The global market for blockchain in supply chains is forecasted to maintain a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 48% between now and 2023, reaching a total of $424 million by the end of the period. North America will be responsible for the majority of this growth with a forecast market size of $131.65 million by 2023.

Thirty thousand people from 110 countries walked the show floor of MODEX 2018 in Atlanta, spread across 280,000 square feet of exhibition space occupied by 900 vendors, showing every type of material handling solution imaginable, from bins, pallets and shelves to drones, robots and artificial intelligence-based systems. The following pages offer a brief glimpse at some of the highlights from the show floor as well as the keynote addresses.

MHI just released the 2018 MHI Annual Industry Report titled "Overcoming Barriers to NextGen Supply Chain Adoption" to provide an up-to-date perspective on emerging supply chain trends. The report details the eleven technologies that are working together to create next-generation supply chains that are digital, on-demand and always-on. Eight out of ten survey respondents believe these supply chains will be the predominant model within just 5 years.

Working directly with members, this video has been created by MHI & MHEDA. It is intended to help communicate to students and recent graduates the vast opportunities and career paths available in the material handling and supply chain industry. 

The new technologies on display last week at MODEX were exciting, promising and confounding for an industry faced with a new set of distribution challenges

The shift to more widespread use of artificial intelligence and machine learning promises to streamline supply chain operations.

A variety of factors are converging to bolster the ROI for automation. Beyond the present and future state of the workforce, the ever-increasing technological sophistication, and the growing understanding that supply chain operations must be faster, more efficient, more accurate and more transparent than ever, there’s this sizable "direct-to-consumer" shift. 

In an initiative led by MHI, an American national standards committee has been formed to formulate the United States' position in international standards activities conducted in ISO TC 122/WG 14, Label Material.  The committee, MH10.10, will contribute to international standardization activities in regarding functionality of materials used in data identification of elements used or applied to supply chain, value chain, Internet of Things (IoT), Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and blockchain.   

The winners of the 2018 MHI Young Professionals Network Awards were announced during Industry Night on April 11 at MODEX 2018.

While the supply chain continues to be predominantly male, more women are joining the industry throughout the material handling, logistics and transportation fields. According to the 2016 Gartner-AWESOME Women in Supply Chain survey, females are slowly gaining ground in the field overall, representing 35 percent of the total supply chain workforce—although significantly less so in the most senior levels at just five percent.

MHI announced the winners of the 2018 MHI Innovation Awards on April 11 during Industry Night at MODEX 2018. Winners of best innovation, best innovation of an existing product and best IT innovation were awarded.

In the Material Handling & Logistics Roadmap 2.0, blockchain is noted as being "no longer just for BitCoin and fintech. Walmart is testing it in the supply chain to add structure to its processes." Indeed, the retailer has since launched a blockchain-based food safety alliance with IBM. The alliance collaborates with 10 different food suppliers and retailers to provide the transparency and efficiency required for tracking and tracing edibles that might be compromised and require a recall.

Implementation of automation and technologies is increasing exponentially at every level—from sourcing to manufacturing to shipping to warehousing to distribution—placing stronger demands on employers to find workers with greater technical acumen and broader business aptitudes than ever before.

Created to offer potential and current end users and owners of industrial steel storage racks a high-level, visual introduction into the key considerations of rack system selection, RMI has produced and released a new video: "Specifying and Selecting Your Rack System."

A team of automation partners joined forces to set a niche record at the supply chain industry's biggest event in the Americas - MODEX 2018

Change is constant in manufacturing and supply chains, but so is MHI’s resources, leadership and innovation. The more things change, the more you need to be Powered by MHI to get the resources and information you need to futureproof your operations. Watch this video to find out more about this industry and what MHI can offer you.

ProMat 2017 has been named to Trade Show News Network's (TSNN) list of Top US Trade Shows. ProMat is ranked as the 44th largest exhibition in the U.S. for 2017. The list represents the top trade shows held last year in the U.S. ranked by net square footage. 

For the safety of the racking structure and the persons and machinery working in and around it, RMI’s ANSI MH16.1-2012 calls for the installation of beam locking devices. During routine rack inspections, the locking devices should be evaluated to confirm their proper installation and that they have not been removed or damaged. Damaged or missing beam connector clips or bolts should be replaced immediately.

Within the technology section of the Material Handling & Logistics Roadmap 2.0, the potential benefits of utilizing augmented reality smart glasses within supply chains are explored. Notably, three potential applications are mentioned: picking for order fulfillment, equipment maintenance and repair, and training support for new employees as they grow accustomed to their assigned tasks.