Industrial distributors contend with decades of demand for protective SKUs

W.W. Grainger, Fastenal, MSC Industrial and the like have gained new status as essential suppliers, but their future rides on successful procurement of products not usually at the center of their strategy. 

By Emma Cosgrove • May 4, 2020

7 states form regional supply chain to buy $5B in medical equipment to fight coronavirus

Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island want to use their combined purchasing power to drive down prices for in-demand items like ventilators and personal protective equipment.

By Rebecca Pifer • May 4, 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

US PMI drops to lowest level since 2009 as industry output and new orders plummet

The U.S. PMI contracted to 41.5% in April, the lowest indicator of manufacturing sector decline since 2009, according to the Institute for Supply Management. 

By Morgan Forde • May 1, 2020

Cummins: Supplier visibility, Mexico production are top supply chain concerns

Hundreds of manufacturing plants across Mexico are closed, and Cummins' COO said details are hard to come by on which suppliers are shutting down and what they're doing to keep workers safe. 

By Matt Leonard • May 1, 2020

IBM launches platform aimed at making 'conversion suppliers' easier for hospitals to find

IBM conceived of the Rapid Supplier Connect platform after state governments, European governments and U.S. hospital systems approached the supply chain team with challenges procuring critical supplies.

By Emma Cosgrove • April 30, 2020

Medical association pushes US to lift tariffs on Chinese imports of devices needed to fight COVID-19

The trade group wants indefinite exemptions for imaging components and devices used in ventilators, among other items. It also floated a compromise: re-imposing them one year after the pandemic passes.

By Nick Paul Taylor • April 30, 2020

Suppliers feel retail's pain

As retailers cancel orders and hold payments, their vendors are stretched for cash, making hard decisions and worrying about what comes next. 

By Ben Unglesbee • April 29, 2020

Adidas manages supplier relations to end 2020 with 'reasonable inventory'

Adidas listed "supply chain responsibility" among its priorities in the wake of COVID-19 disruptions but continues to cancel and postpone orders. 

By Emma Cosgrove • April 29, 2020

PwC: Supply chains unlikely to relocate post-coronavirus

Immediate supply chain concerns are waning as CFOs gain clarity on what to expect in the short term and what kind of changes are necessary to weather shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic in the future. 

By Emma Cosgrove • April 28, 2020

Hershey pushes back ERP project by 1 year

CEO Michele Buck cited a "prudent approach" during the coronavirus pandemic, which included delaying the supply chain and order-to-cash aspects of Hershey's ERP project.

By Roberto Torres • April 27, 2020

Coronavirus pushes 46% of SMBs to defer or cut software spend

Though businesses prepare to shrink their IT spend, an economic contraction can provide an opportunity to assess where software can boost productivity.

By Roberto Torres • April 23, 2020

How COVID-19 makes the case for 'high-road' supply chains

The pandemic exposes threats to global supply chains that demand new sourcing methods, writes Susan Helper, a professor of economics at Case Western Reserve University.

By Susan Helper • April 22, 2020

Primark commits to accepting $455M in finished stock from suppliers

After a month of "extensive one-to-one conversations" with suppliers concerning the coronavirus, the Dublin-based retailer is accepting additional finished and in-transit products. 

By S.L. Fuller • April 22, 2020

Manufacturers call on government to incentivize production pivots to PPE

The manufacturing industry is calling on Congress to provide more financial incentives for businesses that switch to producing essential goods, including PPE.

By Matt Leonard • April 22, 2020

Navigating supplier relationships in the COVID-19 era

Coronavirus-related ruptures in the supply chain are leading to canceled, invalidated or ignored contracts, emphasizing the importance of buyer-supplier relations.

By Rich Weissman • April 16, 2020

ISM: Lead times are up 200% or more across the world

Supply disruptions will remain a global issue that will challenge even well-prepared and diversified firms, said ISM CEO Tom Derry.

By Morgan Forde • April 15, 2020

How medical supply chains can diversify beyond COVID-19

Pharma and medical device buyers' heavy reliance on global sourcing lowers costs but has created supply problems during the coronavirus pandemic.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • April 15, 2020

FedEx adds 150 flights in April to shuttle PPE from Asia to the US

The carrier plans to redeploy aircraft it had parked, according to Bloomberg. FedEx has been cutting airfreight capacity since September. 

By S.L. Fuller • April 13, 2020

PwC: Supply chains will up supplier scrutiny after coronavirus

Initial concerns about near-term supply disruptions are giving way to larger questions regarding procurement risk going forward.

By Emma Cosgrove • April 13, 2020

Godiva fails to address labor rights, sustainability in supply chain, survey finds

Although major chocolate brands have made some improvement in reducing deforestation, giving fair wages and increasing visibility, the industry has a long way to go as it braces for the coronavirus, according to the survey.

By Morgan Forde • April 9, 2020

WTO: 2020 trade levels could rival Great Depression

Optimistically, global trade would decline by 13% year over year. In a pessimistic outlook, the decline is 32% or more.

By S.L. Fuller • April 9, 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

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

As coronavirus spread through Asia, Atlantic Natural Foods prepared for US impact

With a facility in Thailand, the company had foresight about how the pandemic could sweep across the world and affect the food industry.

By Lillianna Byington • April 7, 2020

Transportation bottlenecks snarl inputs to food supply chains

Global agricultural commodity prices are jumping as pandemic mitigation efforts constrict logistics and trade.

By Emma Cosgrove • April 7, 2020