In emerging markets, regulations impacting trade and business differ greatly from country to country and changes constantly occur with little or no notice, says Mark Millar, managing partner at M Power Associates, Hong Kong. Because of this, trade compliance is an increasingly important issue for companies doing business in these economies.

The ability of the largest U.S. companies to collect from customers and manage inventory improved just slightly in 2011, while payables performance worsened, according to the 14th annual working capital survey from REL Consulting, a division of The Hackett Group and CFO Magazine.

Canada-U.S. border maintenance costs Canadian governments and taxpayers up to $19.1bn annually, according to a report from the Fraser Institute, a Canadian public policy think-tank.

Ian Darley, an inventory specialist in the mining industry, tells how he helped to pioneer a new method for storing materials on site - and eliminating a substantial amount of unnecessary packaging.

The American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) continues to improve its capabilities, most recently by completing a mapping project that enhances the organization's ability to match the resources of its members with specific needs of relief agencies.

Jim Crowell, director of the Supply Chain Management Research Center at the University of Arkansas, demonstrates why on-shelf availability is a critical metric for retailers.

As with a marriage, the success of 3PL partnership is largely determined before the union is sealed, says Harry Drajpuch, CEO of Weber Logistics. Clarity about mutual expectations and the nature of the relationship, whether tactical or strategic, are issues that need to be thrashed out well in advance of any commitments.

DHL partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to fulfill the wishes of two Cincinnati area children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions. DHL employees who work at the DHL facility at Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky Airport raised more than $12,000 for Wish Child Sierra (an eight-year old with sickle cell) and Wish Child Daniel (an 11-year-old with the rare Desmoid tumors).