Improve visibility by going beyond the linear supply chain model

COVID-19 has made it clear that organizations must lean into dynamic, collaborative supply networks, the author writes.

By Sean Thompson • Sept. 3, 2020

Ball plans new aluminum plant to counter can shortage

Traditionally lean supply chains industry-wide have made ramping up U.S. production challenging for canmakers, some of which are importing cans to keep up. 

By Matt Leonard • Sept. 3, 2020

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

Timberland pledges sustainable materials sourcing, circularity by 2030

The apparel and footwear maker said it will source 100% of its natural materials, including leather, rubber, cotton, wool and sugarcane derivatives, from regenerative agriculture in the next decade.

By Emma Cosgrove • Sept. 2, 2020

McKinsey: Fashion industry needs deeper supplier collaboration to cut emissions

More than 70% of apparel and footwear emissions originate in the supply chain before most brands take possession of finished goods, according to the firm.

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 27, 2020

Help. My supplier was on the news this morning.

Call it guilt by association. Supplier reputation is one more supply chain risk a buyer needs to monitor and manage.

By Rich Weissman • Aug. 27, 2020

Unilever pilots geospatial, IoT tech to cut deforestation from palm oil supply chain

The company is partnering with Orbital Insight, a satellite imagery and data analytics firm, to meet its deforestation goal and trace supply from factories back to individual forests and farms.

By Morgan Forde • Aug. 27, 2020

Walmart: More than 2K suppliers are participating in Project Gigaton

A reduction in supply chain emissions is particularly important to meeting sustainability goals, because Scope 3 makes up nearly 89% of Walmart's total emissions.

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 27, 2020

Kind will exclusively source almonds from bee-friendly farms by 2025

The brand is asking its suppliers to reserve 3% to 5% of their farms for pollinator habitat in hopes of curbing the high levels of honey bees that die each year.

By Lillianna Byington • Aug. 25, 2020

Stocked out: Why cleaning product supply chains struggle to meet demand

The disinfectant and cleaning product supply chain relies on a just-in-time approach, making it difficult to radically move the output meter in a short timeframe.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Aug. 20, 2020

Symrise, Kellogg achieve 2020 goal of 100% responsibly sourced vanilla

Suppliers must adhere to a code of conduct, which includes standards for human rights, health and environmental sustainability, Symrise said.

By Morgan Forde • Aug. 19, 2020

Reopening draws down inventory, but volatility expected for remainder of year

The total business inventories-to-sales ratio echoes trends seen throughout the pandemic: Apparel retailers are struggling to bring customers in while grocers are having a difficult time staying stocked.

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 18, 2020

Stockouts hold Walmart back as e-commerce booms

CEO Doug McMillon said consumers briefly returned to the stock-up behaviors they displayed early in the pandemic, as COVID-19 cases spiked in pockets of the country.

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 18, 2020

'Made in China' order changes Hong Kong product labels, not tariffs

The labeling switch does not impact a product's tariff designation, but analysts said the "Made in China" label could have a negative effect on brand perception.

By Morgan Forde • Aug. 13, 2020

How can managers make their supply chains more agile? 4 experts weigh in.

The ability to remain nimble and react to unforeseen changes across the value chain has proven more beneficial than scenario planning or forecasting for many businesses.

By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 13, 2020

Retail suppliers are still under strain — and it could hurt everyone

Stores are open, but vendors face longer payment terms and financial uncertainty, which could hit retail shelves just as the holidays ramp up.

By Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 10, 2020

US reverses decision to reimpose aluminum tariffs on Canadian imports

The initial announcement to reinstate the 10% duties came as manufacturers faced a shortage of aluminum cans.

By Shefali Kapadia • Updated Sept. 16, 2020

US orders government to prioritize domestic drug supply chain

A directive announced by the president Thursday would require government agencies to buy certain "essential" drugs from factories in the U.S.

By Ben Fidler • Aug. 6, 2020

EcoVadis: Procurement's sustainability track record getting worse

The pandemic disrupted progress on supplier visibility as it stopped operations and prevented travel and in-person audits — casting doubt on potential improvement in 2020.

By Morgan Forde • Aug. 6, 2020

Dear valued supplier: Don't take advantage of the pandemic to raise prices

Nearly every cycle, some business condition creates cost challenges, with many price increases valid but others not. The goal is to separate fact from fiction.

By Rich Weissman • Aug. 6, 2020

Fashion industry says purchase order cancellations will endure in Q3 and beyond

Despite reduced optimism about the industry's future, 90% of survey respondents plan to increase hiring over the next five years, particularly in production and supply chain roles.

By Morgan Forde • Aug. 5, 2020

Beyond Meat incurs $6M in repacking expense to handle pandemic demand shift

With restaurants, schools and offices closed, the plant-based supplier switched food service production lines over to retail products, which resulted in a mix of 88% retail and 12% food service.

By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 5, 2020

Wayfair reverses loss trend as pandemic volumes improve logistics network utilization

The "turning point" in profitability comes after years of investment to ramp up capacity in its middle- and last-mile networks.

By Emma Cosgrove • Aug. 5, 2020

ISM: Manufacturing growth indicates 'we're coming out of recession'

The PMI climbed to 54.2% in July, with employees returning to work and growing consumer demand contributing to a healthy reading.

By Morgan Forde • Aug. 3, 2020

US ventilator, PPE imports drop as coronavirus cases climb

S&P Global cites efforts by the Trump administration to encourage domestic production of key supplies to combat the coronavirus pandemic as a potential reason for the reduction.

By Morgan Forde • Aug. 3, 2020

Demand for partitions and face shields is booming. How a plastic fabricator is adapting its supply chain

Imaginative Materials leaned on supplier relationships and started buying larger sheets of material as customer calls for partitions rolled in. 

By Jen A. Miller • July 30, 2020