MHI Blog—As a leader in the material handling and supply chain industry, MHI re-launched an awareness campaign designed to not only promote manufacturing and supply chain as an innovative and rewarding career choice but to change the perception of jobs in the industry. The goal of the #iWorkInTheSupplyChain campaign wasto connect, engage and inspire next-generation workers to pursue manufacturing and supply chain careers. MHIreceived 16 #iWorkInTheSupplyChain blog entries, one of which willwin the 2017 Face of Supply Chain Award presented duringIndustry Night at ProMat 2017

MHI Blog—At ProFood Tech, the food and beverage processing event held April 4-6, 2017 in Chicago McCormick place (sound familiar? Stay tuned...), they will be having a keynote featuring Peyton Manning. Manning is a Five-time NFL MVP and two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback and will be speaking on "Winning Strategies." The keynote will be held Tuesday, April 4 from 8:00 am – 9:15 am

SCDigest—President Trump has made reinvigorating US manufacturing one of his primary themes, and indeed there are trends, such as rising wages in China and the need for many manufacturers to be closer to markets, that at least modestly favor domestic production. Another trend that could support growth in US manufacturing is the increasing adoption of robots on the factory floor. Robots decrease the need for labor, making the still much higher US labor costs less of an issue versus the offshore option.

TriplePundIt—AB InBev, a global brewing company, announced that it will source 100 percent of its electricity needs from renewables by 2025. The company plans to eventually switch up to 6 terawatt-hours of annual electricity use from conventional sources such as coal and natural gas to renewables. According to the company’s number-crunching, the resulting slashin carbon emissions is equivalent to removing 500,000 cars from American roads annually.

MIT Technology Review—German robotics firm Festo created robotic tentacle called the OctopusGripper, which can grasp smooth object. Its soft gripper is composed of two main mechanisms. Its silicone tentacle is pneumatically driven: when air is pumped into it, it curls inward to encircle whatever item it’s placed around. Then, two rows of suction cups, which can deform to accommodate unusually shaped objects, use a vacuum to ensure that the object stays in place.

News4Jax—Mexican mining and rail conglomerate Grupo Mexico says it has reached an agreement to buy Jacksonville-based Florida East Coast Railway Holdings Corporation for $2.1 billion, all-cash transaction. GrupoMexicoTransportessaid Tuesday it will acquire 100 percent of the company's shares and assume its debt, pending approval of the deal by regulatory authorities from both the United States and Mexico.

Environmental Leader—Apple suppliers for the first time achieved 100 percent UL Zero Waste to Landfill validation for all final assembly sites in China, according to the company’s 2017 Supplier Responsibility progress report. The average environment assessment score across Apple’s 705 supply chain assessments in 2016 was 87 out of 100. The company says the majority of violations found in 2016 were related to hazardous substance management and environmental permits.

As part of MHI view's ongoing video program, this new episode focuses on: Predictive Analytics in Transportation
The correct use of data can help a company run more efficiently and cost-effectively. This episode explores how predictive data can be particularly useful for cutting waste in a transportation fleet.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO.

Houston Chronicle—A sweeping revision of state highway plans adds nearly $9 billion in new funds for improving Texas roadways, including a $1.32 billion infusion in the Houston area for a major overhaul of Interstate 45 and nine other projects. Projects along Texas 36 in Fort Bend and Brazoria counties and Texas 105 in Montgomery and San Jacinto counties were also included in the unified transportation plan approved Tuesday in Austin by the Texas Transportation Commission.

Bloomberg—Ford Motor Co. will invest $1.2 billion in three Michigan factories, paving the way for a return of the Ranger pickup and Bronco sport utility vehicle. About $1 billion of Ford’s spending will go toward engine and assembly plants for the Ranger and Bronco models that will replace production of slow-selling Focus compact cars, which is moving to Mexico. Another $200 million will go toward a new advanced data center at Ford’s factory in Flat Rock, Michigan, where the company already has said it will add 700 jobs.

Transport Topics—UPS Inc. is seeking tax incentives to create a regional shipping hub with up to 1,400 jobs in an industrial warehouse district in southeast Arlington, Texas. Under the deal, which will go before the City Council on March 28, UPS would make a $105 million investment and the city would refund 85% of taxes assessed against business personal property for seven years.

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.

eft—In this whitepaper, you will find key insights on how to manage delivery costs while ensuring a heightened delivery experience for your customer. It includes survey results as well as interviews with four leading retailers on how they solve their final mile delivery challenges.

NY Times—Amazon purchased the Middle East’s biggest online retailer Souq.com for an undisclosed amount, a day after a state-backed firm disclosed an $800 million counteroffer. A joint statement described the purchase as expanding Amazon’s influence into the Mideast as the chairman of the state-supported firm Emaar prepares to launch his own retail website in a country known more for its luxury malls than online shopping.

EBN—Technology stories regularly focus on macro trends including the Internet of Things, Big Data, Mobile, Cloud Computing, and Artificial Intelligence. On their own, each of these trends leads to massive changes in how fast information flows and brings about new applications and services. Taken together, they constitute radical changes in information technology -- we are witnessing a new information age.

EBN—No matter the regulatory environment, it is critical for buyers and sellers alike to continue to support a supply chain strategy that offers a chance at sustainability, economic stewardship and social engagement. We as a profession have a social obligation to maintain the progress we’ve made as a society.

SCDigest—SCDigest - with the sponsorship of JDA Software - recently completed a major benchmark study of shippers and 3PLs, resulting in some of the best and most interesting survey data we have seen. Watch SCDigest editor Dan Gilmore and JDA Sofware's Danny Halim review and discuss highlights of the studyh, in a clip excerpted from the Supply Chain Video News broadcast released each week in partnership with CSCMP.

GreenBiz—General Mills is on a path to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 28% and achieve a zero waste-to-landfill goal within the next eight years so the brand can continue to build upon its 150-year history. "Sustainability is a business imperative for us to be able to do that," said Chief Sustainability Officer Jerry Lynch.

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