Operations
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Opinion
To distribute the COVID-19 vaccine, allocation models need a redesign
Before the pandemic, fair-share allocation helped safeguard against any well-intentioned providers overstocking. But the models that once proved effective needed to evolve, the author writes.
By Heather Zenk • Nov. 19, 2020 -
La-Z-Boy manufacturing comeback stunted by raw materials shortage
An essential chemical component in the foam used to make upholstered furniture was in very low supply, which affected the entire furniture industry and led to stockouts.
By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 19, 2020 -
Permission granted by FreshDirect
Ahold Delhaize strengthens omnichannel presence with majority stake in FreshDirect
The partnership with a deep-pocketed company like Ahold Delhaize also could strengthen FreshDirect's ability to compete against well-funded rivals like Instacart and Uber.
By Sam Silverstein • Nov. 18, 2020 -
Courtesy of Target
Target builds replenishment, fulfillment capacity as digital sales grow 155%
For peak season, the retailer is cross-training at least 50% of in-store team members to support fulfillment work.
By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 18, 2020 -
Raley's
IDC: Pharmaceutical industry ups inventory levels as OTIF rates fall
Before the pandemic, the on time and in full rate from suppliers was generally above 80%. Now, pharmaceutical companies are looking for ways to avoid shortages.
By Matt Leonard • Nov. 17, 2020 -
Ship from store makes sense in a pandemic. Does it make sense long term?
Making the fulfillment method work requires physical changes and a view of inventory down to the SKU level.
By Jen A. Miller • Nov. 17, 2020 -
Courtesy of Walmart
Walmart execs say stockouts track with COVID-19 hot spots
The difference between areas with rapidly increasing cases and those with a slower rise is visible within Walmart's store network, CEO Doug McMillon said.
By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 17, 2020 -
Courtesy of Whole Foods Market
How 6 chains expanded grocery pickup during the pandemic
Some, including Walmart, have taken advantage of a large click-and-collect footprint. And some, such as Target, ramped up grocery pickup after demand soared.
By Jeff Wells • Nov. 16, 2020 -
Moderna
Moderna's coronavirus vaccine presents fewer cold chain hurdles than Pfizer
The company's COVID-19 vaccine is expected to stay stable at 2-8 degrees Celsius, the temperature of a standard refrigerator, for up to 30 days and will be distributed through McKesson.
By Matt Leonard • Nov. 16, 2020 -
Walmart adds 'pop-up' direct-to-consumer fulfillment capacity at 42 distribution centers
The model provides flexibility to the retailer's fulfillment capabilities, allowing it to increase capacity when it's experiencing peak-level volume and scale down when demand dissipates.
By Matt Leonard • Nov. 13, 2020 -
How COVID-19 amplified the importance of the cold chain
Months of demand tested the cold chain, from keeping food supply chains flowing to developing distribution strategies for a coronavirus vaccine.
By A.B. Brown • Nov. 13, 2020 -
Permission granted by Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric invests $40M in supply chain upgrades to prepare for post-pandemic demand
Schneider is introducing new capabilities and production lines that will allow it to work with fewer suppliers by finishing some of its own inputs — with added capacity to construct some components entirely in-house when necessary.
By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 12, 2020 -
Permission granted by Ahold Delhaize
Ahold Delhaize tackles a $480M supply chain overhaul during a pandemic — and Thanksgiving
The grocery group is forging ahead with an insourcing transformation amid a busy time in a tumultuous year. What could go wrong?
By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 12, 2020 -
Courtesy of PepsiCo
PepsiCo pilots micro-fulfillment tech for e-commerce orders
The pilot facility outside Chicago will expedite the picking process while requiring less floor space than traditional picking, according to PepsiCo.
By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 11, 2020 -
Permission granted by BioNTech SE
What we know about Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine distribution plan
The pharmaceutical company plans to ship vials directly from manufacturing plant to point of vaccination in a supply chain model it described as flexible and just in time.
By Matt Leonard • Nov. 11, 2020 -
Courtesy of Beyond Meat
Beyond Meat acquires co-packer to tackle unit costs
The $14.5 million deal will provide the company opportunities to test new processes and more quickly scale up products, CEO Ethan Brown said.
By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 11, 2020 -
Opinion
Take a dynamic approach to supply chain, US government.
Federal lawmakers proposed a task force to fund a more "resilient" supply chain. But resiliency is not the answer for the future, the author writes.
By Nader Mikhail • Nov. 10, 2020 -
The image by Zulu84 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Inventory roller coaster expected to trend upward after August lows
Retail inventories have been on a wild ride through the course of the pandemic. They bulged when retailers shut their doors, fell when sales were higher than expected, and early signs show they're successfully rebuilding.
By Matt Leonard • Nov. 10, 2020 -
Danielle Ternes / Supply Chain Dive
ColumnPatent Pending: Target's plan to simulate supply chain flow
Supply chain innovators apply to patent what they see as important tools for the future. Sometimes they're brilliant. Sometimes they're funny.
By Matt Leonard • Nov. 10, 2020 -
Delays, surcharges and returns: Holiday shipping headaches have just begun
In a season expected to produce more than $190 billion from online sales alone, retailers are pulling out all the stops to keep up with demand.
By Caroline Jansen • Nov. 09, 2020 -
XPO: Early peak boosts last mile, supply chain outsourcing
Revenue for the 3PL's logistics business grew 5% YoY, which it credited to e-commerce growth and omnichannel fulfillment.
By Matt Leonard • Nov. 06, 2020 -
Pixabay
Ball fragments aluminum can supply to meet North American demand
While new manufacturing capacity is in the works, Ball Corporation will focus on using data to fine-tune existing operations and squeeze every can possible out of its supply chain.
By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 06, 2020 -
royharryman. (2020). Retrieved from Pixabay.
Supply chain agility entered the spotlight when the pandemic made forecasting futile
Supply and demand swings shifted flexibility and visibility from nice-to-have capabilities to must-haves.
By S.L. Fuller • Nov. 06, 2020 -
Coupa buys Llamasoft in $1.5B deal
The deal puts procurement and supply chain technology under one umbrella at a time when businesses are prioritizing a close alignment of supply with demand.
By Shefali Kapadia • Nov. 05, 2020 -
Adeline Kon/Supply Chain Dive
Deep DiveSo you want to reduce your supply chain emissions
Walmart’s journey to a robust scope 3 emissions program reveals a shift in the way sustainability advocates see the supply chain and the urgency with which companies need to address it.
By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 05, 2020
