MHI Blog — The National Center for Supply Chain Technology Education (SCTE), funded by the National Science Foundation, is holding several Education Workforce Forums to educate next generation workers in advanced material handling systems. The goal is to bring industry partners with a strong need for supply chain talent together with academic leaders such as colleges with well established programs.

Harvard Business Review — Retail profits are plummeting. Stores are closing. Malls are emptying. The depressing stories just keep coming. Reading the Macy's, Nordstrom, and Target earnings announcements is about as uplifting as a tour of an intensive care unit. The Internet is apparently taking down yet another industry. Brick and mortar stores seem to be going the way of the yellow pages. Sure enough, the Census Bureau just released data showing that online retail sales surged 15.2 percent between the first quarter of 2015 and the first quarter of 2016.

The Wall Street Journal — New tariffs on imports are boosting steel prices in the U.S., offering a lifeline to beleaguered American steelmakers but raising costs for manufacturers of goods ranging from oil pipes to factory equipment to cars. U.S. steel producers who lost billions of dollars last year amid a flood of cheap imports are looking to capitalize on tighter supplies and higher pricing.

Industryweek — I've written before about a possible shortage in supply chain talent in the future, as according to a survey by SCM World, 43% of supply chain executives believe it is more difficult to hire supply chain talent in 2014, compared with 37% in 2013 and 22% in 2011. 

MHI Blog — The 2016 MHI Executive Summit will feature a workshop on trust - specifically how to improve stake-holder engagement, build world-class teams and improve profits through trust. The workshop will be led by world-renowned author and speaker, Stephen M. R. Covey author of Speed of Trust.

Ebnonline — Most organizations are focused on leveraging advanced technologies, such as the Internet of Things and big data, to create a quicker and more agile supply chain. Most organizations are focused on leveraging advanced technologies, such as the Internet of Things and big data, to create a quicker and more agile supply chain.

Ted Magazine — After surveying 246 NAED companies (102 distributors and 144 manufacturers) for the recent Reimagining Distributor and Manufacturer Relationships study, the message came through loud and clear: Both distributors and manufacturers need to put more time and effort into strengthening their supply chain relationships. With industry changes, new competitive forces, and issues like a tight labor market all taking their bottom lines, the need for this type of solidarity has never been greater or more critical. 

Supply Chain Management Review — Customers are constantly balancing the amount of working capital they have tied up in spare parts inventory with maintaining a high level of uptime for their products in the field.

The Hill — Truck drivers are battling with the Obama administration over a long-delayed proposal related to drug and alcohol testing.



The Transportation Department is moving to establish a national database - also known as a clearinghouse - that would list truck drivers who have failed drug and alcohol tests. It would also list drivers who have refused to take them.

Industrial Distribution — We're excited to provide the readers of Industrial Distribution with the results of our 69th Annual Survey Of Distributor Operations. The objectives of this report, as always, have been to understand the most critical issues affecting distributors, and to provide data to help drive their educated business decisions. Through these findings, we'll discuss new and ongoing industry trends and what trends have fizzled. How has the ongoing industrial recession impacted distributors? Read on to find out.

Modern Materials Handling — New research from Penn State finds that MRO is moving from an afterthought to an advantage for those leaders taking a new approach. When it comes to MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations), is your organization leading, evolving or trailing? That's one of the questions posed by new research from the Center for Supply Chain Research at Penn State published in a recent issue of our sister publication, Supply Chain Management Review.

eMarketer — Migrating analog processes and data to digital technologies has become increasingly valuable for retailers and manufacturers that want to more closely monitor their supply chain. According to research, well over half of such firms expect to step up dollars for supply chain digitization.

Industryweek — The cost of the sensors and the software. The risky all-at-once implementation. The fear that this was just another fad. But decreased prices, incremental implementation, alternative solutions and real-world take-up have shown that Smart Manufacturing is increasingly a necessity, with an MES being the foundation, the first critical step.

Ebnonline — The value of product data grows when it's captured across the product's life, from early design through manufacturing and onto its life with the end user. Along the way, outside data can be gathered from suppliers and distributors. The goal is to capture enough data to identify and correct problems at the earliest possible moment.

Ebnonline — Finding the right person for the job requires more than simply posting a job opening. Supply chain recruiter Rodney Apple shares his insights. Finding the right person for the job requires more than simply posting a job opening. Supply chain recruiter Rodney Apple shares his insights. Momentum favors sustainable packaging although there is still a lot of room for improvement.

The Wall Street Journal — Transportation and warehousing companies cut jobs in May, including a steep drop in trucking amid overcapacity and weak demand.



Truck transportation recorded 2,400 fewer jobs in May than in April, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday. Adjusted numbers show total job cuts in trucking since the beginning of the year reached 3,400, reflecting low demand reported by trucking firms. Support activities for transportation shrank by 2,700 jobs.

The New York Times — Soon, the labyrinthine aisles at Walmart's distribution centers - stocked high with canned beans, toys and many other products - could also have a low humming sound.



Walmart, the country's largest retailer, is testing the use of flying drones to handle inventory at its large warehouses, which supply the thousands of Walmart stores throughout the nation. In six to nine months, the company said, the machines may be used in one or more of its distribution centers.

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.

Finance & Commerce —The first thing online clothing reseller ThredUp did after clinching a new round of funding last year? Hunt for strategic warehouse space to get the goods to its customers as fast as possible.