Target hits the bullseye with agile tech and operations

The retailer has had to rise to the demand of the 21st century — a blend of "digital, home and store."

By Samantha Schwartz • Oct. 25, 2018

Target announces free 2-day shipping this holiday season

The development is a competitive jab at rivals Walmart and Amazon, as is the company's expansion of its Drive Up service to nearly 1,000 stores.

By Corinne Ruff • Oct. 23, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

AI in Supply Chain Management

Warehouse automation, logistics management and procurement processes are just a few of the ways companies are using AI to streamline their supply chains.

By Supply Chain Dive staff

Planning paves the way to a truly automated supply chain

Automation itself may not be enough to create a truly touchless supply chain without central planning. 

By Craig Guillot • Oct. 23, 2018

Walmart finds ops savings in floor wax, light bulbs

Small changes to retailer's mammoth operation add up to big bucks, setting it up for a growth stage focused on technology.

By Emma Cosgrove • Oct. 23, 2018

Walmart will expand 2-day shipping, in-store returns

The changes, rolling out in November, are bound to stress the supply chain but could also give the retailer a leg up on its competitors. 

By Shefali Kapadia • Oct. 23, 2018

Hospitals could save $25B on supply chain costs

Healthcare facilities are a business like any other — but in the operating room, faulty supply chains can carry high consequences.

By Rich Weissman • Oct. 22, 2018

Pier 1 leans on fulfillment efficiency to revive slipping sales

Initiatives such as a new distribution scheme and warehouse consolidation are part of a broader strategy to address "execution issues" in the company's supply chain, executives said in an earnings call.

By Emma Cosgrove • Oct. 19, 2018

Legal cannabis: Is your forecast ready?

Bringing a black market industry into the light adds yet another source of volatility to supply chains.

By Emma Cosgrove • Oct. 19, 2018

Walmart's newest high-tech warehouse will automatically load pallets

The facility, set to open in 2020, will be 40% more efficient than traditional warehouses and require several STEM-educated workers.

By Emma Cosgrove • Oct. 18, 2018

Burberry tightens lead times with monthly product releases

The luxury apparel brand's move toward fast fashion and a lean model may be innovative in the fashion world, but it's old hat in traditional manufacturing. 

By Rich Weissman • Oct. 18, 2018

Delta teams up with Airbus on predictive analytics

Using data and predictive analytics allows the airline to "turn unscheduled maintenance into scheduled maintenance."

By Shefali Kapadia • Oct. 17, 2018

Slashing store footprint did little to improve Sears' operating ratio

Sharp declines in revenue and missed vendor payments preceded the retailer's bankruptcy filing — a move many in the industry expected.

By Shefali Kapadia • Oct. 16, 2018

What you need to know about order fulfillment

Whether using new services, new technology or tackling new markets, shippers are working toward "fast and free."

By Shefali Kapadia • Oct. 16, 2018

Apparel companies eye nearshoring to cut lead times

The tradeoff between higher cost of manufacturing versus lower freight rates, combined with the need for speed, will drive apparel companies moving forward. 

By Andy Burt • Oct. 16, 2018

4 trends in order fulfillment

Whether tapping into new fulfillment services, technologies or markets, shippers are all working toward "fast and free."

By Emma Cosgrove • Oct. 15, 2018

2 retail models to 'crack the nut' of subscription-box fulfillment

With a built-in customer base, traditional retailers don’t start from scratch, but starting a new sales channel requires different ways of thinking.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Oct. 15, 2018

Managing inventory: What retail can learn from pharma

At a high level, the two industries have much in common, and retailers can learn from the discipline inherent in the pharmaceutical supply chain.

By Gary Wollenhaupt • Oct. 15, 2018

In the warehouse, bigger isn't always better

Supply chains are being redesigned to fulfill orders faster, and warehouse technology is emerging as a centerpiece.

By Jacqueline Renfrow • Oct. 15, 2018

Sears filed for Chapter 11 with plans to close 142 stores — now what?

As part of the retailer's plan to reorganize, CEO Eddie Lampert is stepping down as chief executive — at the same time his hedge fund is mulling a bid for Sears in Chapter 11.

By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 15, 2018

RFID can achieve near 100% order accuracy, study says

"We can end claims and chargebacks right now," said Justin Patton, director of Auburn University's RFID Lab. "That's billions of dollars saved."

By Edwin Lopez • Oct. 11, 2018

Transformational tech and life-saving drones: An inside view from CSCMP Edge 2018

Applications of new technology are shifting the ways supply chains have done business for decades.

By Shefali Kapadia • Oct. 10, 2018

Manufacturers cite a 'workforce crisis' as the top threat to business

One in four manufacturers have turned down new business due to an inability to attract "quality" labor, a survey by the National Association of Manufacturers found.

By Edwin Lopez • Oct. 9, 2018

Rampant returns and what to do about them

Millions of packages will be returned this holiday season, forcing an uncomfortable question on retailers: Is it cheaper to resell or destroy an unwanted product?

By Jen A. Miller • Oct. 9, 2018

Views from APICS 2018: The evolution of a fragmented supply chain industry

Companies' cross-functional demands are calling supply chain managers to step up like never before.

By Andy Burt , Emma Cosgrove • Oct. 9, 2018

4 direct-to-consumer models shifting the supply chain

With more consumers purchasing directly from farms and factories, roles within the supply chain are changing.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Oct. 9, 2018