Logistics

Standards for Sustainability: An Update

March 11, 2014

Richard Bank, director of the Sustainable Supply Chain Foundation, supplies an update on the organization's efforts to instill voluntary standards for sustainability in the warehouse, as well as other logistics processes.

What Is Driving the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Supply Chain?

March 11, 2014

SupplyChainBrain

Analyst Insight: If 2012 was the year of climbing the emerging market mountain, then 2013 was the cliff. Not just for patents, but also in succeeding across multiple global markets. Quality issues, bad business practices, failure to integrate acquisitions, these were all common threads. Reputable players stumbled. Lesson learned: focusing on core business is the key to success. Many smaller non-core acquisitions such as animal health, devices, and OTC products will continue to spin off. Emerging and core markets will focus on profitability and smart growth, not just volume. - Brian Hudock, Partner, Tompkins International

The Perfect Order Requires Integrated Processes

March 11, 2014

SupplyChainBrain

Analyst Insight: A number of factors are drawing increased attention to the order-to-cash (OTC) process. Achieving a perfect order, one that is filled to completion and arrives at the customer undamaged and properly documented, is under stress from doing new ways of business and increasing customer expectations. - Alex Bajorinas and Jim Morton, both Senior Managers, Ernst & Young LLP

Push to Move Freight onto Trains and Off the Road

March 11, 2014

Washington Post

President Obama announced an initiative to improve the fuel efficiency of trucks. That's a lofty goal, but here's an even better idea: Let's make an effort to move more freight by rail and less by road. Trains are far more energy-efficient than trucks "” and they always will be.

Critical Elements for Revamping Your Network

March 10, 2014

SupplyChainBrain

Analyst Insight: Supply chain complexity and turmoil is on the rise due to growing global markets, increasing customer expectations, rising costs and more intense competitive pressures. Progressive companies understand that supply chain performance has a significant impact on the bottom line and shareholder value, and they must reinvent their supply chain networks on a regular basis in order to remain competitive. However, the traditional way of designing supply chain networks with a focus on cost optimization is giving way to more progressive thinking. - John Spain, Executive Vice President, Tompkins International

An Optimistic Skeptic's View of How to Plan a Network

March 10, 2014

SupplyChainBrain

Analyst Insight: Network planning suffers from an abundance of inappropriate technology, coupled with far too little pragmatic, common sense. Everyone is familiar with the optimization tools that are routinely applied; all are based on long-term shipment forecasts by SKU, by zip code or even finer measurement. Now wait a minute! We can't even forecast next month's demand; how in the world can we forecast demand detail five years in the future? The skills and skepticism of the millennials just may have the solution. - Robert Sabath, Principal Essentialist SCM, Trissential

Why Optimize Inventory? Because That's Where the Money Is!

March 10, 2014

SupplyChainBrain

Analyst Insight: When asked why he robbed banks, Slick Willy answered, "Because that's where the money is!" Where's the money in your company? Capital for new projects is a real challenge, with an appropriation process that is complex, political and arduous, commanding the attention and scrutiny of the executive committee. Yet, planners and schedulers armed with custom spreadsheets routinely make million-dollar working capital decisions every day! - Rich Sherman, Principal Essentialist, Trissential

Dell Embraces Vested Outsourcing

March 10, 2014

SupplyChainBrain

Dell Inc. looks to the emerging concept of vested outsourcing, in a partnership with Genco, to improve the high-tech giant's global supply chain and level of customer service. Dell executive director Robert McIntosh shares the details.

Cargo Theft in U.S. in 2013 Keeps Pace with Record Levels

March 10, 2014

FreightWatch International

FreightWatch International, a logistics security solutions provider, recorded 951 cargo thefts throughout the United States in 2013, the same amount as recorded in 2012, tying for the highest level of theft incidents on record.

Ocean Carrier Mega-Alliances: A Question Mark for Shippers

March 10, 2014

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

I'd like to propose a symbol for those huge new vessel-sharing alliances that will dominate the global container trades this year and beyond: a great big question mark.