What are the most important supply chain ethics? 3 experts weigh in

Consumer awareness of sustainability and forced labor in the supply chain is driving organizations to take the next step beyond compliance into ethics. 

By Shefali Kapadia • Nov. 11, 2019

Patent Pending: FedEx eyes easier returns, Amazon marries drones and intermodal

Supply chain innovators apply to patent what they see as important tools for the future of supply chains. Sometimes they're brilliant. Sometimes they're funny. Every week, we'll share a few.

By Matt Leonard • Nov. 8, 2019

Explore the Trendline➔

Inventory Management

Read how retailers and brand manufactures are rethinking inventory management as an effective strategy against tariffs.

By Supply Chain Dive staff

Supply chains must take the lead in origin stories

As consumer interest grows in products' sources and production, supply chains have a responsibility to plan and execute company-wide initiatives on origin stories, Gartner's Pam Fitzpatrick writes in an op-ed.

By Pam Fitzpatrick, Senior Director Analyst, Gartner Supply Chain Practice • Nov. 8, 2019

Ralph Lauren launches QR-based tracking system to boost supply chain visibility, fight counterfeits

Ralph Lauren's manufacturers will sew the QR tags into garments adjacent to traditional branded tags. From that point on, the garments will be digitally attached to a purchase order and tracked through the supply chain. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 6, 2019

Supply chain workers dominate temp job growth

The hiring announcements for peak season alone offer ample evidence that temporary workers are essential to manage growing e-commerce. 

By Valerie Bolden-Barrett • Nov. 6, 2019

Walmart overtaking Amazon? Not so fast

Some statistics that seem worrying for the e-commerce giant could actually be a boon, though it's clear Walmart is advancing nicely.

By Daphne Howland • Nov. 6, 2019

Under Armour cuts inventory 23%, sees lower excess product levels

Somewhat ironically, a decrease in product going to off-price channels led CFO David Bergman to lower revenue growth projections for the full year.

By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 6, 2019

Amazon opens $40M robotics hub to manufacture mobile drive units

Amazon is banking on automated technology to help meet the needs of a modern-day, fast-paced supply chain.

By Shefali Kapadia • Updated Oct. 27, 2021

Avon reduced inventory by $43M in a push for simplicity — is it enough?

"Choking on complexity," the more than century-old beauty brand is knee-deep in yet another turnaround effort as it prepares to be acquired. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 5, 2019

Yeti's growing DTC business and what it means for operations

Companies making the transition from wholesale to DTC can see it pay off in improved margins, but operational changes to distribution centers and purchase orders must also occur. 

By Matt Leonard • Nov. 5, 2019

Caterpillar lays off 120 amid economic uncertainty, trade war

On a recent earnings call, the OEM's executives said they are adjusting production to meet reduced demand resulting from economic uncertainty and trade tensions. 

By Shefali Kapadia • Nov. 5, 2019

What makes a successful shipper of choice? 4 experts weigh in

A tight trucking market drove shippers to adjust their operating models and position themselves as good customers to carriers.

By Shefali Kapadia • Nov. 4, 2019

Outspending Amazon is not the way to win last-mile delivery wars

Deliver on expectations — no matter how slow or fast — that's how to compete, according to a survey by Convey.  

By Deborah Barrington • Nov. 4, 2019

UPS expects 26% jump in returns this peak season

The carrier projects 1.9 million returns on Jan. 2 and 1.6 million returns per day in the week preceding Christmas Day. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 4, 2019

5 KPIs make or break supply chain strategy

Investing in supply chain integration and optimization helps firms reap the benefits of improved quality of service and a competitive edge. Optimizing that supply chain, however, means hitting five key performance indicators.

By Dylan Lee • Nov. 1, 2019

Kraft Heinz tackles excess complexity with SKU-by-SKU review

Fewer but bolder product innovations will be the way forward after the company eliminates low or negative margin SKUs, explained CEO Miguel Patricio. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 1, 2019

Wayfair to focus on warehouse utilization in 2020 as losses grow

The company plans to pick up the pace of its U.S. square footage buildup in 2021, a sign of Wayfair's bullish attitude toward building logistics might. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 1, 2019

Walmart offering alcohol pickup at stores in 29 states

The retailer will also begin alcohol delivery from 200 stores in California and Florida. 

By Jessica Dumont • Nov. 1, 2019

Patent Pending: UPS' drone mobile, Amazon and Walmart's sortation solution

Supply chain innovators apply to patent what they see as important tools for the future of supply chains. Sometimes they're brilliant. Sometimes they're funny. Every week, we'll share a few.

By Matt Leonard • Oct. 31, 2019

When procurement and supply chain butt heads on KPIs

Conflicting metrics that pit one department against another often stem from the top down.

By Jen A. Miller • Oct. 31, 2019

XPO cites pressure from 'industrial recession,' lowers revenue targets

CEO Brad Jacobs said the souring industrial economy has stifled LTL growth for XPO and others over the last four quarters. 

By Matt Leonard • Oct. 30, 2019

Industry, government take aim at food waste in the supply chain with formal commitment

A senior EPA official told Supply Chain Dive the effort is intended to change industry "attitudes and apathy" around the issue of food waste and relieve some confusion around food recovery and donation liability. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Oct. 30, 2019

Are food and beverage supply chains prepared for growing water risk?

Sustainability nonprofit Ceres found 77% of 35 publicly traded food and beverage companies now name water availability as a risk to their operations in financial filings — up from 59% two years ago.

By Cathy Siegner • Oct. 30, 2019

Kroger pilots package services to drive store traffic

The grocer will work with FedEx, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service to offer package pickup, storage and drop-off for shoppers at 220 locations.

By Jessica Dumont • Oct. 30, 2019

Switching from barcode to RFID can save on labor cost, product loss

When a denim manufacturer in Turkey began using RFID, it realized thousands of euros in monthly savings. 

By Matt Leonard • Oct. 29, 2019