Analyst Insight: The 2016 DC Measures Study from the Warehousing Education and Research Council shows over 35 percent of respondents report to the C-suite, where interest in logistics performance will only increase. To better communicate to the C-suite, logistics needs to focus on managing and monitoring their performance by concentrating on the three pillars of performance management. In order to be successful, we must think beyond simple short-term results and move towards a better model for managing performance. - Joe Tillman, principal research lead for supply chain, APQC

The cash-to-cash cycle is a key metric for measuring the efficiency of a supply chain. But many companies seem unable to deploy it with success.

Analyst Insight: For the past 13 years we've studied metrics used in DCs across the U.S. During that time we've shared benchmarking data, reporting how some of the best firms use metrics to improve performance. Yet, gaps still exist - and bridging them can lead to greater performance gains. For the past two years, we have been examining how companies are using metrics to align to the strategic objective. The results have been surprising! - Donnie Williams, assistant professor of logistics and supply chain management, Georgia State, and Karl Manrodt, professor of logistics and supply chain management, Georgia State

Going up against the behemoth that is Amazon.com, does the smaller e-commerce provider have a chance?

Somebody out there is talking about your product. And you had better be listening.

American manufacturing is in need of a reboot.

GPS technology can tell a commercial trucker all about routes and traffic conditions. But when it comes to predicting the regulatory landscape, the road ahead is a lot less clear.

It's tough enough stopping the use of conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. How about attacking the larger issue of human trafficking throughout the supply chain?

Supply-chain management today is very much a game of numbers. But the risk of getting lost in the math is real.