Global Supply Chain Management

Retail Organization Urges East Coast Ports and Longshoremen to Avoid Work Stoppage

July 18, 2012

In a letter sent today, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) urged the International Longshoremen's Association and the United States Maritime Alliance Ltd. to reach a contract agreement well in advance of the September 30 deadline in order to prevent a disruption to the flow of goods and the lasting economic affects that would result.

Study Conducted by Three U.S. Universities Suggests Ways Pentagon Can Cut Billions

July 18, 2012

University of Tennessee

As with most government agencies, the U.S. Department of Defense faces intense pressure to be more efficient in how it spends tax dollars. Building greater trust with defense contractors might be the solution, according to a new study sponsored by the U.S. Air Force and co-authored by professors from the University of Tennessee, Auburn University and the University of Alabama.

More Than a Third of Global Cyber Attacks Aimed at Small Businesses, Research Shows

July 17, 2012

Symantec

Thirty-six percent of all targeted attacks (58 per day) during the last six months were directed at businesses with 250 or fewer employees, according to the June 2012 Intelligence Report from Symantec. The figure was 18 percent at the end of December 2011.

Airfreight Group Argues for 'Harmonized' Approach to Risk Assessment on U.S. Model

July 17, 2012

Air Cargo World

In a position paper, the Global Air Cargo Advisory Group warned against the issuance of ad-hoc directives about the utilization of advance electronic data for airfreight security. Instead, the coalition encouraged governments around the world to take cues from the industry and look to the Air Cargo Advance Screening pilot program currently under way in the U.S. for guidance.

IT Spending Expected to Cool, But Investment in Enterprise Cloud Services Should Be Active

July 17, 2012

News Factor

After a boost last year, the worldwide growth in IT spending will settle down to about 3 percent this year. That's a key takeaway from a new forecast by industry research firm Gartner.

Packaging Supplier Looks to Develop 'Intelligent' Packaging Platform

July 17, 2012

Bemis Company

Thin Film Electronics ASA, a player in development of printed electronics, and Bemis Company Inc., a Fortune 500 supplier of flexible packaging and pressure-sensitive materials, plan to develop a flexible sensing platform that can collect and wirelessly communicate sensor information, for use by food, consumer products and healthcare companies.

Does a Seven-Year Itch Make Us Switch ERP Providers?

July 17, 2012

ChainLink Research

In the '90s, ERP officially became a technology market segment challenging MRP, accounting and financial-only package sales. At the time, companies worried that they would confront major replacement challenges when their business changed, grew or (most often) new and better technologies came along, making a compelling argument and value opportunity to replace and migrate upward.

Of Zippers, Matzos and Closed Supply Chains

July 16, 2012

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

We like the term "supply chain" because it suggests a tightly interlinked series of steps that results in the uninterrupted flow of product from the raw-materials stage all the way to the consumer. But the word "chain" also evokes a burden, and that's how many companies have come to view their operations in recent years. Hence the mania for outsourcing everything from design and manufacturing to logistics.

Companies Face Talent Management Challenges in Emerging Markets, Survey Finds

July 16, 2012

Ernst & Young

Emerging market multinationals are struggling to build effective international management teams as they grapple with cultural differences, conflicting internal perceptions of talent management, difficulties in balancing global and local talent, and a lack of a reliable leadership pipeline.

Lighter Containers Save Lufthansa Cargo on Fuel, Lower Carbon Emissions

July 16, 2012

Lufthansa Cargo

Lufthansa Cargo reduced CO2 emissions by more than 700 tonnes through the use of lightweight containers in May and June alone. For the first time, more than half of the standard containers utilised for freight and baggage transports were made from light composite materials. By reducing weight, the composite materials lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions.