MODEX 2018 attendees are registering in record numbers for the event to be held April 9-12 at Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center. Here are some highlights from current MODEX attendee demographics.

As a part of their rack safety awareness campaign launched last year, the Rack Manufacturers Institute, Inc. (RMI) has released the first video in a four-part series on rack safety. "RMI Rack Safety Episode 1: Selecting Your Rack System" discusses how rack systems are the backbones of modern warehouses, but without proper installation, use and repair, they can quickly turn into a safety hazard. This video reviews best practices for selecting the rack system that’s right for your business.

In the MHI Annual Industry Report, 60 percent of the 1,100 top-level manufacturing, logistics and supply chain industry leaders surveyed said that the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) will be a source of competitive advantage or industry disruption within the next 10 years. Simultaneously, 55 percent believe cyber security (or a lack thereof) poses the biggest barrier to IIoT adoption.

Highlighting today’s lightning fast pace of business, built upon unprecedented interconnectedness and the exponential rate of change for technology, the video showcases the latest technology, consumer, workforce and logistics infrastructure trends impacting material handling and logistics between now and 2030.

The Automated Storage/Retrieval Systems (ASRS) Industry Group of MHI announced a newly released infographic on AS/RS technology. The infographic serves to inform readers quickly and easily key facts about automated storage/retrieval systems, including industry size, benefits, and types of AS/RS solutions. 

Smart city logistics and connected supply chains. They are coming. But it will require some reworking of logistical practices. Because we can see it coming, we’re trying to help get you ready. Which is why we have created a Smart City Logistics and Connected Supply Chain solution center, complete with it’s own theaters. From IoT to last mile to AI, from autonomous robots to augmented reality to connected freight, we’ve got it covered.

In addition to keynotes and conference sessions, MODEX is also offering Atlanta area facility tours, where you’ll be able to tour leading manufacturing and distribution centers in the Atlanta area.

For an industry like supply chain, which has seen steady growth in jobs at all levels, focusing on Millennials to attract and retain workers is good business. And not just based on the math. As it turns out, there’s an ideal match between the unique generational characteristics of Millennials and the types of challenges and rewards offered by supply chain careers.

On Monday April 9 at MODEX 2018, MHI and MHEDA are hosting a Women in the Supply Chain Industry Forum. The keynote speaker is Brenda Wensil, known for her expertise in building collaborative partnerships, developing teams and leveraging cross organizational structures to improve leader performance and drive results. 

The demand for automation and digital tech are driving overall market sourcing growth, which is projected to be strongest in countries that already spend the most on services, according to a new market analysis from Information Services Group (ISG). The report finds the three markets with the highest outsourcing spending in 2017 – the U.S., Germany and the U.K., respectively – also have the highest potential for growth in 2018.

The Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA) will host an overhead crane safety conference at MODEX 2018. The conference will offer a day of world-class content on overhead crane safety technology and practices, while boasting seven professional development hour (PDH) credits. The conference will be held on Wednesday, April 11, and is targeted at plant operations and maintenance staff, including managers, engineers and crane technicians.

The Protective Guarding Manufacturers Association (ProGMA), a product group within trade association Material Handling Industry (MHI), is promoting the third in a series of educational videos about preventing accidents and injuries at loading docks.

In its Workforce section, Roadmap 2.0 notes that among its community of contributors, the preference among supply chain leaders is for new hires at all levels to be prepared to hit the ground running. To achieve that goal, however, relationships between industry and academia must be strengthened in order to ensure that educators are teaching the skills that will be expected of future workers.

Drive-in rack and drive-through rack both provide high-density pallet storage with fewer aisles. Here are three best practices to maintain the integrity of both drive-in and drive-through racking systems and ensure operator safety.