New Sears taps 'sourcing agents' to improve supply chain, lead times

Sears' holding company faces an uphill battle to overcome the reputation of its namesake and navigate an ongoing trade war. 

By Shefali Kapadia • June 27, 2019

Amazon adds counter parcel pickup in 100 Rite Aid stores

For struggling Rite Aid, converting Amazon orders into store traffic holds promise.

By Emma Cosgrove • June 27, 2019

Explore the Trendline➔

Inventory Management

Read how retailers and brand manufactures are rethinking inventory management.

By Supply Chain Dive staff

UPS' 893K-square-foot Indiana 'superhub' adds capacity, speed

The superhub will help reach the company's goal to increase sortation capacity by 350,000 pieces per hour in the U.S. before the 2019 holiday season.

By Matt Leonard • June 27, 2019

Amazon granted patent for transformable parcel container

The shipping boxes can take the shape of a dollhouse, a rocket, an airplane, a sword and shield, a tablet stand and more, to be selected by the customer. 

By Emma Cosgrove • June 26, 2019

Without financial knowledge, will operations managers lose their seat at the table?

Managing overhead costs are more important than ever as companies look for ways to fund expansions or enter new markets.

By Gary Wollenhaupt • June 25, 2019

IT line items grow by millions as supply chains seek efficiency, speed

Warehouse owners are increasingly investing in top-of-the-line warehouse management systems along with cloud-based technology to help their operations run more efficiently.

By Matt Leonard • June 25, 2019

56% of manufacturers say trade issues are a top concern

2019 could bring challenges for manufacturers who experienced a "banner year" last year, according to the National Association of Manufacturers.

By Matt Leonard • June 25, 2019

Inside Schneider Electric's roadmap to automation

To avoid sinking resources into failed robotic process automation, companies should mind their process, people and project-tech fit, one analyst said.

By Roberto Torres • June 25, 2019

FedEx disputes WSJ report of air freight rate cuts

The Wall Street Journal reported FedEx is cutting prices, offering two-day shipping for the same price as FedEx Ground to capitalize on future e-commerce parcel growth.

By Morgan Forde • Updated June 25, 2019

Report: Apple asks suppliers to model cost of production outside China

Apple testified Thursday in U.S. Trade Representative hearings and said the list four tariffs would "tilt the playing field in favor of our global competitors."

By Morgan Forde • June 20, 2019

Gig workers in high demand to fight talent shortages

MBO Partners said these independent workers have added $1.3 trillion to the economy in 2019 — the equivalent of Spain's total GDP.

By Valerie Bolden-Barrett , Morgan Fecto • June 20, 2019

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 Beckett • 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