What are the biggest challenges facing the global apparel supply chain in 2014? One that stands out is the pressure to deliver on the omnichannel promise. There's a fundamental disconnect between the demands of an omni-channel retail environment working to give consumers immediate results, and an apparel supply chain that is getting longer, more fragmented and more difficult to predict.

The goal of industrial asset management, or IAM, is to maximize the value of a company's assets. An effective IAM solution can make the business more efficient, reduce downtime and improve service delivery. And yet, for many companies, the current IAM operating model just isn't cutting it. For original equipment manufacturers or OEMs in particular, the IAM function leaves a great deal of unrealized potential on the table – in some instances, up to 20 percent service cost reduction, 15 percent revenue enhancement, and 15 percent asset up-time improvement.

It's getting harder and harder to keep air-cargo freighters profitably aloft.

The supply chain represents about 25 percent of a healthcare facility's operating budget, and industry trends strongly indicate that this percentage will continue to grow. Thus, supply chain optimization is not an option, it's a must. Here are some solid best practices that can help your facility build a "new" supply chain focused on efficient processes and maximized outcomes.