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How health systems are responding as COVID-19 squeezes the medical supply chain

Procurement of supplies will become more difficult if cases surge and federal stockpiles don't trickle down to the state level quickly enough.

Amazon suspends deliveries of nonessential goods in France, India, Italy

Third-party sellers on Amazon's marketplace that do not use Amazon fulfillment and logistics services to process and deliver orders can still ship to customers, but delays may result. 

As stay-at-home orders spread, deliveries speed up

Less congestion means faster and more predictable deliveries, according to data from Convoy. 

The apparel industry had an inventory problem before coronavirus. What now?

With such an unprecedented set of restrictions and uncertainties, universal recommendations are hard to come by for "nonessential" retailers and wholesalers, but some trends are starting to surface.

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Today's supply chains are too lean

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the dangers of just-in-time principles and lean inventories.

So only 12% of supply chain pros are using AI? Apparently.

Low-level AI implementation could be the result of the difficulty hiring technology talent and the inability to properly manage enterprise data streams, according to experts.

Moody's: Transport faces 'high exposure' to COVID-19 disruption

A slump in cargo demand or viral outbreak among drivers puts trucking at risk. 

'We're putting out fires': Companies adjust to online grocery surge

Retailers are adding servers, hiring fulfillment workers and trying to better sync inventory with their online platforms.

Instacart plans to hire 300,000 additional shoppers

The delivery service said the move will double the number of gig workers on its platform over the next three months to meet ongoing demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

United, American Airlines begin cargo-only flights as rates double between Europe and US

As the number of global consumer flights dwindles, so does a large slice of the global airfreight capacity that existed in the belly of those passenger planes.

Cold chain stays steady as grocery demand heats up

COVID-19 has had minimal effect on warehouse operations, so far. But stakeholders are keeping an eye on staffing and are requesting regulatory help to maintain functionality. 

DHL Global Forwarding declares force majeure, reserving the right to modify services

The group said all aspects of the ocean and air supply chains are "impossible to predict or control" in the current COVID-19 pandemic situation. 

XPO ends spinoff strategy in light of COVID-19 outbreak

CEO Brad Jacobs' January announcement that he would consider selling off parts of the business was a sign trucking M&A was healthy, but world events have conspired against further plans.

Ports shift operations, hours in coronavirus response

The Georgia Port Authority said it is temporarily suspending Saturday truck gate hours while Port Houston is reopening two terminals after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.

UPDATED: March 25, 2020 at 9:22 a.m.

McKinsey estimates stock-outs for automotive, retail supply chains by end of March, April

Just-in-time and traditionally low-inventory supply chains could be in danger in the coming weeks as supply out of China continues to be slow and U.S. and EU factories begin to postpone production.

US won't suspend China tariffs during coronavirus outbreak

The tariffs present a risk and additional cost to medical supply chains as the need for critical supplies becomes urgent. 

US automakers study medical manufacturing as coronavirus squeezes capacity

The switch to producing medical equipment will require new supply lines running to the manufacturing facilities with the components needed to assemble the needed products. 

How a lab facing coronavirus supply shortage signals nationwide struggles

The Western New York regional public health lab is a microcosm of the insufficient swab and reagent stocks labs face as they attempt to confirm COVID-19 cases and gauge the scope of the outbreak.

Redundancies, hurricane prep keeping healthcare company Baxter in stock despite COVID-19

The company is constantly monitoring the supply and the demand side to thoroughly understand supplier capacity and prevent hoarding by hospitals, said CEO Joe Almeida. 

Maersk rolls out 'door-to-door' cargo insurance product

The insurance will cover loss or damage during end-to-end transportation of cargo, regardless of transport supplier.

European, US manufacturers shut down as China comes back online

Factory shutdowns will quickly ripple through the supply chain to impact the suppliers, logistics partners and other businesses that work with manufacturers on a regular basis. 

UPDATED: March 24, 2020 at 11 a.m.

Costco brings big and bulky delivery in-house with $1B acquisition

The retailer has contracted out large-parcel deliveries to Innovel over the past five years. But as its main client, Sears, began to decline, Costco saw an opportunity to buy. 

FedEx 'attacking costs' as coronavirus dashes forecast

FedEx has been in cost-cutting and efficiency-seeking mode for several quarters, as it seeks to recapture tumbling profitability.

67 trade organizations urge FMC to adopt rule on detention, demurrage fees

Trade associations across industries say clarity is needed to keep fees consistent and fair, especially in the current coronavirus-impacted global economy.  

Warehousing sector well-positioned to weather coronavirus disruption, report finds

Prologis predicts there could be greater demand for logistics real estate once a post-outbreak surge kicks in.