GS1 US, an information-standards body, has expanded its Advisory Services offering.

Aberdeen Group's new research reveals that 63 percent of 149 companies with predominant global supply chains have ranked supply chain visibility as a high priority for improvement. It also shows that the top 20 percent best-in-class companies claim to be compliant to GS1 Standards and track supply chain visibility at the item level.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, says that after a fire at a Bangladesh factory last year killed 112 people it is making its biggest push yet to try to improve conditions at factories that produce its clothing.