Operations Management

  • A person walks on a sidewalk near a wall that has letters spelling out "Court of International Trade Watson Courthouse."
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    CBP preps tariff refund portal for April 20 launch

    The system will go live at 8 a.m. EDT to begin the electronic returns process for an estimated $127 billion in tariffs, the agency said Tuesday.

    By • April 14, 2026
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    Retrieved from Sportsman's Warehouse on April 06, 2026
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    Sportsman’s Warehouse hones in on inventory timing

    The retailer said its spring season inventory is set to arrive later in a bid to boost product turnaround and productivity.

    By • April 14, 2026
  • Shipping containers are stacked at the Port of Los Angeles on February 7, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Top 5 stories from Supply Chain Dive

    Here’s how companies are navigating evolving global trade and tariff policies, rising costs and operational uncertainty across supply chain networks.

    By Supply Chain Dive staff
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    From tariffs to Iran war, geopolitics are upending packaging supply chains

    Switching all sourcing to the U.S. is nearly impossible, manufacturers and consumer brands say. In 2026, here’s how some CPGs are thinking about savvy supply chain management.

    By Shefali Kapadia • April 13, 2026
  • A worker bring boxes of flowers into the Avianca Cargo Warehouse before they are inspected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialists.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    CBP: Tariff refund process will take 60-90 days to issue returns

    The agency previously said its in-development system would deliver refunds up to 45 days after a request was submitted.

    By • April 10, 2026
  • Lamb Weston's "Crispy on Delivery" fries are pictured next to a hot dog.
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    Courtesy of Lamb Weston
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    Lamb Weston warns of supply chain pressures amid Iran war

    The french fry maker anticipates a rise in commodity volatility, including for packaging and fuel, if the conflict persists.

    By • April 9, 2026
  • Three people are on a screen during a panel discussion, framed by banners with the corresponding name and titles.
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    Kelly Stroh/Supply Chain Dive
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    How food manufacturers are rethinking product assortments

    Brands are opting for fewer SKUs and being selective about restocking practices, experts said at the Food Manufacturing Summit.

    By • April 9, 2026
  • President Donald Trump
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    Trump tariffs

    Trump calls for 50% tariff on goods from nations arming Iran

    The president said the duty is effective immediately, although it's unclear how it would be implemented after the Supreme Court clipped Trump's power to issue broad levies.

    By • April 8, 2026
  • A Walmart associate handling boxes.
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    Courtesy of Walmart
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    Walmart to close Illinois fulfillment center

    Operations at the Matteson facility will be relocated to other NextGen facilities in Walmart’s fulfillment network, impacting 111 employees.

    By • April 7, 2026
  • Exterior of an Ulta store
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    Kaarin Vembar/Supply Chain Dive
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    Ulta doubled store fulfillment capabilities in 2025

    The beauty retailer grew its ship-from-store program to 1,000 stores in fiscal year 2025, while its fulfillment center footprint remained flat compared to 2024.

    By Dani James • April 6, 2026
  • Cans of Hormel chili are displayed on a shelf.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Hormel modernizes supply chain with AI planning platform

    The branded food company is using o9’s forecasting tools to model demand drivers, reduce manual overrides and sharpen seasonal forecast accuracy.

    By • April 6, 2026
  • People can be seen walking by the Pandora jewelry store
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    Getty Images
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    Pandora’s Canada distribution center to help bypass US tariffs

    Previously, online orders destined for Canada had to pass through U.S. customs.

    By • April 6, 2026
  • President Donald Trump walks while adjusting his tie.
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    Nathan Howard via Getty Images
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    Trump tariffs

    Trump adjusts tariffs for steel, aluminum, copper

    Goods made entirely of the metals will still face a 50% tariff, but the levy will be reduced to 25% for certain derivative goods, effective April 6.

    By • April 2, 2026
  • A tree with pink flowers stands in the foreground while a Williams-Sonoma storefront stands in the background.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Williams-Sonoma isn’t planning for tariff refunds anytime soon

    The home goods retailer isn’t baking any potential returns for eliminated tariffs into its 2026 financial expectations, executives said on a recent earnings call.

