Manufacturers are entering into a new era of ‘disruptive complexity’ which is fundamentally changing the way manufacturers compete and succeed, according to KPMG’s 2014 Global Manufacturing Outlook (GMO) .

This year’s report also reveals that limited visibility across the supply chain remains a growing concern for manufacturers, even though many have made notable progress towards improving transparency.

DHL recently released its Logistics Trend Radar 2014 report. The report sketches a future landscape for logistics professionals and the challenges they will face and outlines solutions that are in development.

New trends the report highlights include omni-channel logistics, anticipatory logistics and crypto payment.

The U.S. Roadmap for Material Handling & Logistics was discussed during the recent Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) Conference and National Logistics & Distribution Conference (NLDC). The U.S. Roadmap consists of a report and action plan that will increase productivity, reduce costs, create jobs and improve the global competitiveness of the U.S. between now and 2025.

Inconsistency in their supply chain data appears to be a big reason behind Target’s recent trouble with their Canadian supply chain. Instead of a slow rollout, the retailer underwent a rapid, coast-to-coast launch of 124 stores last year. This rapid roll-out along with poor supply chain data caused significant bottle-necks, empty shelves and disappointed customers.

The global supply chain management and procurement software market grew 7.3 percent to $8.9 billion last year, with small vendors combined significantly outpacing the overall industry growth rate.

On May 20, MHI joined the Beijing Materials Handling Research Institute (BMHRI), the Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society (CMES), The European Materials Handling Federation (FEM) and the Japan Institute of Material Handling (JIMH) to officially launch a World Materials Handling Alliance. 

The Alliance was completed with the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding at the recent CeMAT Hannover exhibition. The initiative aims at enhancing collaboration among regional representative bodies for the benefit of the world material handling industry.

A new report confirms that the top business challenge facing retailers is unpredictable consumer demand. As consumers gain power, not only do they start shopping in more complex ways, but they expect retailers to be able to fulfill their increasingly complex demands quickly and accurately.

The problem is the majority of retailers are just starting the conversion from a store-centric retail operation to a true omni-channel offering.

Robotics technology is boosting manufacturing and employment in the U.S., and in developed economies has led to "botsourcing," that is, the return of manufacturing from overseas.

Botsoursing, bringing production back home through robotics automation, may be the single biggest disruptive threat to India’s $118 billion information technology industry. The more processes can be automated, the less it makes sense to outsource activities to countries where labor is less expensive.

Unprotected storage areas in a manufacturing or warehouse facility with high shelving and heavy product are at extreme risk for accidents especially when transferring, removing and adding product.  

Taking cautionary measures to prevent accidents can ensure the safety of employees before a tragic injury occurs.  A recent case study by industry group ProGMA, shows how pallet rack safety netting can offer a simple solution and go along way in improving industrial safety.

The Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA) has launched a promotional campaign designed to highlight the benefits of working with member companies for overhead traveling crane and accessory needs.

The campaign includes two videos that stress CMAA's commitment to safety and the long-standing experience of CMAA members when developing plans for the workplace and closely matching products and systems to the job being performed.

A combination of the push for ergonomics in the U.S. manufacturing sector and the improving economy has helped to bolster demand for investment in workstation cranes and other ergonomic lifting and positioning equipment.

The Kroger recently announced that it will be the first in Oregon  to deploy a fleet of heavy-duty trucks that run on Liquid Natural Gas (LNG). 

This move by Kroger will not only reduce operating costs for vehicles, but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions up to 23 percent in medium- to heavy-duty vehicles.

In an increasingly competitive business landscape, major brands are turning to solar energy to stay ahead. From large corporations such as Walmart, General Motors, Johnson & Johnson, Staples, Walgreens, Costco, Apple and IKEA to small, local companies, U.S. businesses are making significant investments in solar to cut energy costs.

Cisco Systems Chairman and CEO John Chambers, concerned over allegations that the U.S. National Security Agency intercepted and installed surveillance technology on network equipment en route to overseas customers, has asked for President Obama’s help on the issue.

The U.S. House of representatives passed a $12.3 billion water resources bill that lawmakers said would boost dredging to accommodate larger ships built to transit the expanding Panama Canal. The bill would authorize 34 projects including dredging, flood control, hurricane recovery and environmental restoration.

Supply chain traceability is becoming increasingly important as more companies seek to meet regulatory and consumer demands that goods are sourced and produced responsibly.

The United Nations and BSR released "A Guide to Traceability: A Practical Approach to Advance Sustainability in Global Supply Chains" to help businesses work to ensure that their products do not aide in conflict or human rights abuses. 

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently awarded 19 advanced manufacturing technology planning grants totaling $9 million to new or existing industry-driven consortia to develop technology roadmaps aimed at strengthening U.S. manufacturing and innovation performance across industries.

The Food and Drug Administration has proposed a regulation aimed at keeping counterfeit, unapproved and adulterated pharmaceuticals out of the U.S. drug supply chain.

The new rule would allow the agency to destroy a drug valued at $2,500 or less that has been refused admission into the U.S.