Operations
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Devices are a 1st step to warehouse automation
Warehouse professionals currently see automation as a way to augment or assist human workers, but full automation is expected in the near future.
By Matt Leonard • June 18, 2019 -
How Kraft Heinz found the upside of OTIF
The much-maligned metric has led to more agile operations — mainly because it demands a data-driven approach to performance.
By Emma Cosgrove • June 18, 2019 -
XPO Logistics pilots predictive analytics tool in LTL network
Semi- and fully-automated tools can identify areas where operational efficiency could be improved.
By Morgan Forde • June 18, 2019 -
Domino's to test driverless pizza delivery in Houston
The chain's pilot with autonomous robotics company Nuro could spark a new iteration of the delivery race, saving human couriers time during busy periods.
By Emma Liem • June 17, 2019 -
HP opens 150K-square-foot 3D manufacturing center in Barcelona
The new Center of Excellence represents the largest expansion of HP's global 3D manufacturing network thus far as the company looks to capitalize on a "fourth industrial revolution."
By Morgan Forde • June 17, 2019 -
Employers overpay to lure talent, Gartner says
Tenured employees who discover discrepancies between their salaries and those of new colleagues may be inclined to leave, the firm said.
By Valerie Bolden-Barrett • June 14, 2019 -
Walmart updates supplier pricing tool to manage tariff costs
The new tool for suppliers is proof the price hikes Walmart executives predicted are not just likely, but the system designed to enable them is already in place.
By Morgan Forde • June 13, 2019 -
Target expands same-day delivery
Despite Amazon's recent one-day shipping move, expansion of same-day service across Target's network has been fairly inevitable since it acquired Shipt's platform in 2017.
By Emma Cosgrove • June 13, 2019 -
Ralph Lauren commits to sweeping sourcing changes in new sustainability strategy
Based on these new goals, Ralph Lauren is going to have a very different supplier base in 2025 than it does today.
By Emma Cosgrove • June 13, 2019 -
Apple, Nintendo prepared to move production out of China
Foxconn, a Taiwanese manufacturer that builds Apple's iPhones in China, said its global manufacturing capacity outside of China would be expanded to meet customer needs if necessary.
By Morgan Forde • June 12, 2019 -
Beyond Meat supply chain ready for fast food volume, CEO says
After supply chain bottlenecks in 2017 and 2018, CEO Ethan Brown told analysts Friday the company has secured production capacity beyond what current forecasts require.
By Emma Cosgrove • June 12, 2019 -
Starbucks, Dunkin' further sustainable cup initiatives
Starbucks will test a reusable cup program in London's Gatwick Airport while Dunkin' says it's on track to eliminate foam packaging by the end of the year.
By Lauren Manning • June 11, 2019 -
5 things operations managers must know about opportunity cost
Risk and working capital often drive decisions in the supply chain, putting operations managers in a position to weigh one option against another.
By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • June 11, 2019 -
TradeLens has begun operations in Russia
Maersk and IBM's blockchain initiative continues to expand with a newly approved pilot in St. Petersburg, Russia.
By Morgan Forde • June 11, 2019 -
Inventories grew by $123.7B in first quarter
This was the third straight quarter in which inventories grew by tens of billions of dollars as companies import goods ahead of tariffs.
By Matt Leonard • June 10, 2019 -
Port of LA anticipates container slowdown in new $1.6B budget
2018 was a record-breaking year for the port, moving over 9.5 million TEUs. However, according to port administrators, the FY 2019-2020 budget is factoring in a slowdown in volumes due to trade fluctuations.
By Morgan Forde • June 10, 2019 -
Walmart takes last-mile delivery to the fridge
The company will launch a service that delivers groceries directly inside homes this fall in Kansas City, Missouri; Pittsburgh; and Vero Beach, Florida.
By Jeff Wells • June 07, 2019 -
KFC meets with developers to explore plant-based poultry
The major hold up for companies wanting to source plant-based poultry is heavy hitters like Impossible Foods or Beyond Meat simply haven't invented it yet.
By Lauren Manning • June 06, 2019 -
Amazon deploys 'Pegasus' robots in sortation centers to reduce miss sorts
This marks the first time Amazon will use robotics in these centers as it tries to speed up middle-mile logistics.
By Matt Leonard • June 05, 2019 -
Off-price retailers emerge as rare winners in trade war
Any business that can capitalize on uncertainty is sure to fair well in the midst of a global trade war. Burlington, Ross and TJX are able to do just that.
By Emma Cosgrove • June 05, 2019 -
At Nordstrom, the next evolution of BOPIS emerges
Brick-and-mortar retailers have embraced omnichannel strategies, but they're still figuring out one of their biggest headaches — processing returns.
By Jen A. Miller • June 04, 2019 -
53% of manufacturers see increased margins with dropshipping
Beyond better margins, respondents to a recent survey reported dropshipping improved the relationship between manufacturers and retailers.
By Matt Leonard • June 04, 2019 -
Keurig Dr Pepper commits to 100% recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025
Beyond plastic in packaging, this list of new efforts addresses waste, water and carbon emissions — each of which will likely require some shifts in the supply chains of Keurig Dr Pepper's brands.
By Emma Cosgrove • June 04, 2019 -
Gartner: Industry will need to replace 90% of blockchain platforms by 2021
Blockchain is having an identity crisis, constrained by assumptions and technological immaturity prohibiting efforts from moving beyond the pilot phase.
By Samantha Ann Schwartz • June 04, 2019 -
In disaster response, health supply chain egos melt away
A speedy post-hurricane return to normal requires competitors to become collaborators to effectively manage inventory and cold chains.
By Gary Wollenhaupt • June 03, 2019
