In late March, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) fined Williams-Sonoma $1 million for making overly broad and misleading U.S. origin claims about certain houseware and furniture products. Here's what we can learn from the FTC’s enforcement action — and practical advice for comp

The global automotive logistics industry is experiencing an unprecedented shift in 2020, as companies grapple with advanced technology and shifting consumer patterns. And like all business sectors, the industry has been hard by the onslaught of COVID-19.With customer demand intensifying, and competi

The coronavirus pandemic has hit global supply chains hard. Consumer fear has led to the hoarding of everything from toilet paper to bottled water, and companies that supply meat, vegetables and other staples are struggling to meet in the surge in demand.The consumer packaged goods industry is rampi

The new decade is off to an unexpected start, with U.S. businesses and consumers alike impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.Few could have anticipated the scale of disruption we’re seeing throughout the domestic economy. Many industries have been halted with the pandemic’s arrival, while ot

Modern technology provides us with a dazzling array of devices, machines and vehicles designed to create more efficient supply chains, promote a cleaner environment and generally enrich our lives. But none of it runs without batteries.As electric vehicles and stationary battery-powered energy applic

In the span of weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic has upended life around the world, and its impact grows more severe with each passing day. The swiftness and pervasiveness of the disruption is unparalleled in modern history, as entire economies grind to a halt in an effort to contain the spread of the vi

Only a few short months ago, back in the fall of 2019, the buzz around corporate board governance was the emerging consumer trend toward sustainability and social responsibility. Why the push? Because investors are increasingly looking to invest in companies that demonstrate behaviors that are viewe

Reverse logistics has become a prerequisite for businesses dealing with connected in-field assets that are managed by service-based contracts. But many have yet to master the complex process, which is directly linked to an organization’s profitability.Following is a three-step strategy for bui

At a time when global supply chains and trade flows are being disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and demand patterns are changing rapidly, many businesses are looking to inject more agility into their systems and processes.The World Trade Organization anticipates international merchandise trade wil

You can’t design the future — but you can design for the future you want.Merrill “Pete” Miller, ex-CEO and chairman of National Oilwell Varco, has said that when redesigning or changing company processes, you should imagine the future you want, then build a bridge back to whe

The coronavirus pandemic will disappear much faster than the economic crisis that it caused.The most pessimistic predictions say it could be five years before the slumping economy returns to the level of activity it was enjoying when COVID-19 emerged. Others hope for a “V’-shaped recover

With all the recent attention paid to plastic and the damage that it’s wreaking on the environment, one might assume cardboard to be the acceptable “green” alternative. Think again.Turns out the humble cardboard box carries its own set of environmental consequences, especially in t

The complex, hyper-connected nature of global supply chains makes them extremely vulnerable to a range of risk factors. In 2019, corporations experienced new levels of volatility in commodity and energy pricing, interest and exchange rates, and general international trading conditions. In 2020, thin

Micro-fulfillment is undoubtedly the hottest topic in 2020 for many retailers. Most leading grocery chains have already jumped into full-blown pilots, while apparel, automotive, and specialty retailers are considering the possibilities. But micro-fulfillment isn’t a concept that makes sense fo

As consumer awareness of the environmental impact of online purchases grows, sustainability becomes a larger and a more strategic issue for supply-chain leaders. With e-commerce sales expected to double in the next decade, business leaders will be challenged to find eco-friendly and carbon-neutral s

The past decade has seen substantial changes in the supply chain. Whether it’s the evolution of the distribution center to accommodate e-commerce, or the push of e-commerce fulfillment operations closer to population centers, the one constant has been labor challenges. In the growing supply-ch

Cyberattacks can happen at any time, on any scale, and through any device that’s connected to the network. The longer a cyber breach goes on, the more it results in lost data, time and money.A single cyberattack is enough to devastate a supply chain. Moreover, the effectiveness of credentials

At a time when supply chains are fracturing as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic, is blockchain the solution?If you listen to the apostles of blockchain, it’s the answer to just about every problem imaginable. So it figures that they would get around to touting the technology’s

The coronavirus pandemic is causing whiplash within many supply chains, especially those of e-commerce companies. Dramatic spikes in orders follow reductions in manufacturing and shipping lanes, along with an expected slowdown in orders as products go out of stock and marketplaces prioritize the goo

As corporate procurement departments have gotten leaner and leaner, and buyers have been asked to do more with less, it only stands to reason that tail-spend expenses, with relatively low-spend volume priority, tend not to get the same attention as they would if procurement resources were more robus