Supply Chain Management

New Deloitte Study Shows How Retailers Are Adjusting Supply Chains: Part II

Monday, August 5, 2013 · Patrick Burnson Retailers are adopting new strategic responses that correspond more closely to the acute cost of new pressures.

New Deloitte Study on Private Label Sourcing: Part I

Monday, August 5, 2013 · Patrick Burnson Rising and increasingly volatile costs dominate retailers’ top challenges sourcing private label goods, while changes in consumer behavior fueled by mobility and online shopping are driving the strategic importance of private label sourcing

E2open Acquires icon-scm to Extend its Reach in Cloud

Wednesday, July 31, 2013 · Patrick Burnson E2open has acquired icon-scm with the intention of creating a stronger service for collaborative planning and execution.

Supply Chain Risk Mitigation: Even Apple Needs to “Think Different”

Tuesday, July 30, 2013 · Patrick Burnson The latest example of hidden risks lurking in the supply chain surfaced yesterday when China Labor Watch (CLW) published an investigative report detailing the labor violations of three factories of Pegatron Group – a major supplier to Apple.

The Singapore Surge

Monday, July 29, 2013 · Patrick Burnson With both China and India losing ground within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this past year, it appears that tiny Singapore is regaining business from U.S. multinationals seeking a stable shipping and sourcing alternative.

Australia-U.S. Trade Addressed by Upstart Freight Forwarder

Monday, July 29, 2013 · Patrick Burnson American Worldwide Agencies, a global network of freight forwarders and agents based in Long Beach, recently announced that it has grown exponentially since launching its service last year.

Supply Chain Managers May Have to Plan For Trouble in the Suez

Tuesday, July 23, 2013 · Patrick Burnson Recent political unrest in Egypt has again raised the specter of the Suez Canal closing. However, if it were to be suddenly shut down tomorrow, it would not be catastrophic for the container industry.

Latin America Supply Chains Mature

Tuesday, July 23, 2013 · Patrick Burnson The 2013 A.T. Kearney Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index, a regular measure of senior executive sentiment at the world’s largest companies, indicates that Latin America remains attractive to U.S. shippers and manufacturers.

Some Caution Advised on Emerging Markets

Wednesday, July 17, 2013 · Patrick Burnson While Gartner, Inc. builds a compelling argument for entering emerging markets, its latest report also addresses the possible downside of hasty penetration.

Gartner Special Report Examines Supply Chain Strategies for Emerging Markets

Wednesday, July 17, 2013 · Patrick Burnson Supply chain leaders will play a crucial role as companies capitalize on the explosive growth in emerging markets, according to Gartner, Inc.

Diesel Prices Firm Up

Tuesday, July 16, 2013 · Jeff Berman Diesel prices increased 3.9 cents to $3.867 per gallon, according to the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration

Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation Business Outlook Brightens

Tuesday, July 16, 2013 · SCMR Staff The results of the quarterly Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI) Business Outlook point to a degree of renewed momentum in manufacturing activity over the next three to six months.

U.S. Supply Chains Challenged by Slowdown Maritime Activity

Tuesday, July 16, 2013 · Patrick Burnson Amid growing concern that U.S. exports may be lagging, comes news that inbound shipments are sluggish, too.

Cargo Throughput Now a Priority for Seaports

Monday, July 15, 2013 · Patrick Burnson In the not-so-distant past the great cargo seaports in our global marketplace were fairly fixed destinations, with little incentive to change

Reliance on 3PLs Increasing for Supply Chain managers

Friday, July 12, 2013 · Patrick Burnson Eighty-six percent of Domestic Fortune 500 companies use 3PLs for logistics and supply chain functions according to a new report just issued by Armstrong & Associates.