Take a close look at any supply chain - even a single entity within it - and you're likely to uncover a hodgepodge of disciplines, each with its own method for forecasting demand, and each convinced of its superiority over everyone else's. So it only makes sense that companies would dream of coming up with a single forecast upon which all departments could agree.

DB Schenker Logistics has increased the number of its service locations with Qualified Envirotainer Provider (QEP) accreditation, geared toward serving the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

Analyst Insight: In recent years, due to the changing and challenging global economy, there has been much talk about the need to balance natural competitive pressures with collaborative engagement across the supply base. The trick, of course, is how to do both things - competition and collaboration - effectively. I believe it starts with trust. - Kate Vitasek, faculty, University of Tennessee's Center for Executive Education, and Founder, Supply Chain Visions

Undoubtedly businesses need to guard their end products against counterfeiting to protect their profits, their brands, their customers, and the financial health of their businesses. But fighting counterfeits cannot be fully effective without guarding supply sources - the materials and components used to manufacture the end products.

Analyst Insight: After traveling around the globe for the last three years, talking about supply chain risk management, facilitating workshops, educating companies and developing a graduate level class covering the subject, I'm thoroughly convinced this new concept is becoming the new discipline of supply chain excellence. So much so that APICS, the premier society for Operations Management professionals, has developed a first-of-its-kind certificate in supply chain risk management to help identify, assess, mitigate and manage risk. - Gregory L. Schlegel, Adjunct Professor, Supply Chain Risk Management, Lehigh University, Graduate Program

Analyst Insight: Highly regulated industries"”such as pharmaceuticals, aerospace, food, and chemicals"”typically implement traceability and serialization capabilities to meet regulatory requirements, quality, and recall purposes. These same capabilities can be useful in reducing theft within the supply chain. But it takes more than just technology. It requires a community that can share that information effectively and collaborate with law enforcement at national, state and local levels. -- Bill McBeath, Chief Research Officer, ChainLink Research