Global Supply Chain Management

R+D Sprouts Innovative Packaging Material Made from Mushroom Roots

July 13, 2012

Sealed Air Corporation and Ecovative Design LLC say they are accelerating production, sales and distribution of Ecovative's EcoCradle Mushroom Packaging, a technology for environmentally responsible packaging materials made from agricultural byproducts and mycelium, or "mushroom roots."

EU Won't Participate in Anti-Counterfeiting Treaty After All

July 12, 2012

News Factor

The European Parliament overwhelmingly defeated an international anti-piracy trade agreement after concern that it would limit internet freedom sparked street protests in cities across Europe. The vote - 39 in favor, 478 against, with 165 abstentions - appeared to deal the death blow to the European Union's participation in a treaty it helped negotiate, though other countries may still participate without the EU.

Failure to Integrate Companies Properly and Timely Sinks Many Mergers

July 12, 2012

The Boston Consulting Group

Acquisitions are a vital component of growth for many businesses. Yet a high proportion of deals fail to deliver value. Why? A common reason is that, because of time pressures and complexity, many companies struggle to integrate fully after the deal. Synergy targets that were so enticing in the run-up to the deal melt away under the realities of meshing two often very different organizations in a short time.

Economic Forecast by CFOs, Accountants Shows Pessimistic Outlook for Global Growth

July 11, 2012

CGMA

The world's CEOs, CFOs and senior management accountants have an increasingly negative outlook for the global economy over the next 12 months, according to the CGMA Global Economic Forecast released today by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). The quarterly forecast polled 600 management accountants from more than 60 countries on global and domestic economic conditions and the outlook for their organizations.

Mimicking Apple, Best Buy Re-Tools Its Retail Strategy

July 11, 2012

The Los Angeles Times

Good artists copy, but does the saying apply to retailers too? Best Buy hopes so, as it's converting 60 of its locations into Apple Store lookalikes, according to a new report.

Aerospace Supply Chain Faces Harsh Reality of Having to Deliver Huge Backlog of Orders

July 10, 2012

AlixPartners

Following a boom in commercial aircraft orders in 2011, a year which saw the successful launch of the Airbus A320 NEO and the Boeing 737 MAX, the aerospace industry is now faced with having to deliver a huge backlog. According to a study of the aerospace and defense industry released by global business advisory firm AlixPartners, the industry must increase production rates by 45 percent in volume by 2015 if it is to meet demand, representing the industry's biggest challenge in the coming years.

Mobile Device Hardware Security Market Will Be Valued at $1.9Bn in 2017

July 10, 2012

ABI Research

Security has always been one of the forefront considerations within the mobile device industry. BlackBerry maker Research in Motion, for example, gained the attention of Wall Street bankers because of the financial industry's need for high levels of data protection and security, along with the convenience of mobile use. A lot of talk in the mobile industry focuses around software security through detection and preventative applications; however, very little seems to be said on embedded mobile device hardware security.

Japanese Ministry Retains Accenture to Study Safety, Resilience of Nation's Food Supply Chain

July 10, 2012

Accenture

Accenture has announced a management consulting contract with Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for a project to improve food supply capabilities in natural disasters and emergencies.

Surface Transportation Bill Passes. Where Do We Go From Here?

July 9, 2012

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

Give Congress credit for finally coming to agreement on a new surface transportation bill, after months of acrimonious debate and nine extensions of the old funding law, known as SAFETY-LU. The fact that the Senate and House of Representatives could agree on anything at all is, I suppose, reason to applaud, especially given the toxic atmosphere that chokes the political scene today. And this new measure is something more than a "kick-the-can-down-the-road" effort, given that it maintains current highway funding levels until September 2014.

How Procurement Innovation Can Drive Productivity Gains

July 9, 2012

Chief Executive

Innovation is required if the U.S. is to regain the level of productivity that it enjoyed toward the end of the 19th Century through the mid-20th Century. However, innovation by itself is not enough. Just as our parents and grandparents adopted electricity, the automobile, credit cards and airplanes in the period from 1870-1950, businesses and organizations of the 21st Century must embrace change.