Chemicals & Energy

Is Keystone XL Pipeline Project, Stalled for Years, About to Become Irrelevant?

May 27, 2014

When TransCanada first proposed the Keystone XL pipeline in 2008, the company hoped it would be done by 2012 and begin carrying heavy crude from the Alberta oil sands in Western Canada down to the U.S. Gulf Coast. Six years later the pipeline remains in limbo, stymied by Department of State reviews, route adjustments, lawsuits, environmental and economic studies, and (most important) an Obama administration that appears truly divided on the issue. Last month the State Department announced that no decision would come until after November's midterm elections.

Will New U.S. Regulations on Rail Shipments of Oil Prevent More Explosions?

May 12, 2014

Business Week

A week after a train loaded with crude oil from North Dakota exploded in downtown Lynchburg, Va., dumping 30,000 gallons of oil into the James River, the Department of Transportation announced two moves to try to keep this from happening so frequently. It's doubtful that either will make much of a difference in preventing what's become a major safety hazard in the U.S.

Agility Logistics Forms Joint Venture With Rockfarm Supply Chain Solutions

April 30, 2014

Agility Logistics Solutions

Agility Logistics Solutions and Rockfarm Supply Chain Solutions have formed a joint venture, Agility Domestic Solutions (ADS).

ProTrans Expands Operations in Texas and Missouri

April 30, 2014

ProTrans

ProTrans, a provider of third-party logistics, freight consolidation and freight-management services, has expanded operations in two locations.

Supply Chain's Carbon Impact: More Than a Footprint

April 21, 2014

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

Carbon footprint: What a misleading metaphor that is.

Building Future-proof Chemical Manufacturing Operations!

April 16, 2014

Manufacturers Focus on Cost Reduction, But Ignore Energy Inefficiency, Report Says

April 15, 2014

Appliance

Insufficient communication and too much emphasis on controlling factory capital expenditures means that manufacturers pay massive energy-inefficiency costs over the lifetime of their plants, according to research firm IHS.

Ikea to Build Wind Farm to Satisfy Some of Its Energy Needs

April 14, 2014

Los Angeles Times

Swedish home goods giant Ikea Group is investing in its first wind farm in the U.S., joining a parade of other companies that are venturing into the renewable energy sector. The company purchased Hoopeston Wind, an energy project under construction in Illinois.

China Drives Global Demand for Silicones, But Its Production Level 'Threatens' Market

April 14, 2014

IHS

A robust demand for silicones in China, combined with an improving economy there, is driving market growth for these versatile polymers, which are increasingly vital to the construction, automotive, cosmetics and medical/pharmaceutical industries, says a new global market research report released by IHS.

How to Build a More Profitable Industrial Asset Management Function

April 8, 2014

David Petrucci & Gaurav Agrawal, Genpact

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.

Chemicals & Energy

The latest supply-chain news, analysis, trends and tools for executives in the chemicals and energy industries. Learn how chemical and energy companies and their suppliers around the world are managing the flow of products across all channels of the enterprise. Experts sound off on forecasting and demand planning, supply-chain visibility, logistics outsourcing, inventory optimization, transportation management, warehouse management, supply-chain security, corporate social responsibility and more.