MHI
Owners, occupiers and investors need to respond to unprecedented trends in technology, demographics and infrastructure that are transforming global supply chains across the retail, industrial and logistics sectors according to a new white paper from Cushman & Wakefield entitled "The Changing World of Trade." The paper identifies winning strategies for adapting to the new "demand economy."

 

They predict as the global recovery gains momentum the significant pent-up demand will result in significant growth in global trade. A projected return by 2014 to the long-term trade growth trend of roughly 9.5% per year could result in global trade flows reaching $45 trillion by 2021 compared to just $6.5 trillion in 2001 when China joined the World Trade Organization.

Industry Week
Supply chain network design is a powerful modeling approach proven to deliver significant reduction in supply chain costs and improvements in service levels by better aligning supply chain strategies. It incorporates end-to-end supply chain cost, including purchase, production, warehousing, inventory and transportation.

 

While this is considered a strategic supply chain planning initiative, organizations can gain competitive advantage by running supply chain network scenarios, evaluating and proactively implementing changes in response to dynamic business scenarios like new product introduction, changes in demand pattern, addition of new supply sources, changes in tax laws and so on.

New Equipment Digest
In spite of an economic recovery that seems to be progressing at a snail's pace, there's plenty of demand for industrial warehouse space and modern distribution centers in North America, according to a new report.

 

The vacancy rate in North America declined for the eighth straight quarter in Q1 2013, according to Colliers International.

EBN
Talking about robots is just plain fun. However, the idea that robotic technology will completely control the supply chain is still straddling the line between myth and reality.

 

We asked the EBN community to weigh in about whether the move to automation will ever translate into a completely automated supply chain. Our readers were pretty evenly split. A little more than 40 percent said it would, but 38 percent disagreed. And almost one in five respondents said it would happen -- but not until 2050.

Reliable Plant
Mobile interfaces for enterprise asset management (EAM) software and computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) have been around for a long time but have managed to penetrate only a very small number of organizations. Some of the reasons for this are technological. Some are cultural, and some are a combination of the two. While research suggests that acceptance of mobile EAM and CMMS has been slow, interest is increasing in this technology.

 

For example, the cost of handheld devices has come down precipitously. Handhelds are now available in various shapes and sizes, ranging from ruggedized devices to a simple consumer smartphone running the Android or iOS interfaces. Many companies have also redesigned their mobile interfaces to take advantage of new devices, operating systems and the lessons learned from earlier interfaces.

MHI
Leading consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies and retailers are responding to the speed of the digital consumer and balancing operational quality with innovation to connect to them. This according to a new report titled Growth Strategies: Unlocking the Power of the Consumer by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and PwC US.

 

Top-performing companies are finding success by identifying their consumers, engaging with them and focusing on innovation that directly reach their customers. The report explores how digital and social media, accelerated mobile adoption and a direct-to-consumer approach are rewriting the rules of retailing and CPG manufacturing.

Material Handling & Logistics
At a time when skilled workers and the time they need to get work done are at a premium, the latest generation of powered industrial trucks is getting more attention. Although there are still many vehicles from previous generations being maintained to stay on duty, the jobs they're being called to do require more sophisticated skill sets related to time, space, labor and asset management. The common denominator is information, and managers crave the kind of information industrial trucks can generate.

 

Tom Bonkenburg, director of European operations for the consulting firm St. Onge Co. says U.S. end users who have been slow to accept lift trucks as anything but dumb product movers are now ready for a change, and lift truck OEMs and dealers are ready to help them make it.

Arkansas Business
It is hard to talk about supply chain management without mentioning Wal-Mart.

 

In its relentless pursuit of low consumer prices, Wal-Mart embraced technology to become an innovator in the way stores track inventory and restock their shelves, cutting costs and passing the savings along to customers. In the process the company became synonymous with the concept of successful supply chain management.

 

"I don’t believe there is a university in the world that doesn’t talk about Wal-Mart and the supply chain," said James Crowell, director of the Supply Chain Management Research Center at the Walton College of Business. "They are just so well respected because they do it so well, and certainly I know a lot of peer institutions around our country ... will bring a Wal-Mart guest to speak."

Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News
Before switching to lower-cost label materials, packaging engineers should explain their needs to suppliers in order to avoid any costly quality, regulatory, or legal concerns.

 

Packaging developers and engineers at pharmaceutical companies are in an ever-more-intense bind when it comes to labeling. Chances are they are under pressure from the purchasing department to reduce label costs. They are likely also under pressure from their quality assurance (QA) department not to compromise on label quality or do anything that could lead to labeling errors and costly recalls. And they are hearing from their regulatory department about how to meet FDA's standards, particularly the new regulations on making over-the-counter drug labels more readable.

MHI
Wal-Mart remains at the top of the STORES’ 2013 Top 100 Retailers list, raking in $328.7 billion in 201. Kroger, reporting more than $92 billion in sales in 2012, maintained the No. 2 spot for the fourth year in a row.

 

Costco (4), The Home Depot (5) and Safeway (9) each moved up a single spot, and McDonald’s (10) joined the top 10 list for the first time in the survey’s history, reporting more than $35.5 billion in sales in 2012.

Material Handling & Logistics
It is likely that the transportation and logistics jobs of today will not be the same tomorrow. We're talking about a 24-hour period, not weeks, months, or years.

 

These industries change with ever-increasing international trade and the development of sophisticated technology. But they are also affected by political unrest and natural disasters. Consequently, the C-level executives in these sectors must be masters of many disciplines that affect moving goods from point A to point B.  The world has become much smaller due to rapid transportation and with that comes the intense pressure to get goods on the shelves so that sales can be made.

Modern Material Handling
IFCO Systems, a global leader in reusable plastic containers (RPCs) for fresh products, recently released a study confirming RPCs as a sustainable packaging option.

 

The report shows the IFCO solution generates 82% less solid waste, consumes 92% less water, requires 49% lower energy demand, and lowers ozone depletion by 76% for a weighted average of 10 top produce commodities compared with shipping the same amount of produce in display-ready corrugated boxes. The report was produced by Franklin Associates, a Division of ERG, a leading consulting company specializing in life cycle analyses and solid waste management.

EBN
In today's business climate, you need to be exceptional at your core competency or value proposition to your client and you need to outsource the rest. Finding the right partner, though, is critical to success.

 

Choosing the right partner goes beyond capabilities. You have to consider the corporate culture as well. In addition to being able to do the work, the ideal partner should be able do it seamlessly by fitting with your team and with your client's needs. As in any dating game, the big questions are: How do I find the right partner? What do I need to consider?