manufacturer decided that mixing its proprietary inventory management system with a new distribution center in Memphis was a recipe for success.

To meet changing retailer requirements and sales growth demands, tableware designer Mikasa built a new, highly automated distribution center in Charleston, S.C., adopting an unusual design that conserves both energy and space.

Home Depot has centralized its import operations, opened a major import distribution center in Savannah, Ga., and installed purchase-order and import tracking software from RockPort Trade Systems to support its continuing, rapid-fire growth.

When Daimler-Benz decided to tap into the growing demand for sport-utility vehicles with an all-new design, it relied on innovative manufacturing and supply-chain efficiency to bring the product to market at a reasonable cost.

When once-ailing American icon Harley-Davidson decided it had to build a new plant to meet increasing demand, many locales wanted the nod. In the final round, Kansas City's air links to Harley headquarters and its "common culture" theme carried the day.