Modern Materials Handling Material handling equipment new orders grew 7.0% in 2013 and are forecasted to grow 8.5% or more in 2014 and 12.0 % in 2015, according to the latest Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing Forecast (MHEM) released by MHI.
"We are optimistic about future outcomes and expect economic fundamentals to favorably support MHEM expansion through 2014 and 2015," says Hal Vandiver, MHI executive consultant.
Visit http://www.mmh.com/article/material_handling_equipment_orders_grew_7.0_in_2013 to view the full article online.
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The Wall Street Journal Equipment spending by manufacturing companies in the U.S. will rise about 7% in 2014 to $211 billion, economic research firm IHS Global Insight projects. Such spending grew 3.5% in 2013, IHS estimates.
"I think business people are pretty confident longer term," said Daniel Meckstroth, chief economist at the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation, a research organization in Arlington, Va. The two-year budget deal recently reached in Congress soothed nerves, and the U.S. economy appears to be gaining strength.
Visit http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304325004579296551829519722?mod=dist_smartbrief to view the full article online.
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Modern Materials Handling MODEX will once again offer an extensive educational program including 90+ free on-floor educational sessions. The sessions are housed in nine separate theaters located on the far right of the exhibit hall. The seminars run from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and on Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
"The on-floor seminars are presented by industry experts in materials handling and logistics solutions," said Carmen Murphy, education coordinator of MHI and manager of the MODEX educational seminars. "It’s a unique opportunity for attendees to learn more about the latest material handing technologies from exhibitors, industry groups and research institutions."
Visit http://www.mmh.com/article/modex_2014_from_best_practices_to_maintenance_attend_an_on_floor_educationa to view the full article online.
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Bloomberg News China’s imports rose the most in five months in December, indicating that domestic demand will support economic growth, as the government claimed the title of the world’s biggest trader of goods.
Inbound shipments advanced 8.3 percent from a year earlier, the customs administration said today in Beijing. Exports rose 4.3 percent, a pace that may be distorted by fake invoices. The trade surplus was $25.6 billion.
Visit http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-10/china-imports-accelerate-to-help-nation-claim-world-trade-crown.html to view the full article online.
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Manufacturing.net This time of year we, as business leaders, set our annual goals. Maybe you’ve already set some: to pay down capital debt, grow revenues or to finally iron out those kinks in your supply chain. No doubt, you want 2014 to be a banner year.
I’d like to offer some food for thought when it comes to evaluating and improving logistics in your enterprise: Whatever else you do in 2014, make it a priority to dump the tribal knowledge you might be using to make mission-critical decisions. Instead, substitute the facts. While this may seem contrarian, it is actually essential.
Visit https://www.manufacturing.net/articles/2014/01/best-logistics-advice-for-2014-dump-tribal-knowledge to view the full article online.
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EBN There's an old saying: Mind the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves. Never a truer word has been spoken than when trying to cut supply chain costs. One measure that trims small costs is the use of electronic signatures, and the savings can really add up.
"There are tremendous applications for e-signatures in both direct and indirect procurement," said Anu Gardiner, DocuSign's senior director of procurement in an interview with EBN. The company's solution has been used to sign more than 290 million documents in more than 188 countries, the company said.
Visit http://www.ebnonline.com/author.asp?section_id=3219&doc_id=270957& to view the full article online.
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Material Handling & Logistics "Based on early numbers, 2014 looks like it should be off to a good start," said Jonathan Gold, vice president for supply chain and customs policy in commenting on the monthly Global Port Tracker report released last week by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. Estimates show 2013 up 2.8 percent over 2012 and the report states import volume at the nation’s major retail container ports should grow 4.8 percent in January over the same month last year.
U.S. ports followed by Global Port Tracker handled 1.37 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units in November, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available. That was down 4.3 percent from October as imports for the holiday season wound down but up 6.5 percent from November 2012. One TEU is one 20-foot cargo container or its equivalent.
Visit http://mhlnews.com/global-supply-chain/january-retail-imports-top-last-january-s-48 to view the full article online.
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Supply Chain Brain U.S. rail traffic for 2013 saw record intermodal growth with a slight full year decrease in carloadings, according to the Association of American Railroads.
U.S. rail intermodal volume totaled a record 12.8 million containers and trailers in 2013, up 4.6 percent or 564,276 units, over 2012. Carloads totaled 14.6 million in 2013, down 0.5 percent or 76,784 carloads, from 2012. Intermodal volume in 2013 was the highest on record, surpassing the record high totals of 2006 by 549,471 units.
Visit http://www.supplychainbrain.com/content/single-article-page/article/intermodal-growth-in-us-last-year-is-record/ to view the full article online.
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Fleet Owner Both global and domestic supply chain networks will need to become more resilient and reliable in the coming year in order to better manage more volatile demand as well as pressures on margins, according to recent analysis by two consulting firms.
In a conference call this week, Simon Ellis, practice director for global supply chain strategies for IDC Manufacturing Insights, explained that while the world’s economies are expected to keep improving this year – with consumer confidence now at levels not seen since before the start of the great Recession – demand for goods will continue to be volatile, requiring supply chains to be more quick, nimble and robust.
Visit http://fleetowner.com/fleet-management/resiliency-and-reliability-be-main-supply-chain-focus-2014 to view the full article online.
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Forbes It is not news that the primary way that e-commerce goods are delivered in North America and Europe is by parcel. I have argued that we will see increased use of couriers to support e-fulfillment because large traditional retailers, with all their stores in metropolitan areas, could potentially compete against Amazon and other e-commerce retailers by being able to deliver goods more quickly by using a courier model.
But in a recent Wall Street Journal article – Germany Seeds Web Shopping the Developing World – the article makes it clear that couriers are the only practical delivery mechanism in much of the developing world. The article speaks of the efforts that Rocket Gmbh has made to develop an e-commerce company in Nigeria.
Visit http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevebanker/2014/01/14/e-fulfillment-in-the-developing-world-requires-different-logistics-models/ to view the full article online.
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Industry Today A new MIT study on supply-chain risk shows no correlation between the total amount a manufacturer spends with a supplier and the profit loss it would incur if that supply were suddenly interrupted.
This counterintuitive finding defies a basic business tenet that equates the greatest supply-chain risk with suppliers of highest annual expenditure.
Visit http://industrytoday.com/article_view.asp?ArticleID=we728 to view the full article online.
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World Trade One year ago, the pharmaceutical industry was buzzing about controlled room temperature monitoring (CRT). That is still a hot topic in the cold chain environment. At the same time, routine (2° to 8°C) cold chain needs are expanding. It is not just the pharmaceutical industry that is affected, either. Medical devices with chemical or biological reagents and all sorts of food are coming under increasing regulatory scrutiny. Even the aviation industry ships certain components — like rivets — at controlled temperatures of minus 40°C.
To meet these needs, logistics providers are stepping up to ensure they have the necessary infrastructure. This means new temperature control products and services are being rolled out and new controlled-temperature facilities are being built throughout the world.
Visit http://www.worldtradewt100.com/articles/89930-a-curve-ball-for-cold-chain to view the full article online.
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