Global Supply Chain Management

Understanding Independent Distributor Certifications and Anti-Counterfeiting

September 12, 2012

Quality management systems are at the core of every set of critical business processes, and essential among these are anti-counterfeit strategies. Recently, industry headlines have been replete with analyst and government reports documenting the pervasiveness of counterfeit product in supply chains. Rather than a new problem though, counterfeit criminal activity is as old as business itself, and with this history comes an equally long history of anti-counterfeit strategies and risk management practices.

Container Lease Fleet Robust in 2011 and Should Remain So This Year

September 11, 2012

Drewry Maritime Research

Drewry Maritime Research's latest Container Leasing Industry report indicates that the rental container fleet grew by 10.6 percent during 2011, improving on the 9 percent returned in 2010 and giving a compounded rate of 9.5 percent for the two years combined. Up to 9.5 percent is also being forecasted for 2012, as lease demand is again holding up well.

For Brick-and-Mortar Retail to Succeed Against Amazon, IT Must Be Given Free Rein

September 11, 2012

Storefront Backtalk

If a retailer really wants to compete with Amazon and the changing realities of today's retail environment, it needs to kill the IT budget, disband the IT Steering Committee and throw away the IT project list. It's time for IT to be moved out from under the CFO's reigns. It's time to let go of the past and start thinking about IT as a business enabler, unleashing its full potential to the organization.

The ABCs of Total Landed Cost Modeling

September 11, 2012

SupplyChainBrain

Mike Jones, president of St. Onge Co., explains the value of total landed cost modeling, and how it's affecting decisions to offshore manufacturing activities.

In Today's Economy, You Must Ask if Your Business Model Is Still Relevant

September 11, 2012

Fortune

Remember when Motorola ruled the mobile phone business worldwide? And then Nokia did? And then BlackBerry did? And now none of them do? What happened?

Eight Leading Companies to Compete for Supply Chain Innovation Award at Annual CSCMP Conference

September 10, 2012

CSCMP & SupplyChainBrain

Eight corporate teams that demonstrated how their supply chain practices reduced costs, streamlined processes, saved energy, and improved operating efficiencies are finalists in the eighth annual Supply Chain Innovation Award competition presented by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals and SupplyChainBrain.

Court Seems to Say Retailers Can Track Shoppers' Movements In and Outside Stores

September 10, 2012

Storefront Backtalk

Retailers wrestling with how far they can legally go with tracking shoppers' movements within their stores and in neighborhoods near their stores have been given an unexpected green light from a federal appeals court.

Stanford Slates Responsible Supply Chains Conference

September 10, 2012

Stanford Graduate School of Business

Stanford University's Graduate School of Business will host a one-day conference on socially and environmentally responsible supply chains. Entitled "Shared Value and Supply Chains - Strategies for Success," the event will take place on Oct. 10, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:20 p.m., and be followed by a networking reception.

Network Optimization: Don't Fall Into the Single Best Answer Trap

September 10, 2012

FORTE

It offers maximum flexibility to account for any scenario, rule or constraint in choosing the optimal distribution center network.

Now, Samsung Accused of Labor Violations in Its Chinese Factories

September 7, 2012

Computerworld

A labor rights group has accused Samsung of "illegal and inhumane violations" at its factories in China, reporting cases of excessive overtime and exhausting working conditions, with employees being made to stand for up to 12 hours for a single shift.