Supply chains plan for coronavirus disruption

While officials say the outbreak is not a threat to Americans' health, businesses will have to deal with a quarantine in one of China's largest industrial hubs. 

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 29, 2020

What's the right forecasting method? It depends on your data.

Time-series forecasting is a method that goes back decades, but as new computational power provides new options, what's the best way to go?

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 28, 2020

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Retail Supply Chains

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

By Supply Chain Dive staff

US expands tariffs to cover steel- and aluminum-based items

Businesses importing foreign-made steel and aluminum products as a mitigation tactic against tariffs on the raw materials will require reassessment of sourcing plans before the tariffs kick in on Feb. 8.

By Shefali Kapadia • Jan. 28, 2020

World Economic Forum launches self-service blockchain platform for supply chain traceability

Architects of the WEF initiative aim to allay privacy and data ownership concerns with a neutral platform, thereby speeding adoption across industries.

By Emma Cosgrove • Jan. 28, 2020

La Senza's suppliers file to put it in Ch. 7 bankruptcy

The lingerie retailer was sold by L Brands in 2018. Less than a year later, it fell behind on tens of millions of dollars in payments, a vendor alleges. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 27, 2020

Whole Foods struggles with shortages amid supplier closure

Customers nationwide have reported bare shelves and limited inventory, which the retailer has said is a result of an unexpected supplier closure. 

By Jessica Dumont • Jan. 27, 2020

Why professional development matters in procurement

The supply chain field is changing rapidly, and development is an important way to represent yourself, your company and your profession.

By Rich Weissman • Jan. 23, 2020

Supplier negotiation could become more science than art: survey

A survey of 500 senior procurement decision managers found that 66% of them believe digital skills will overtake people skills in supplier negotiations in the coming years. 

By Morgan Forde • Jan. 23, 2020

Trade war will lead to global recession: survey

The uncertainty surrounding a possible recession requires supply chain managers to tread cautiously and firm up risk management strategies.

By Shefali Kapadia • Jan. 23, 2020

Office workers hate data entry, automation company says

Workers say routine tasks like data entry and filing documents eats into their productivity, an opportunity robotic process automation vendors want to seize. 

By Roberto Torres • Jan. 21, 2020

Nestlé to invest up to $2B in sustainable packaging

The global company wants to lead the shift to food-grade recycled plastics and accelerate the development of more environmentally friendly solutions with a venture fund.

By Lillianna Byington • Jan. 17, 2020

Trader Joe's, CVS get low marks on chocolate supply chains

If retailers make the decision to buy chocolate based on labor and environmental standards it can help shift the industry in the right direction, Green America noted in its study.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 16, 2020

Why procurement planning is critical ahead of Chinese New Year

Smart U.S. companies have plans in place to accommodate disruptions that come with the holiday, such as delayed production, slower shipping and tight capacity.

By Amanda Loudin • Jan. 16, 2020

USMCA will enter into force July 1

The trade deal promises streamlined digital trade and higher duty-free thresholds in a win for small- and medium-sized shippers.

By Morgan Forde • Updated April 27, 2020

Supply chain certifications: What's new?

Just as the business world evolves, associations offering supply chain certifications are revamping them to include relevant content.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Jan. 16, 2020

Walmart opens new beef supply chain facility

The retailer first shared plans to create its own end-to-end beef supply chain last April, noting the importance of meeting customer demand for transparency and improved food quality. 

By Jessica Dumont • Jan. 15, 2020

H&M's AI operation helps make its supply chain more sustainable

With precisely honed demand forecasts, supply chains can use only the resources they need and no more.

By Emma Cosgrove • Jan. 14, 2020

Boeing supplier's 2.8K layoffs highlight scale of supply chain disruption

Spirit AeroSystems blamed the layoffs on Boeing's decision to stop 737 Max production and said it's not clear when manufacturing could begin again.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 13, 2020

What are the top supply chain trends of 2020? 4 experts weigh in

2019 trends including automation, speedy operations and changing global supply chains will likely carry over and intensify this year.

By Shefali Kapadia • Jan. 13, 2020

Recession ahead? 6 ways buyers can reduce risk

A prolonged period of economic health has lulled buyers and suppliers alike into a false sense of security.

By Rich Weissman • Jan. 9, 2020

Coupa acquires travel startup Yapta to boost spend management platform

Software vendors use acquisitions to make their suites more comprehensive and encompass numerous procurement functions.

By Shefali Kapadia • Jan. 9, 2020

Trade tensions drag manufacturing to lowest level since 2009

December 2019 was the fifth straight month in which the ISM manufacturing index contracted. Phase one of a U.S.-China trade deal could bolster several industries. 

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 6, 2020

Blockchain-backed app puts coffee supply chain map in consumer hands

The plan is to use farmer IDs to track growing conditions, record transactions and follow yields and sales prices. 

By Cathy Siegner • Jan. 6, 2020

China to lower tariffs on hundreds of products Jan. 1

Products set for lower tariffs include imported frozen pork, frozen avocados, non-frozen orange juice, wood and paper products and some components for high-tech electronics.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 23, 2019

2020: Will procurement risk intensify?

The complicated economic, political and technological issues of 2019 are unsolved and will roll into the new year, so procurement managers need to look behind the headlines to stay ahead.

By Rich Weissman • Dec. 19, 2019