The Supply Chain Conference component of next week's MODEX expo in Atlanta will offer over 100 seminars located directly on the exhibit show floor.

These sessions cover the latest trends and technologies that are enhancing the productivity and profitability of manufacturing and supply chain operations.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is transforming hospital supply chains and bringing a focus on discipline and organization, according to a recent Forbes article.

Thanks to the ACA, large hospital systems are looking for savings in new areas, including their supply chains. And if a network has more than four hospitals, savings in procurement are a major opportunity.

Big companies looking to assess climate change-related risks to their supply chains can tap a new tool developed by a private-sector partnership that is integrating data from the University of Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index (ND-GAIN).

The Climate Change Risk Management application, developed by a San Francisco-based climate consultancy and a sustainable management systems company, uses ND-GAIN’s climate indicators and country risk ratings to help businesses map and measure global supply chain risks.

Whether needs call for accelerating regular production activities or periodic maintenance work on vital machines and equipment, leaders in the food industry have relied on members of the Monorail Manufacturers Association (MMA) for overhead material handling solutions.  

Due to stringent standards required for equipment use in the industry, food processors have turned to MMA members for their expertise and ability to develop systems that keep workers productive.

The Greatest Supply Chain Show on Earth, MODEX 2014, deserves an equally spectacular evening event. Industry Night offers just that by providing attendees an entertaining night off the MODEX show floor to mingle and network at the world famous Georgia Aquarium.

The entire aquarium will be open to all attendees to explore on March 17, from 6:30-8:30 PM for Industry Night at MODEX. 

The U.S. military is seeking a "tiny, cheap, foolproof" component to counter the pervasive problem of counterfeit electronic parts in the defense supply chain.

In the past two years alone, more than a million suspect parts have been associated with supply chain compromises, according to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), part of the Department of Defense.

This week the environmental group Greenpeace praised Apple’s efforts to increased transparency on its suppliers and the substances used in its products. This praise came in response to Apple’s release of its 2014 Supplier Responsibility report.

"Apple’s increased transparency about its suppliers is becoming a hallmark of Tim Cook’s leadership at the company," said Greenpeace Energy Campaigner Tom Dowdall.

A seminar titled "Material Handling and Logistics: The Road to 2015″ will be held at MODEX 2014 on Tuesday, March 18 at 12:45 PM.

The first ever U.S. Roadmap for Material Handling & Logistics is a visionary look at how the industry will change between now and 2025. 

President Barack Obama recently announced the creation of two Pentagon-led institutes that will combine public and private resources to foster manufacturing innovation.

One center will be in Chicago; the other will be outside Detroit. The Canton, Mich., institute will focus on light metal manufacturing. The one in Chicago will concentrate on high-tech digital manufacturing and design.

As an additional benefit of attending MODEX 2014, MHI is offering a Career Forum for the MODEX 2014 event.

MODEX visitors can search through available positions from MODEX 2014 exhibitors.