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U.S. Supply Chain:  Warehousing Trends of 2019Ready to know the latest?  2019 is shaping up to be a year filled with pressure.  From inventory levels, to the need for speed, more warehouses, more labor and more technology to the outsourcing trend that is pushing the...

Is Cybersecurity Keeping Pace with Supply Chain Technology? As most supply chain professionals know, the supply chain is highly interconnected.  Knocking out a node or two can put an entire company in jeopardy.  Because there are more connections that in the past,...

Traditionally, the supply chain is linear in nature, goods are consumed and eventually discarded in the trash. The flow of goods originates with raw materials.  With today’s emphasis on sustainability and reclamation of used materials, the supply chain is adapting,...

Brexit Deadline Extended to October 31st With the original deadline for the break up with the European Union now past, and numerous Parliamentary votes unsuccessful, the EU has approved an extension to October 31st.  The break can actually be executed earlier if the...

For years, much of the buzz in the supply chain industry has been about last mile delivery and last mile logistics.  The “last mile” refers to the final stage of a delivery process, extending from a point of origin to the customer-specified destination.  The final...

U.S. Southern Border Slows Down Crossings On March 28th, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officials announced that the organization would reassign significant labor resources to deal with “the dramatic increase in illegal crossings that continue to occur along the...

The pharmaceutical industry is in the throes of a massive sea change, one that will undoubtedly impact human health for decades.  Due to forces such as the need to curb drug development and operational costs, dealing with a troubling skills gap across the industry and...

Nike Attributes 7% Revenue Increase to New Technology For the past few years, Nike has been laser-focused on supply chain speed.  According to Nike’s third quarter earnings call, the 7% revenue increase for 2018 occurred without a substantial increase in inventory. ...

Two Week Delay Approved to Avoid No-Deal BrexitIn an attempt to help avoid the U.K. leave the EU without a deal, European Union leaders approved a delay of two weeks for additional negotiation and planning.  On April 12, Prime Minister Teresa May will need...

Increased emphasis on improving patient outcomes, reducing drug pricing and expediting drug development have put the pharmaceutical industry at odds with regulators and the patients it serves.  From top pharmaceutical companies to smaller biopharmaceutical companies...

Record Soy Exports in Brazil and Canada Result of U.S. Trade War with China Increased tariffs on Chinese imports have had a significant effect on the American agricultural industry.  Orders for some crops can readily be filled by countries with mature, competitive...

In our last blog in this series, we took a look at some of the trends and issues involved in omnichannel retail for the past year.  Consumers today love personalization and convenience.  This may be fueling interest in both subscription services and subscription...

Over the past decade or so, the consumer class has expanded and evolved to have a powerful voice, one that has helped to transform the supply chain.  As mobile phones and access to the Internet have become more affordable and consequently, more widely available,...

Fast, low cost home delivery is no longer a “nice to have”, but rather a business essential.  Today’s retailer needs to have excellent distribution, a solid online presence and the ability to execute same day delivery. Across the United States, the delivery network is...

American Logistics Aid Network Mobilized for Tornado Relief     Following the devastating Category 4 tornado in Alabama and Georgia, the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) initiated mobilization of the logistics community.  Based in central Florida, ALAN works...

With the recent Congressional hearings regarding skyrocketing prescription drug prices, consumers and politicians are struggling to find ways to rein in pharmaceutical product costs. Other industries are finding the pace of change daunting these days, but the...

National Retail Federation Urges Congress to Pass Tariff Reduction Legislation According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), tariffs cost United States consumers approximately $2.7 billion monthly.  Recently the NRF asked Congress to approve legislation which...

Recently supply chain operations have thrived on change, a seemingly endless flow of information, new technologies and chaos.  Starting a new year, we thought it would be a good idea to take a quick peek on how technology is impacting the world of third party...

What is Driving Warehouse Construction? Industry experts recently reported that there is a direct connection between the boom in new warehouse construction and rail volume growth.  Some railroads are undergoing dramatic infrastructure and technology enhancements in...

Amazon Reportedly Plans Fee Reduction to Compete with FedEx and UPS According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon Shipping is planning to slash fuel surcharges and additional home delivery charges.  The information was based on an email sent by Amazon to New York area...