MHI Blog — MHI recently announced the winners of the 2016 MHI Innovation Award competition.



These awards was announced during MHI Industry Night at MODEX 2016 in three categories: Best New Innovation, Best Innovation of an Existing Product and Best IT Innovation.



Finalists were reviewed by a panel of judges who determined the following winners in each category.

CNET — In a giant step towards rapid robot fabrication, researchers at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory have developed the first ever technique for simultaneously 3D printing with solids and liquids.



And to demonstrate how well it works, they have developed adorable little robots that waddle about on little hydraulic legs.

The Wall Street Journal — Trucking companies are competing to offer faster delivery as more shippers say they're willing to pay extra for speedier service. YRC WorldwideInc.,YRCW -0.45 % one of the largest trucking companies in the U.S., said Monday it will start offering an "accelerated" service, which shaves a day or two off transit times.

Industryweek — While many of us have heard about (and maybe even seen) air drones in use for recreational, military and now potentially product delivery by Amazon, the latest drones are actually land-based. For example, there's one from a startup called Starship ("Forget delivery drones, meet your new delivery robot") which has already been tested in the UK and is soon to be tested in the U.S.

Reuters — New orders for U.S. factory goods fell in February and business spending on capital goods was much weaker than initially thought, the latest indications that economic growth slowed further in the first quarter.

MHI Blog — Luis Castaneda was named the 2016 MHI Face of the Supply Chain during MHI Industry Night at MODEX 2016. Mr. Castaneda is Key Account Manager at Raymond Handling Concepts Corporation. 

The Wall Street Journal — As companies are increasing their spending on supply chain technology, a growing number are looking to robotics and automation. In an annual survey by logistics industry group MHI and Deloitte, 51% of respondents said robotics and automation are a source of either disruption of competitive advantage, up from 39% last year.

Star Tribune — Best Buy is boosting its same-day delivery game. Best Buy is boosting its same-day delivery game. The Richfield-based electronics retailer expanded a pilot program to courier everything from phone chargers to laptops within the span of several hours to customers in 13 U.S. markets.

Modern Materials Handling — MODEX always delivers innovative new products, but at this year's event, robotics captured much of the attention, from prominent mention in MHI's industry report keynote, to new robotics vendors on the exhibit floor.



Robots in distribution centers (DCs) aren't new, but new vendors are coming on the scene, touting "mobile autonomous" technology, meaning that you don't need to install special infrastructure on floors or ceilings for the robots to be able to navigate. One new example along these lines is IAM Robotics, which can pick from existing rack and shelves using onboard 3D vision technology, as written about in our Show Daily coverage.

www.theferrarigroup.com — The role of a supply chain professional has never been more strategic than it is today. With professionals being responsible for more tactics and outcomes than in past years, organizations are demanding proficiency in a broad range of business skills from their purchasing staff at every level.



Supply chain requires more of a strategic plan for many reasons, the most prominent being that much of what organizations spend is wrapped up in the supply chain - up to 70 to 80 percent in some cases.

Spend Matters—A new report from Deloitte and MHI identified the eight technologies enabling today’s "always-on supply chain" where supply networks continuously share information and analytics. These technologies, including widely used ones such as robotics, sensors and inventory optimization tools, can now provide a competitive advantage for companies, and in time, they will also become essential for business survival.

Industryweek — The demand economy is disrupting every sector and causing those in the supply chain and manufacturing fields to be more innovative than ever before. A decade ago, consumers accepted waiting a week for their product but now with the infusion of companies such as Amazon and Alibaba, consumers are making their purchase decisions based on how quickly they will receive the product.

MHL News — On the floor at MODEX 2016, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA. Temperature outside? A slightly chilly 52, though it looks to be a pretty spring day. But what's going on inside here is even better than what's going on out there. Anyone who is anyone in the material handling and supply chain industries is here, and well represented.

Newsweek — A fleet of self-driving trucks has completed the first ever cross-border trip made by a convoy of autonomous vehicles.



More than a dozen "smart" trucks from six of Europe's major manufacturers-DAF, Daimler, Iveco, MAN, Scania and Volvo-arrived in Rotterdam, Holland, on Wednesday, having come from Belgium, Germany and Sweden.

MHI’s new Career Forum  enables manufacturing and supply chain professionals to view current job postings of MHI member companies. Go to http://www.mhi.org/careers to find the perfect opportunity for you.

Industrial Distribution — Most companies have taken the obvious steps to improve safety, but accidents still occur with alarming frequency. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, the transportation and warehousing industry suffered more than 95,000 industrial accidents and illnesses in 2014. That works out to 225 per 10,000 workers - one of the highest rates of any industry. Most estimates put the annual cost of workplace injuries at more than $50 billion, so it makes sense from a business as well as a moral point of view to make safety a priority. Here are some proven ways to increase safety.

Supply Chain Digital — Manufacturers operating in high-value sectors such as the aerospace and automotive industries are going all out to forge relationships with businesses in other sectors in order to secure a clear, competitive advantage.



In today's fast-developing markets, businesses across many industry sectors realize that continuing to do what they do is no longer enough to achieve sustained growth. To maintain and grow their market share, they need to think laterally about their business structure and, in particular, their supply base. By teaming up with businesses operating in other sectors, some are finding novel ways to align their products or services more closely to the needs of the end user. 

www.supplychainshaman.com — The concept of being on and available all the time- 24/7- wears on me. I spent a beautiful, brisk, Saturday afternoon building monsters with my grandson, Jake, at the local children's museum. (I find that even building blocks hold more possibilities today than when I was a child fifty-five years ago.)