MHI Blog — A new study from Lux Research called "Keeping it Fresh: Improving Cold Chain Outcomes with Sensor Platforms" reports that investing in Internet of Things (IoT) management for refrigerated products in supply chain will create a high return on investment (ROI).



IoT technologies offer real-time monitoring solutions that help optimize cold supply chains. They can more quickly detect problems and more closely maintain optimal temperatures to protect high-value refrigerated products.

Forbes — Rick Rys of ARC recently completed some detailed research on drones.  The following article is based on an interview with Rick. This interview focused on supply chain and manufacturing applications surrounding drones.

Industryweek — There's no doubt: Manufacturers today are stuck between a rock and hard place. On the one hand, many face an aging workforce that may retire without sharing key knowledge. In fact, the Pew Research Center predicts that 10,000 baby boomers will retire each day over the next 19 years. On the other, some 80% of businesses are struggling to bring new talent into the door and up through the ranks.

MHI Blog — Every year, the College Industry Council on Material Handling Education (CICMHE) and the Order Fulfillment Solutions Council of MHI host a design competition, with the idea of getting students involved in solving material handling problems. Well, this post has got information on both this year's winners (huzzah!) and the new competition case overview for 2016/2017.

Supply Chain Digital — Does your business assess - and manage - carbon emissions across its supply chain operations?



CDP - the NGO holding the most comprehensive set of global corporate environmental data - has just published the methodology behind the first ever system to assess how companies manage carbon and climate change across their supply chains.

Logistics Viewpoints — Leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies must continue to adapt to increasing global competition, regulation, and pricing pressures. In response, the pharmaceutical industry is undergoing a major value chain transformation.



Time to market continues to be crucial. Developing processes that can be up and running quickly, enable fast changeovers, and reformulation as needed, can make the difference between success and failure in this fast-paced market.

MHL News — Few new technologies have roiled manufacturing (and most other industries) as much and as completely as the Internet of Things, since, well, the Internet itself. From its inauspicious beginnings,the promise of IoT has captured the imagination of business thought leaders and technologists in every industry. (The term "Internet of Things" was first used in 1999 to link the nascent RFID technology to the internet.)



But the time for imagining and speculation has past, as first-adopter executives begin to share the results of their IoT initiatives and describe what IoT can do-and has done-for the competitiveness of their businesses.

 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO.

Supply Chain Management Review — Charged with orchestrating behind the scenes movements like warehouse, labor, yard/dock, transportation and global trade management, supply chain execution (SCE) software continues to play a critical role in today's overall supply chain processes. Folded under the umbrella of supply chain management (SCM), along with supply chain planning (SCP), SCE focuses on execution-oriented applications that carry out the plans created by those planning systems.

Ebnonline — When you have a repetitive, rules-based task to perform in manufacturing, it's not strange to consider using a robot to handle it. However, in the supply chain, with its spreadsheets and order forms, the idea of a robot taking over a manual computer task initially seems ludicrous. Perhaps an electromechanical robot typing away at a computer is far-fetched, but a software robot is not. By emulating the actions of a human user, robotic software can automate many currently manual tasks in the supply chain, saving time and money in the process.

Supply Chain Quarterly — A recent survey conducted by the research and events firm eyefortransport and the information technology (IT) service and solutions company L&T Infotech shows that although third-party logistics service providers (3PLs) are becoming more technologically advanced, their customers and supply chain partners still do not see them as IT innovators.



The resulting report, "Logistics Technology Report: The State of Innovation in Logistics," found that while 65 percent of logistics service providers said they were increasing their investment in technology, only 22 percent of their shipper customers see them as driving innovation in logistics. The report is based on the results of a survey of 357 executives from logistics service providers, IT solutions providers, and shippers.

Industryweek — In the past, I've written about the benefits of integrating and collaborating with partners to reduce the effects of the "bullwhip effect" as well as some of the inherent risks. The recent bankruptcy of Hanjin container line clearly illustrates some of the risks involved in the global supply chain today. 



As The Guardian reports, "the bankruptcy of the Hanjin shipping line has thrown ports and retailers around the world into confusion, with giant container ships marooned and merchants worrying whether hundreds of tons of goods being carried by the South Korean company will reach shelves."

Modern Materials Handling — American Eagle Outfitters' 1.6-million-square-foot, omni-channel distribution center is light on conventional equipment, with very little racking and only three lift trucks. The facility is built around an inbound conveyor and sortation system, six multi-level pick modules and a warehouse execution system that optimizes the workload. Orders are filled for two retail brands: American Eagle and Aerie.

Industryweek — China is eating up a larger chunk of the world's shrinking trade pie. Brushing off rising wages, a shrinking workforce and intensifying competition from lower cost nations from Vietnam to Mexico, China's global export share climbed to 14.6% last year from 12.9% a year earlier. That's the highest proportion of world exports ever in International Monetary Fund data going back to 1980.

MHL News — Outperforming the world material handling machinery market as a whole, worldwide demand for automated storage and retrieval systems is forecast to increase 6% annually to $17.9 billion in 2020, according to a new study from The Freedonia Group. Increasing global manufacturing activity and the expansion of the world's logistics and transportation industries is are reasons for the increase, says the research firm.

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.

Manufacturing Global — A recent Gartner study found that executives and employees have very different perceptions of their company's capability in adapting to change. The survey stated that 36 percent of supply chain executives believe they are ready for the challenge, but only 13 percent of employees agree.



Gartner says that supply chain leaders must mobilize workforces to change business models, technologies, processes, and capabilities, and fully understand how their employees engage and support change in order to implement that change. Employees allegedly wish to be more closely connected with the purposes of change and to understand how it affects them.

Supply Chain Digital — As Rio Paralympics 2016 gets underway, Michael Schwartz explains why supply chain management is more like a competitive sport than was ever thought possible.

Supply Chain Management Review — While Zika continues to dominate the news in the U.S., it's recently been put under the microscope when it comes to its impact on the global supply chain. Recently, China announced a requirement of certificates of fumigation for each container originating from the US. Some fear that this will elongate the supply chain process and add cost.