Many of today's customs house brokers rely on legacy systems. Increasingly, new Customs and Border Protection rules and regulations are challenging the capacity of these systems. Beyond just functional limitations, many firms are finding that older technology can be expensive to operate and maintain. Sometimes, maintenance demands are so great that in-house IT staff must focus all their time and energy on keeping these systems operational. Real risks accompany the decision to stick with older systems.

By a wide margin, the top reason for retailers to implement RFID is to improve inventory accuracy.

If you're a supply-chain executive, there's a good chance that the next tsunami, hurricane, flood or other disaster will take your organization by surprise. Again.

Is the forecast really dead? Should companies instead shift their focus to acquiring the ability to respond quickly to whatever happens in markets? A SupplyChainBrain Power Lunch discussion with Jim White, vice president of central operations with Applied Materials; Jake Barr, chief executive officer of Blue World Supply Chain Consulting; and C.J. Wehlage, vice president of high tech solutions with Kinaxis.

Jim White, vice president of central operations and CPO with Applied Materials, talks about the challenges his company faces in gaining full visibility of supply and demand, and in dealing with increasing supply-chain volatility.