Coronavirus: Page 2

Packaging manufacturers compete for raw materials as takeout shakes up food service

One company has seen its lead times double for the materials it needs to make packaging.

By Jen A. Miller • Feb. 23, 2021

Deep Dive

Why the automotive supply chain is in a semiconductor jam

A shortage with no quick fix is shutting down production lines around the world, and capacity constraints at tier 3 put automakers' lean operations into question.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 23, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Trendline

The Supply Chain Dive Outlook on 2021

The early parts of 2021 reveal a continuation of 2020's trends, making it clear the pandemic will affect the supply chain ecosystem long term. 

By Supply Chain Dive staff

Pfizer set to double weekly production of coronavirus vaccine

The drugmaker will expand its production network and work to reduce manufacturing timelines from 110 days to an average of 60 days.

By Ned Pagliarulo • Feb. 22, 2021

US secures 200M more vaccine doses from Pfizer, Moderna

Pfizer is adding suppliers and expanding its manufacturing capacity to make 2 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2021, the company's CEO said.

By Ned Pagliarulo , Matt Leonard • Feb. 17, 2021

Deep Dive

What's behind supplier price hikes rippling through the construction supply chain?

The cost trend in 2021 is only going in one direction so far — up.

By Joe Bousquin • Feb. 17, 2021

4 charts show the effects of West Coast port congestion and supply chain delays

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have been overburdened with a deluge of container imports over the last few months.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 16, 2021

Deep Dive

The PPE supply chain is a case of the 'haves' and the 'have nots'

Gloves and masks are in short supply, and many organizations are blowing through their budgets as they attempt to source in-demand equipment.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Feb. 11, 2021

FMC to discuss 'big, huge step' related to detention, demurrage and container returns

The commissioners will meet as ports face congestion issues resulting from record import levels and shippers deal with a container imbalance that is increasing the price of equipment.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 11, 2021

NRF expects record imports through June, with retailers buying goods early to ensure carrier space

Tight capacity has pushed spot rates to more than double over the last year and caused an uptick in rolled cargo.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 10, 2021

Clorox plans to double wipe production by year's end as it struggles to fill retail inventories

The company is adding capacity for a new line of wipes at a manufacturing facility in the Atlanta area and working with more contract manufacturers.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 09, 2021

Pfizer gets boost from DPA, adds suppliers to make 2B vaccine doses

The company plans to distribute 200 million doses within the U.S. by the end of May and is working with the federal government on shipping schedules.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 08, 2021

Sysco plans warehouse, driver hiring push to prep for pandemic recovery

Volumes were low in December, but the company wants to be ahead of the curve. It's thinking ahead to SKU rationalization as a way to improve throughput.

By S.L. Fuller • Feb. 05, 2021

Dry ice demand rises more than 1,100% as procurement leaders navigate vaccine rollout: Thomas

Sourcing for freezers and syringes ticked up significantly, and nitrile gloves are expected to be in high demand throughout the year.

By A.B. Brown • Feb. 04, 2021

Deep Dive

Why the empty container math doesn't add up in US exporters' favor

What led to a global imbalance of available shipping containers? And what were the effects on U.S. businesses?

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 03, 2021

Manufacturers face price increases, shortages to start new year: PMI

"We had zero of our companies report price decreases — zero," ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee Chair Timothy Fiore said Monday.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 03, 2021

FMC calls on Biden to prioritize vaccines, PPE for port workers

Unions and groups representing maritime employees reported nearly 2,000 COVID-19 cases since March 2020.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 01, 2021

3M increases N95 production rate to 2.5B annually

The ability to expand production of personal protective equipment is thanks, in part, to 3M's agile supply chain and shorter cycle times, the CEO said.

By Shefali Kapadia • Jan. 28, 2021

Biden invokes DPA to combat supply shortages, but experts say it's no 'magic wand'

The Defense Production Act moves government orders to the front of the line and requires U.S. suppliers to comply.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 26, 2021

Gig economy emerges as key part of the parcel ecosystem

During the pandemic, Instacart, Postmates, Roadie, Shipt and others have moved into new roles, in many cases integrating into retailers' parcel portfolios as an alternative to traditional carriers.

By Emma Cosgrove • Jan. 25, 2021

The past, present and future of pandemic e-commerce logistics

An erratic peak season gives way to the proliferation of same-day logistics startups and an emerging new hierarchy among shippers.

By Emma Cosgrove • Jan. 25, 2021

Column

It's time to hit reset on these 3 aspects of supplier management

Companies have had nearly a year to adapt their service levels to the pandemic, and workarounds should be baked into service blueprints.

By Rich Weissman • Jan. 21, 2021

Costco tests curbside pickup as retailers turbocharge omnichannel efforts

Costco has resisted curbside pickup. Adding designated parking spaces, order-staging areas and employees could disrupt its busy in-store operations.

By Jeff Wells • Jan. 20, 2021

How supply chains adjusted demand forecasts during the pandemic

Demand planners started to bring in data from Google Trends and Amazon marketplaces to better understand unpredictable consumer buying habits.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 19, 2021

FedEx announces Ground, Express surcharges beginning February, citing high volume

With peak season now in the rearview mirror, the announcement of the new surcharges highlights just how much FedEx plans to rely on these fees to manage its network moving forward.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 15, 2021

Congestion could clog California ports into February, Hapag-Lloyd warns

One analyst suggested the congestion might continue into March, as nearly one quarter of all cargo was experiencing dwell times longer than five days near the end of 2020.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 14, 2021