Tom Coughlin, a fellow with IEEE, offers a glimpse into the new year and how global supply chains will fare in the coming months.

Robyn Anderson, attorney in the insurance and recovery practice of Lathrop GPM, and Rick Bridges, vice president and account executive for supply chain and logistics with Lockton Companies, discuss how recent events have awakened companies to the need for business interruption insurance.

Bill Catania, chief executive officer of OneRail, describes the need for, and benefits of, micro-fulfillment centers for ensuring efficient and reliable last-mile delivery.

Laura Fraedrich, senior counsel for global trade and national security with Lowenstein Sandler LLP, brings us up to date on the warming of relations between the U.S. and European Union.

John Felix, managing director of White Oak Global Advisors, lays out the financing options that middle-market companies can deploy to reduce the stress on their supply chains and cash position.

Moving freight by rail is the most environmentally friendly mode of ground transport, with the average U.S. railroad moving one ton of freight 470 miles per gallon of fuel. A new type of railcar aims to further improve the industry’s footprint.

Pushing more money on people won't solve the labor shortage in the supply chain, says Amy David, clinical associate at Purdue University. Greater benefits and childcare are among the things needed to attract and retain workers.

The last year and a half have been rife with supply chain disruptions. Amy Thorn, chief executive officer of the Distribution Business Management Association, says the crisis has brought a new awareness of the importance of global supply chains to economic health.

It can be a vague term to employ. Pramod Gupta, vice president of supply chain consulting with GEP, offers a definition of supply chain resiliency, and explains its importance to organizations today.

Jason Bergstrom, principal and smart factory leader with Deloitte, traces the evolution of the smart factory, and defines the term as it applies to modern-day technology tools.