If anything is in constant flux, it is manufacturing and supply chain. MODEX 2018 is the best venue to showcase the services, products and solutions needed to meet the challenges these two vital areas face.
People are our greatest asset. We've heard this – and similar sayings – for years. Now, however, leading firms are actually putting this into practice, and are reaping rewards for doing so. Going into 2018, people are still a critical link in the supply chain. -Donnie Williams, Asst. Professor of Logistics & Supply Chain Management, and Karl B. Manrodt, Professor of Logistics and Supply Chain Management, both at Georgia College & State University
Technologies that were previously considered futuristic, overly complex, and unable to be financially justified are becoming mainstream. This is no longer "emerging technology" -- it is here, it works, and it is now being implemented, changing the supply chain. Warehouses, distribution centers and fulfillment centers are accelerating their adoption of newer technology solutions. It is time for executives to reevaluate their initial assumptions across material handling and technology solutions. -David Meyers, Principal, Tompkins International
A common question warehouse operators often ask themselves is: "what can we do to further increase productivity and efficiency?" For a while, this challenge has been met with Six Sigma methodologies to identify and eliminate waste in the process. However, one of the biggest sources of waste remains non-value-adding movement and material handling. A new breed of robot has recently emerged that tackles this challenge and is helping warehouses to reach next level productivity and efficiency. -John Santagate, Research Director, IDC
To satisfy customers, businesses need an operations strategy which stays in front of ever-changing consumer expectations. The key to an operations strategy is combining fulfillment and distribution into an integrated flow requiring more advanced capabilities in greater numbers of facilities. Fortunately, developments in robotics are providing opportunities to automate economically throughout the network. Picking solutions reduce operator travel and sorting solutions enabling all facilities to use more efficient batch pick and process flows. -Mike Futch, Executive Vice President – Robotic Systems, Tompkins International
Emerging technologies are offering new ways to solve today's distribution challenges—disruptions caused by a shortage of labor, higher customer expectations and the shift to smaller, more frequent, just-in-time orders that are driving more each picking in the distribution center. These innovations are making it possible to increase productivity and efficiency, reduce dependence on labor and provide greater flexibility to scale operations up or down as the needs of the business change. -Roger Counihan, Emerging Technologies Strategist, Fortna
Increased visibility across the supply chain is a growing demand from businesses and customers alike. Businesses need to rapidly detect and react to supply chain disruptions to meet service levels, and customers want real-time knowledge of order status. This demand for visibility is also penetrating the walls of the warehouse. A connected environment and emerging technology will enable this sought-after visibility. -Rick Kaminska, Vice President of Product Management, SensorThink
Companies that ship and handle goods moving through supply chains have a problem: they don’t often know where their shipments are in far-flung freight networks or when they will arrive.
The latest news, analysis, services and solutions regarding warehousing and distribution systems and their impact on global supply chains. Today’s companies are moving goods across more suppliers, vendors and customers than ever before, and warehouses are critical points in the overall supply chain. New technologies in warehouse management systems (WMS), automation, robotics, RFID and order fulfillment are transforming the way companies do business — and allowing them to stay ahead of the competition in their industries. As these solutions continue to evolve, businesses are discovering new ways to increase efficiency and cut costs. Learn how companies around the world are improving supply-chain operations through their strategic use of warehousing and distribution services.
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