Unions demand COVID-19 protections for Amazon warehouse workers

These safety concerns come as the e-commerce giant is hiring for nearly 200,000 new roles. 

By Sheryl Estrada • April 8, 2020

Kearney: Coronavirus disruption will force even diversified supply chains to 'rethink' sourcing

Kearney predicts supply chains will begin prioritizing resilience over cost to ensure profitability in the future.

By Morgan Forde • April 8, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Retail Supply Chains

Retailers are making operational investments and adjustments to maintain supply chain resilience. Here’s how.

By Supply Chain Dive staff

Levi's ramps up ship-from-store to move inventory trapped in dark stores

The transition will help move inventory trapped in closed stores and hedge against any changes in local regulations that could shut down fulfillment centers not shipping essential goods.

By Emma Cosgrove • April 8, 2020

Warehouse storage should consider SKU correlation and picker traffic, study finds

A group of researchers from Binghamton University concluded in a paper published earlier this year that warehouse operators should consider picking delays caused by warehouse traffic when building fulfillment models.

By Matt Leonard • April 7, 2020

Why supply chain data is king in the coronavirus pandemic

Healthcare systems, distributors and purchasing organizations rely on real-time data to manage supplies and model their equipment and staffing needs.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • April 7, 2020

DOJ clears antitrust concerns, allows medical suppliers to collaborate on manufacturing and distribution

Five major medical suppliers wrote to the agency seeking an antitrust enforcement reprieve in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

By Emma Cosgrove • April 6, 2020

PVH may 'pack and hold' inventory until next spring

The company, which owns Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, hopes to regain the ability to sell at full price next year rather than dump goods to into the off-price market. 

By Daphne Howland • April 3, 2020

Manufacturers welcome executive order improving parts access for ventilator production

The move is meant to help domestic manufacturers by removing hurdles to accessing parts and materials needed to ramp up ventilator production.

By Greg Slabodkin • April 3, 2020

Patent Pending: IBM floats process for computers to make bidding decisions

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 • April 2, 2020

Supply chains will survive the pandemic, but revised strategies may take hold

Experts anticipate an increased focus on risk assessment and scenario planning beyond COVID-19. 

By Rich Weissman • April 2, 2020

The supply chain behind the pivot to make coronavirus relief supplies

Relationships and labor are key as manufacturers adjust their operations to produce medical and consumer supplies necessary for fighting the pandemic. 

By Jen A. Miller • April 2, 2020

How can supply chains manage COVID-19 risk? 4 experts weigh in

The short term need is to keep employees safe and healthy. Longer term thinking should focus on resilience and strengthening supply chain partnerships.

By Shefali Kapadia • April 2, 2020

ISM: US manufacturing decline could persist through May

The Institute for Supply Management predicts the worst is yet to come for the manufacturing and transport industries as supply shortages and declining consumer demand cause ripple effects throughout supply chains.

By Morgan Forde • April 1, 2020

How the CARES Act will affect supply chains

The law offers financial relief to businesses weathering COVID-19 disruption and attempts to keep freight and last-mile cargo moving.

By Morgan Forde • April 1, 2020

Inventory, network optimization among most widely adopted supply chain technologies

More than half of survey respondents said they think inventory management technology has the potential to disrupt the industry or provide a competitive advantage to users.

By Matt Leonard • March 31, 2020

Planning should replace forecasting as coronavirus uncertainty clouds outlook

“What you need to be thinking about is how you can now start positioning to come out of the tunnel sprinting – not crawling, but sprinting,” one private equity professional said.

By Jen A. Miller • March 31, 2020

PwC: Supply chains will broaden, diversify in the wake of coronavirus

Top finance executives shift the conversation from meeting immediate needs to what supply chains should look like long-term.

By Emma Cosgrove • March 31, 2020

From Section 301 to COVID-19: How a volatile China changed supply chains

An ongoing trade war, and now a global pandemic, pushed U.S. businesses to diversify and raised the question: Are we too dependent on China?

By Shefali Kapadia • March 31, 2020

Impossible dock scheduling?

Impossible Foods improves operational efficiency with online dock scheduling.

March 31, 2020

Retooling facilities to produce ventilators could strain supply chains, medical device manufacturers warn

The U.S. invoked the Defense Production Act and is "working to sign contracts immediately" with GE, Medtronic, ResMed and other major manufacturers.

By Greg Slabodkin • March 30, 2020

Lululemon leverages RFID, supplier relationships to manage inventory amid coronavirus demand drop

On top of advantageous technology investments, Lululemon has several inherent qualities that give it a somewhat easier path through the COVID-19 crisis most non-essential retailers are facing, executives described. 

By Emma Cosgrove • March 30, 2020

Survey: 59% of US companies would have 2 weeks of stock after halting production

The key is not only surviving the COVID-19 pandemic, but preparing for a "double wave" of significant demand shifts once production resumes, Rapid Ratings CEO James Gellert said.

By Morgan Forde • March 27, 2020

What procurement managers should expect from a 'bullwhip on crack'

Slight variations in demand at the retail level grow larger until they reach the manufacturer. This bullwhip effect is playing out in real-time in the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Matt Leonard • March 26, 2020

India, Bangladesh extend lockdowns, factories remain closed

The Indian government extended its lockdown order Tuesday, which was initially followed by multiple factories announcing closures. Factories in Bangladesh face a cascade of canceled orders.

By Matt Leonard • Updated April 14, 2020

How health systems are responding as COVID-19 squeezes the medical supply chain

Procurement of supplies will become more difficult if cases surge and federal stockpiles don't trickle down to the state level quickly enough.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • March 25, 2020