Opinion
The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders
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From a FedEx pilot: Time is running out to reach a contract
Management's handling of negotiations has inched the pilots union closer to a strike authorization vote, writes union leader Capt. Chris Norman.
Capt. Chris Norman • March 20, 2023 -
Joe Raedle via Getty Images
Why ocean shipping is less anti-competitive than lawmakers think
The Ocean Shipping Reform Act was pitched as an effort to address collusion and price gouging. In reality, a lack of information is the industry's real bottleneck.
Jessica Darby and Andrew Balthrop • March 17, 2023 -
DKosig via Getty Images
How supply chain mapping builds resilience
Businesses will need more insight into all aspects of their operations to guard against future disruption.
Tony Pelli • March 9, 2023 -
PeopleImages via Getty Images
4 benefits of supplier segmentation
By categorizing vendors, procurement managers can focus on maximizing the value of supplier relationships.
Praveen Kumar Soni • Jan. 5, 2023 -
Scott Olson via Getty Images
Railroads should give workers the benefits they seek
It's time to get freight rail back on track with a stable workforce and improved service, writes the National Association of Chemical Distributors.
Eric R. Byer • Oct. 17, 2022 -
David McNew via Getty Images
Inflation is a lot worse than it seems, as companies do not always pass on the costs
A small food manufacturer's experience in Texas outlines the difficult choices it takes to absorb rising costs, write three professors.
Travis Tokar, Andrew Balthrop, Ron Gordon • Sept. 12, 2022 -
Megan Quinn/Supply Chain Dive
US supply chains need visibility and resiliency. Congress still hasn’t acted.
The baby formula shortage should have been reason enough to advance policy. Unfortunately, it wasn’t, writes Tom Madrecki of the Consumer Brands Association.
Tom Madrecki • Aug. 9, 2022 -
peterschreiber.media via Getty Images
Procurement deserves C-suite credence as supply shocks persist
Supply chain disruptions have shown why procurement managers should have a seat at the executive’s table. Here’s how they can get there.
Ajith Gopinath • July 14, 2022 -
kupicoo via Getty Images
The myth of supply chain management
Managers should be focused not only on minimizing costs, but securing the resiliency and elasticity of their supply chains.
John Frechette and Dr. Ralph Sonenshine • July 11, 2022 -
George Frey via Getty Images
Stronger rail oversight needed as decaying service threatens food security
Old industry weaknesses are causing major problems, particularly for shippers who have no competitive alternative.
Robb MacKie and John Bode • June 3, 2022 -
1933bkk via Getty Images
Disruption has fundamentally altered the shipper-3PL relationship
Adaptation and bold sourcing strategies are key for logistics leaders to ensure they're getting the best value.
Matthew Beckett • April 27, 2022 -
Courtesy of O-I
Breaking the 'glass shortage' myth
No, there isn't a lack of 'brown glass' — or of any other color for that matter.
Scott DeFife • March 17, 2022 -
Courtesy of CMA CGM
The problem with chartering a ship: Break bulk is a lost art
Break bulk is doable for large, well-capitalized companies, but there's no guarantee they'll achieve lower freight costs than using carriers, a Xeneta executive writes.
Katherine Barrios • Dec. 1, 2021 -
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Want to minimize supply chain risk? Become a disruption shaper.
Businesses have figured out how to reduce the rate of disruption to their supply chains — something most leaders dismiss as even a possibility, Gartner's director of supply chain research writes.
Suzie Petrusic • Nov. 23, 2021 -
Wang He via Getty Images
Now is the time to shockproof supply chains, with a 3-pronged approach
Congested ports and empty car lots are a loud wake-up call to the shortcomings of just-in-time, the authors write.
Kim Doyle and Tim Weed • Nov. 15, 2021 -
Drew Angerer via Getty Images
Supply chain visibility is now more important than ever
Manufacturers that put traceability, sustainability in business are edging out competitors, writes Parsable's Yasmin Zarabi.
Yasmin Zarabi • Oct. 27, 2021 -
Win McNamee via Getty Images
Supply chain challenges aren't going away anytime soon
Businesses and consumers should prepare for continued disruption and increased costs, writes a supply chain expert at CBRE.
Joe Dunlap • Sept. 21, 2021 -
Morris MacMatzen / Stringer via Getty Images
Stress tests: The right tool for strengthening supply chains.
Simulations of potential disruptions — large economic shifts, trade wars, climate change or even cyberattacks — can yield forward-looking assessments of risk.
Jonathan Welburn • Aug. 9, 2021 -
Permission granted by Home Depot
Want to improve supply chain performance? Start by defining OTIF
Nothing hinders supply chain performance more than low on-time and in-full rates. Tom Kieley, CEO of SourceDay, suggests three steps to improve it.
Tom Kieley • July 27, 2021 -
Mark Wilson / Staff via Getty Images
Supplier diversity and inclusion is a business imperative
As with all successful transformation programs, getting to the multifaceted benefits of supplier diversity and inclusion will require commitment.
Jaideep Sen • July 21, 2021 -
Courtesy of DHL
Using a new supplier can be risky. Traceability can help.
The supply chain is its own complex ecosystem that requires tracking and documenting products from raw materials to finished goods, writes Brian McCaffrey, production operations manager at Rockwell Automation.
Brian McCaffrey • July 8, 2021 -
Win McNamee via Getty Images
Biden administration needs to broaden supply chain focus to all 'essential' products
The pandemic experience has clarified that personal care and cleaning products are just as important as a stocked pantry to everyday life, writes Tom Madrecki of the Consumer Brands Association.
Tom Madrecki • June 25, 2021 -
Photo by Alexander Suhorucov from Pexels
Supply chains that don't prioritize DEI risk losing out
Organizations that don’t "walk the talk" will lag competitors in business performance, employment value proposition and meeting their defined purpose, write ASCM's Abe Eshkenazi and Gartner's Dana Stiffler.
Abe Eshkenazi and Dana Stiffler • June 22, 2021 -
Morris MacMatzen / Stringer via Getty Images
It's time to use a wealth of available data to push sustainability forward
The data from digitization efforts can be used to find opportunities to accelerate progress on key sustainability targets.
Lisa Wee • June 15, 2021 -
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.
Praveen Kumar Soni • June 3, 2021
