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Supply chain managers shift reshoring focus to total cost of ownership

Inventory challenges have led manufacturers to consider total cost as a key sourcing metric over price per unit alone, according to the State of North American Manufacturing report.

Deep Dive

More frequent, severe wildfires threaten California's growing logistics network

Fires can clog and cut off freight arteries, creating choke points for inventory traveling via truck and rail.

Dollar Tree: 'Upside down' ocean market sends import rates skyward

The company utilized spot markets more than it expected last quarter, which tripled its transportation cost assumption.

HP, Dell adjust supply chains as shortages linger

Dell is prioritizing "more valuable places for" components and HP is building its inventory levels.

Albertsons jumps on early payment trend to boost supplier diversity

Early payments give suppliers access to capital and the ability to scale, the company said.

Opinion

Procurement can't ignore market intel — especially now

The turbulence in the paperboard market is just one area that pushed companies to consider creative alternatives over the last year.

4 types of billion-dollar weather events tested supply chains in 2020

The combination of a record year for natural disasters and the pandemic magnified disruptions to shippers, carriers and everyone in-between.

Averitt Express opens Dallas distribution center, as e-commerce drives fleets closer to consumers

A trend is emerging among logistics providers like Averitt Express as they plan new facilities: build closer, distribute faster. 

'No longer a test': Locus Robotics to deploy 2K robots at DHL warehouses

DHL expects to have robots in "more than 20" facilities by the end of 2021 and plans to expand to more locations in 2022.

American Eagle cuts SKUs, speeds delivery with supply chain transformation

The introduction of regional hubs helped the retailer cut the number of shipments per order and reduce delivery speed by 1.5 days, the COO said.

Deep Dive

As storms become more frequent and volatile, some ports plan for the risk — but most do not

The interconnectedness of ports leave assets such as warehouses, trucking networks and railroads vulnerable to disruptions from climate change and rising sea levels.

UPDATED: June 8, 2021 at 1:52 p.m.

Supply chains stick with lean methods despite inventory woes

Growing demand and flat inventory growth led the inventory-to-sales ratio to drop to 1.23 in March, the lowest ever recorded.

Coronavirus surge in India hits raw materials, manufacturing across multiple industries

Industries that use oxygen for production have curbed output to reserve supplies for critically ill patients, one analyst said.

Why lumber prices are spiking

An economist expects the labor part of the sawmill problem to start resolving itself later this year but prices to remain high into 2022.

Instacart launches 30-minute, last-mile delivery service

Algorithms will determine delivery windows based on factors such as the distance from the store, basket size and personal shopper availability, the company said.

Disruptions to rare earth supply would be far-reaching at time of heightened demand: DOE

The Department of Energy study found a single year of not exporting rare earths and two years of mine closures could result in years of price, production and capacity impacts.

UPS offers tracking tech, logistics and warehousing in pharma cold chain service

Lessons learned from vaccine transport and distribution help the company tap into demand it anticipates will outlast the pandemic.

Port of Long Beach waives pollution fee for natural gas trucks as it targets supply chain emissions

The exemption aims to incentivize the trucking industry to adopt cleaner fuels while electric and hydrogen technology scale.

Flytrex expands drone deliveries for Walmart, local retailers in North Carolina

An FAA permit allows the drones to carry deliveries up to a mile away from retailers. 

Kroger announces competition to attract, support fresh suppliers

Fifteen companies will pitch a panel of judges this summer in Cincinnati for the chance to have the grocer stock their products.

Meet 4 startups automating warehouse picking

Automated technology is improving, and supply chains see picking, packing and sorting as top use cases for robotics.

Manufacturers focus on cycle times, delivered costs

Order cycle time was the most common target with 19% of respondents highlighting it as their top priority in a BDO survey.

Foot Locker: Stage is set for inventory improvement as port congestion eases

The company's inventory level was down 30% in its most recent quarter compared to a year ago, when store closures led to a build-up of inventory.

FedEx piles on peak surcharges with increases set for June

Now is "not the best time to be a shipper," one consultant said.

VF Corp, following efforts to decrease inventory, ends the year with levels down 18%

Vans is in comeback mode, but Europe's pandemic troubles and questions around inventory remain bumps in the road.