Supply chain managers shift reshoring focus to total cost of ownership

Inventory challenges have led manufacturers to consider total cost as a key sourcing metric over price per unit alone, according to the State of North American Manufacturing report.

By Edwin Lopez • June 7, 2021

'No longer a test': Locus Robotics to deploy 2K robots at DHL warehouses

DHL expects to have robots in "more than 20" facilities by the end of 2021 and plans to expand to more locations in 2022.

By Matt Leonard • June 2, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Inventory Management

Read how retailers and brand manufactures are rethinking inventory management.

By Supply Chain Dive staff

American Eagle cuts SKUs, speeds delivery with supply chain transformation

The introduction of regional hubs helped the retailer cut the number of shipments per order and reduce delivery speed by 1.5 days, the COO said.

By Matt Leonard • June 1, 2021

Supply chains stick with lean methods despite inventory woes

Growing demand and flat inventory growth led the inventory-to-sales ratio to drop to 1.23 in March, the lowest ever recorded.

By Matt Leonard • June 1, 2021

More frequent, severe wildfires threaten California's growing logistics network

Fires can clog and cut off freight arteries, creating choke points for inventory traveling via truck and rail.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • June 1, 2021

Coronavirus surge in India hits raw materials, manufacturing across multiple industries

Industries that use oxygen for production have curbed output to reserve supplies for critically ill patients, one analyst said.

By Matt Leonard • May 28, 2021

Why lumber prices are spiking

An economist expects the labor part of the sawmill problem to start resolving itself later this year but prices to remain high into 2022.

By Jen A. Miller • May 27, 2021

UPS offers tracking tech, logistics and warehousing in pharma cold chain service

Lessons learned from vaccine transport and distribution help the company tap into demand it anticipates will outlast the pandemic.

By Matt Leonard • May 27, 2021

Manufacturers focus on cycle times, delivered costs

Order cycle time was the most common target with 19% of respondents highlighting it as their top priority in a BDO survey.

By Matt Leonard • May 25, 2021

Meet 4 startups automating warehouse picking

Automated technology is improving, and supply chains see picking, packing and sorting as top use cases for robotics.

By Jen A. Miller • May 25, 2021

Foot Locker: Stage is set for inventory improvement as port congestion eases

The company's inventory level was down 30% in its most recent quarter compared to a year ago, when store closures led to a build-up of inventory.

By Matt Leonard • May 25, 2021

VF Corp, following efforts to decrease inventory, ends the year with levels down 18%

Vans is in comeback mode, but Europe's pandemic troubles and questions around inventory remain bumps in the road.

By Daphne Howland • May 24, 2021

Target taps into tech acquisitions as it expands supply chain network

The retailer will rely on software from Grand Junction and Deliv to pick carriers and create routes from its distribution and sortation centers.

By Matt Leonard • May 20, 2021

Most organizations are planning — and failing at — ERP modernization

The lack of understanding around total cost of ownership is the top reason for project failure, according to a Boomi survey.

By Katie Malone • May 20, 2021

Industry group warns pallet prices up 400% amid shortage

Demand for pallets stems from retailers and grocers restocking, while pallet manufacturers face supply constraints and rising material costs.

By Shefali Kapadia • May 20, 2021

Walmart boosts inventory, extends lead times to account for supply chain delays and stockouts

The retailer increased inventory 16% and is adjusting its fulfillment network as e-commerce sales grow.

By Matt Leonard • May 19, 2021

Pandemic drives interest in automation, robot orders tick up

Industrial robot orders in North America grew 20% YoY, according to A3, as automation technology advances and manufacturing faces labor shortages.

By Matt Leonard • May 18, 2021

Series: When supply chain and marketing intersect

The supply chain and marketing departments have historically been disparate. But that's changed as supply chains have entered the public eye.

May 18, 2021

Inventory accuracy is a must-have to cut waste in supply chains

The hard cost of wasted inventory in the grocery industry — known as shrink — is critical in addressing today's weighty climate change and food insecurity issues, the author writes. 

By Stefan Kalb • May 18, 2021

Yeti works to improve stockouts with inventory down 9%

The company expects elevated freight costs throughout the year as it rebuilds inventories.

By Matt Leonard • May 17, 2021

Amazon embarks on 75K hiring push to accommodate logistics growth

The retailer is offering competitive pay and sign-on bonuses, as well as COVID-19 vaccine incentives.

By S.L. Fuller • May 14, 2021

Toyota, citing lessons learned from 2011 earthquake, expects no major semiconductor impact

The automaker's production fell 78% after the earthquake, prompting an inventory rethink.

By Matt Leonard • May 14, 2021

Wayfair adds fulfillment capacity, scales forwarding to help supply chain flow

Scale and carrier partnerships help prioritize shipments, but the company is not immune to port congestion, inventory constraints and delivery delays, the CEO said.

By Matt Leonard • May 13, 2021

Retailers double tech investments to make supply chains faster: report

The enhancement of supply chain and omnichannel capabilities continues to drive funding as retailers approach a post-pandemic world, according to CB Insights.

By Maria Monteros • May 13, 2021

Utz to buy chip supplier for $41M to improve supply chain

The acquisition of Festida Foods will improve production of the recently acquired On The Border brand while helping the company's expansion efforts in the Midwest.

By Christopher Doering • May 12, 2021