MHI Blog -- E-commerce has transformed the roles of warehouse workers worldwide. As responsibilities have shifted from providing order fulfillment for stores to individual consumers, the nature of warehouse work is different. This has led to a desire among workers to reclassify themselves for higher pay.

The Atlantic -- The future holds more and more stuff to be transported—and infrastructure will have to change drastically to accommodate our appetites.

EBN -- As new gadgets come to the market with increasing speed, many global high-tech/electronics companies are looking for ways to streamline their supply chain operations to meet market demands, reduce costs, and become more customer-centric.

While companies are working to balance these priorities, executives also understand the importance of risk mitigation in the supply chain. In direct correlation with a July 2014 report, Managing Risk in the Global Supply Chain, developed by UPS Capital and the University of Tennessee, one of those opportunities includes becoming more knowledgeable and proactive in managing supply chain risk.

Retail Info Systems News -- With increased interest in private label brands and the growing complexity of the global marketplace, it is challenging for retailers to manage the communications, certifications, ingredients and information stemming from their numerous, worldwide supply chain partners. Along with this intricate supply chain, retailers are also experiencing consumer demand for more information about where their products are coming from to ensure that goods are safe and properly sourced.

Collaboration among private label partners has never been more important, and recent research suggests that in addition to improving organization, communication, safety and compliance, better collaboration among private label stakeholders can also lead to improved production and cost efficiencies.

Apparel -- Traditionally, the phrase "going shopping" has meant getting in your car, driving to the mall, walking through the door and purchasing products. But for many in today’s digital world it means kicking off your shoes after a long workday, flipping open the tablet and browsing for whatever your heart desires from the comfort of your favorite recliner.

 

As the "store" continues to be redefined by technology, consumers hold tremendous power. But retailers and brands can take more control of their supply chains and proactively shape demand before a consumer even expresses a need or want. The future of retail in the post-omni-channel era relies on the retail sector’s ability to harness disparate consumer social sentiment data, use it to build a model for predicting and influencing consumer buying behavior and seamlessly share that data with key trading partners. Together retailers and brand owners can flawlessly drive demand, deliver upon consumer needs and, in the process, gain consumer loyalty.

Wired -- Online shopping was the best thing that ever happened to UPS. Think about it: while the internet sent so many other businesses and industries scrambling to adapt, the rise of e-commerce seriously increased demand for what UPS was already doing. Amazon still needed someone to put the box at the door.

 

But over the years, one-click retail has fostered an even broader change in consumer expectations that’s now forcing UPS to evolve as well. Just as shoppers believe they should have the power to buy anything whenever and wherever they want, they also expect to actually get their hands on the thing without hanging around the house all day waiting for a package to arrive. So, on Wednesday, UPS responded to the imperative of ultra-convenience by launching a trial run of some Amazon-style delivery lockers that let buyers pick up packages whenever it’s convenient for them.

Fast Company -- With world population growing and moving to cities, we're going to need far better rail design than exists today. From driverless trains to ticketless travel, here's a glimpse of how it could look.

GreenBiz -- According to PwC's Global Supply Chain Survey 2013 (PDF), more than two-thirds of supply chain executives said sustainability will play an increasing role in the supply chains of the future. It's clear that growing consumer demand and increasing legislation have begun to shift the perception of sustainable supply chains from "nice to have" to "need to have."

 

There is little doubt that production, transportation and even warehousing of goods are major impacts on an organization's total carbon footprint. As a result, it is more important than ever for companies to evaluate their current supply chain practices, not only to identify ways to reduce environmental impact, but also to reduce costs through increased efficiencies.

Supply Management -- The key to managing supplier performance and mitigating risk is to take action, not just measure it.

But procurement functions often don’t take this important step, according to Martin Berr-Sorokin, general manager at IBM Supplier Lifecycle Management Solutions.

Speaking to the CIPS Annual Conference in London last week, Berr-Sorokin said: "It’s not about measuring the risk and the performance, the main point is taking action.

Refrigerated Frozen Food -- When it comes to saving low-temp energy, doors are an important component in keeping cold areas sealed. Thanks to recently released study from the Door and Access Systems Manufacturers Association (DASMA), Cleveland, Ohio, there is some new thinking around door selection that questions the conventional wisdom.

Material Handling & Logistics – Optimism is up among 58 senior executives of large, multinational U.S. industrial manufacturing companies interviewed by PwC US for the third quarter of 2014, according to its Q3 2014 Manufacturing Barometer. 

Survey respondents forecast an average growth rate of 5.6 percent over the next 12 months, up from 5.2 percent in the second quarter and 4.2 percent a year ago.  The positive revenue outlook ran counter to a notable softening in sentiment regarding the future direction of the U.S. and global economies overall, coupled with increased concerns about the potential impacts of legislative/regulatory and tax policies.

Manufacturing Business Technology -- The philosophy behind Lean Manufacturing — create value, eliminate waste — has been driving production practices for decades, starting at Toyota in the 1950s and continuing through to Dell’s influential Make-to-Order systems of the 1980s. 

Fast forward to 2014, and while it is clear that these groundbreaking companies got it right, the world of technology and manufacturing has changed so drastically, we find ourselves scrambling to keep up. A Fourth Industrial Revolution is upon us, characterized by "smart devices", which are part of an "Internet of Things" or IoT that can actually direct machines on the shop floor by communicating autonomously "device-to-device" to manage manufacturing operations and distribution.

MHI Blog -- Success is usually associated with climbing the corporate ladder. The higher your position the more power, influence and money you gain...correct? Nowadays the young and zealous have a different perspective and are taking an arguably more ambitious approach to success.

The best and brightest students are creating their own careers that work around their personal lifestyles. Forget the nine to five hamster wheel, restricted vacation days and most importantly, not loving what you do. A career is now seen as a journey, or an opportunity for self discovery and personal development. Young professionals want to know – does the job facilitate a healthy lifestyle? This new view on work has prompted those who do not wish to move up or down in a company, to move sideways.

Supply Chain Brain -- Managing carbon emissions in your supply chain is a constant challenge. You may have control over your own facilities and operations, but it's hard to influence the sustainability practices of third-party carriers and 3PLs. Your request for proposal (RFP) process provides a powerful (and frequently untapped) lever.

By including language about registering with EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership, you can use your RFPs to encourage truck, rail, logis-tics, and multimodal carriers to participate in SmartWay and help you quantify your supply chain’s carbon footprint at the same time.

The Packer -- The U.S. Department of Transportation must decide soon how to proceed at the conclusion of a three-year U.S. pilot program allowing Mexican trucks full access to U.S. roads.

The pilot program expires Oct. 14, and the DOT and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration are required by law to collect a statistically valid sample before the agency decides whether to permanently open up the U.S. market.

EBN -- By the numbers, the US manufacturing sector has been growing for several consecutive quarters. However, global economic and geopolitical concerns remain below the surface.

The manufacturing sector's economic activity expanded in August for the 15th consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 63rd consecutive month, according to the latest "Report On Business" from the Institute for Supply Management.