    By • April 2, 2026
  • An exterior view of Walmart's new fulfilment center in McCordsville, Indiana
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    Permission granted by Walmart
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    Walmart to close Massachusetts fulfillment center

    Operations at the Worcester facility will be relocated to other locations, with employee layoffs slated to begin in May.

    By • April 1, 2026
  • Shipping containers of varying colors stacked on a ship.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Manufacturing sector expands for third consecutive month, but war, tariffs cause worry: PMI

    Price increases in 17 of the 18 economic sectors tracked are a particular concern and are impacting business operations, according to survey respondents.

    By Jeffrey Kinney • April 1, 2026
  • Overhead shot of a grocery store and a parking lot.
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    Courtesy of Fareway Stores
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    Fareway breaks ground on distribution center expansion

    The Midwestern grocery chain expects the 105,000-square-foot freezer building expansion to help it better serve its stores in addition to laying the foundation for future investments in automation.

    By Sam Silverstein • April 1, 2026
  • A Gap store logo in New York.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Gap feels confident about inventory levels, tariff mitigation

    The retailer remains focused on what it calls “stringent” and "disciplined" inventory practices, per a March 5 earnings call

    By • March 31, 2026
  • A U.S. Customs and Border Protection building in Washington, D.C.
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    "Washington D.C." by Mobilus in Mobili is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    CBP’s tariff refund process will take up to 45 days to deliver returns

    The agency is on track to begin accepting refund requests by April 20, per a filing with the Court of International Trade.

    By • Updated April 2, 2026
  • The Kohl's logo store with a view of a green bush.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Kohl’s refines inventory management to improve allocation issues

    Softness in its fall seasonal business helped the retailer uncover operational opportunities pertaining to inventory depth and allocation.

    By • March 31, 2026
  • An exterior image of a wall outside the U.S. Court of International Trade. The wall has lettering that reads "United States Court of International Trade James I. Watson Courthouse."
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Tariff refunds: Court expands scope to include finally liquidated entries

    The Court of International Trade amended a previous order related to now defunct Trump administration tariffs to include all entries subject to the levies.

    By • March 30, 2026
  • Exterior of AWG's Gulf Coast Division Support Center
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    Google

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    AWG invests $110M to modernize distribution center

    The wholesaler is renovating its Gulf Coast facility with advanced automation to improve order accuracy and service reliability.

    By Peyton Bigora • March 30, 2026
  • A robot arm with the DHL logo on it moves a brown cardboard box in front of a stack of other boxes.
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    Courtesy of Boston Dynamics
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    Robotic unloading becomes more accessible as warehouses weigh applicability

    Dock operations are often the “last piece of the puzzle” when it comes to warehouse automation. But increasing accessibility means it could also be the first.

    By S.L. Fuller • March 30, 2026
  • A Dollar Tree store with a large green and white sign above the entrance, located in a shopping center. The building has a beige exterior with green trim and large windows displaying promotional signs. Several parked cars are visible in the foreground, and a leafless tree stands on the left side of the image under a clear blue sky.
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    Alamy
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    Dollar Tree makes distribution, tech upgrades

    As part of its supply chain modernization efforts, the retailer is replacing its legacy systems with AI-powered platforms.

    By • March 30, 2026
  • China President Xi Jinping sits at a table with two mugs in front of him.
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    Kevin Frayer via Getty Images
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    China opens probes into US trading practices

    The investigations reviewing potential disruptions to global supply chains and the trade of green products come as leaders of the two countries prepare to meet in May. 

    By • March 27, 2026
  • A white tractor-trailer in front of a red brick building.
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    Sam Silverstein/Supply Chain Dive
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    UNFI to shutter Wisconsin distribution center, cut 443 jobs

    The grocery wholesaler said the closure is related to an effort to transition service to a facility near Chicago, where it is adding automated capabilities.

    By Sam Silverstein • March 26, 2026