Entrepreneurs are bold and adventurous risk-takers who leverage these qualities to inspire, push, cajole, charm, and (sometimes) berate their employees into creating amazing results for their newly minted companies. In Silicon Valley, for example, tech startup CEOs or founders are encouraged to

Despite the super-hype around technologies like artificial intelligence and the internet of things, many supply-chain companies still rely on paper and spreadsheets to complete critical tasks. As a result, companies in varying states of digital transformation struggle to collaborate in a meaningful

Seafood is a major source of nourishment, providing sustenance to billions of people worldwide. The seafood industry is among the world’s largest and oldest market sectors. It ranges from traditional fishing in open-water areas to inland aquaculture farming and recreational angling.The industr

With each passing year, the use of technology in manufacturing continues to grow, and blue-collar job requirements become more sophisticated, further widening the skills gap. Today’s age of smart manufacturing and distribution relies more and more on high-tech systems, sensors, feedback loops,

What should we call those behind-the-scenes entities that manufacture a wide range of electronics products on behalf of brands?The old term was contract manufacturer, an accurate description of what they did: make product under contract to an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or brand, while rem

On January 25, the year of the Pig ends and the year of the Rat begins. The official celebration runs from January 25-30, and during that time tens of millions of workers will travel to celebrate with their families. The largest single movement of people in the world, it can also be the year’s

Manufacturers today face increasingly complex challenges, from economic instability to compliance pressures and heightened global competition.Most recently, they have come under scrutiny with regard to their ethical and sustainability practices, with consumers paying closer attention to how organiza

The situation was simple and understood by all local parties: Shipment must be re-sent, cargo was stolen. While this was apparently a common occurrence in that particular country, the nonchalant attitude toward serious cargo theft raised my eyebrows.An investigation revealed that the cargo in questi

If you think city streets are congested now, imagine a giant distribution center landing smack in the middle of a busy urban environment.Drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and commercial freight haulers are all vying for the same strip of asphalt. The popularity of ride-sharing services such as Uber and

Blown tires, highway pileups and delays: There’s quite a bit that can go wrong with domestic freight shipments between points A and B.Research shows that 5% of all freight loads have a hiccup while in transit, leaving shipments stranded and businesses scrambling to meet delivery timelines. And

Patagonia’s commitment to social responsibility doesn’t end at company headquarters. It extends to management of the company’s entire supply chain, including the selection of suppliers committed to international labor and human rights standards.The larger the organization, the grea

In recent years, supply chain has become a hotbed of innovation and a darling of venture investors. A series of new technologies has matured and brought new life to this historically rather stodgy space. Robots and drones, autonomous vehicles, computer vision, augmented reality, artificial intellige

In the past, suppliers such as those in the pharma industry stockpiled hundreds of days’ worth of inventory buffer to avoid shortfalls in patient demand. This was “affordable” with 80% margins, but it’s not the case in today’s competitive global marketplace. High margin

In most developing countries, manufacturing and industrial sectors form the backbone of the economy. The availability of relatively cheap raw materials and labor have long been major factors driving production across those regions. More recently, another development promises to impact the future of

Fuel and freight make up nearly two-thirds of logistics costs. Supply-chain and logistics managers need to optimize those costs to improve the bottom line.Transparent and accurate data can help shippers move from reacting to market changes to proactively and effectively managing transportation costs

It’s hard enough shoring up cybersecurity within the walls of your own business. But doing the same for the army of partners that makes up a global supply chain? That can be next to impossible.Hardly a week goes by without news of another cyberattack against a major company’s supply chai

Retailers are launching new programs and collaborative efforts to improve customer experience in last-mile delivery.Market players are deploying a variety of technologically advanced delivery systems and innovative programs to improve the quality of last-mile delivery. They include the adoption of r

It costs about $166,000 to keep a tractor-trailer on the road for a year, based on the latest truck-operating cost data from the American Transportation Research Institute. With every mile costing $1.82, it’s no surprise that private and commercial fleet operators are leveraging route optimiza

Earlier this year, the University of California sued Amazon, Walmart, Target and other major retailers for alleged infringement of four university patents related to “filament” LED light bulbs.While the case is currently on hold pending a U.S. International Trade Commission probe, a deci

As consumers become more eco-conscious, they push brands to adopt more sustainable practices. Many have responded by increasing their reliance on returnable industrial packaging (RIP) — reusable pallets, racks and containers designed for use by manufacturers and their customers in a tight ship