By Hau L. Lee, Sonali V. Rammohan, and Lesley Sept ·
November 8, 2011
Managing logistics in developing countries presents real challenges—from poor roads and unreliable vehicles to less than ideal warehousing options. When public health is at stake, the logistics issues are even more worrisome.
By John Blascovich, Alejandro Ferrer, and Bill Markham ·
November 8, 2011
The latest Assessment of Excellence in Procurement (AEP) study from A.T. Kearney confirms procurement’s power to drive real money to the bottom line and value to the top line. Among the leaders who do this best, seven characteristics stand out.
By Christoph Glatzel, Jochen Großpietsch, and Ildefonso Silva ·
November 8, 2011
Managing a global supply chain involves tough organizational challenges that promise only to intensify as operations expand and become increasingly interconnected. Key among those challenges: getting functional groups to understand their impact on one another so that they can collaborate. To bridge the organizational gaps that often divide their senior managers, McKinsey research finds, companies need to successfully address three main areas of collaboration tension.
By Joseph R. Carter, Phillip L. Carter, Robert M. Monczka, and Thomas V. Scannell ·
November 8, 2011
This article explains how leading companies are engaging in innovation from a unique perspective — that of their suppliers. The research examines the strategies and approaches that should be put in place to accelerate and realize supplier innovations that lead to competitive advantage.
By Bob Trebilcock ·
November 2, 2011
On its Iowa manufacturing campus, John Deere is using AGVs to move tractor cabs down the assembly line. The result has been savings in labor, a safer work environment and improved quality.
By Bob Trebilcock ·
November 1, 2011
Automatic guided vehicles move tractor cabs through the production line at John Deere’s Waterloo plant.
By Lorie King Rogers ·
November 1, 2011
Today’s supply chain execution software applications are evolving, adding functionality and enabling operations to function more effectively.
By Bob Trebilcock ·
November 1, 2011
Efficiency in the warehouse has traditionally driven the distribution process. Now, some leading retailers are looking at the DC to lower the cost of operating their stores.
By Lorie King Rogers ·
November 1, 2011
Enterprise-level supply chain software solutions give an operation the tools to create and test effective business strategies and plan ahead by incorporating commands for necessary preemptive strikes.
SPECIAL REPORT
By Lorie King Rogers ·
November 1, 2011
Going green isn’t going away: It’s a permanent and increasingly important part of the global business landscape—and that includes materials handling.
By Lorie King Rogers ·
November 1, 2011
A microbrewer with major appeal installs robust end-of-the-line palletizer that satisfies a round of palletizing specs.
By Lorie King Rogers ·
November 1, 2011
Moving away from a manual palletizing process and installing a robotic solution was good for Greif.
By Josh Bond ·
November 1, 2011
Specially designed cold storage lift trucks take a bite out of historic productivity drains.
By Bob Trebilcock ·
November 1, 2011
Modern spends 60 seconds talking with John Nofsinger, outgoing CEO of the Material Handling Industry of America.
By Michael Levans ·
November 1, 2011