Risk/Resilience

Deep Dive

After years of 'Made in China,' supply chains consider alternatives

The change in tone from U.S.-based supply chains is not a mass exodus from China. Instead, it's an approach that embraces diversification. 

By Shefali Kapadia • Oct. 14, 2021

Steel prices soar as businesses rush to rebuild supply chains

The pandemic pushed more companies to stock up on products or reshore manufacturing. That's beginning to put a strain on raw materials.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Oct. 14, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Trendline

Resilient and sustainable supply chains

Supply chains with resiliency strategies in place before the pandemic were able to adjust operations quickly to find alternative supply sources and recalibrate production with demand. 

By Supply Chain Dive staff

7 ways to optimize budgets as transportation costs rise

Prolonged high prices force manufacturers and retailers to figure out how to make their budgets work. 

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Oct. 13, 2021

Biden administration delves into supply chain problems

Walmart, UPS commit to use night hours at West Coast ports to smooth cargo flows

During a speech on Wednesday, President Joe Biden said he envisioned the U.S. will eventually operate on a 24/7 supply chain schedule, and extended hours at ports is just the first step.

By Edwin Lopez • UPDATED: Oct. 14, 2021 at 12:45 p.m.

Lamb Weston passes on freight costs as rate inflation continues

Hiking prices can help "recover the cost of product delivery," said CFO Bernadette Madarieta, after noting inflation ate away at profits in Q1.

By Max Garland • Oct. 12, 2021

Mars pledges net zero emissions by 2050 across its full value chain

The food giant is tying executive pay to climate action, and will challenge its more than 20,000 suppliers to set their own commitments.

By Chris Casey • Oct. 12, 2021

Major paint supplier looks to overcome resin shortages with new Texas facility

RPM International said it lost 300 production days after a February winter storm and an explosion at a major supplier led to shortages. Now, it's purchasing assets to add resilience.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Oct. 11, 2021

Cyber needs to be a part of supply chain risk management, federal agency says

The National Institute of Standards and Technology provides 9 tips for starting up a cyber supply chain risk management program.

By Samantha Schwartz • Oct. 06, 2021

'We're going to see a lot of bare shelves': Retail preps for a holiday beset by supply chain pain

Bottlenecks from factories to cargo ships mean less inventory and fewer discounts for the season.

By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 05, 2021

Semiconductor shortage, lean inventories stifle memory chip demand

Micron, a memory chip maker, says its inventory is at its lowest level in years and its customers are also short on components.

By Max Garland • Oct. 05, 2021

Air cargo industry leaders target 10% sustainable aviation fuels by 2030

Scaling an alternative to crude oil has been highlighted as a critical piece in reducing emissions as shipper interest in sustainability grows.

By Max Garland • Oct. 04, 2021

Climate change poses high risk to Nestlé, Campbell Soup supply chains

An investor group is asking the food companies to make their operations more resilient, warning they are "highly exposed" to climate risks.

By Chris Casey • Oct. 04, 2021

SEC asks companies to detail climate change's impact on operations

Businesses across a range of industries are being pressed for more information as the agency prepares a proposed rule on climate disclosure.  

By Jim Tyson • Sept. 27, 2021

Shortages have created a 'traffic jam' in construction: Lennar

A lack of labor and items, including vinyl siding and wood windows, are delaying production and creating "a game of whack-a-mole" for the industry.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Sept. 24, 2021

Procuring sustainable coffee cups presents a blend of challenges

Increased global demand and recycling setbacks during the pandemic point to the need for better systems within the supply chain.

By Jen A. Miller • Sept. 23, 2021

For Home Depot, tackling capacity crunch key in pandemic strategy

Securing carrier capacity is not a guarantee in the currently constrained environment, so Home Depot made plans to charter ships.

By Max Garland • Sept. 22, 2021

'Too much data' drives adoption, expectations of predictive analytics

Demand forecasting and supply planning are among the top uses for the technology, but the upfront expense doesn't make sense for every business.

By Jen A. Miller • Sept. 21, 2021

Opinion

Supply chain challenges aren't going away anytime soon

Businesses and consumers should prepare for continued disruption and increased costs, writes a supply chain expert at CBRE.

By Joe Dunlap • Sept. 21, 2021

Big Lots plans 'bypass network' to mitigate port congestion during peak season

As an example, the retailer said 98% of its Christmas trees ship out of Yantian and now have 4-8 week lead times. A bypass network will help imports skip a touch, and arrive in time for holiday shopping.

By Edwin Lopez • Sept. 17, 2021

Lowe's places larger orders with suppliers to avoid holiday stockouts

The hardware retailer says inventory levels are "actually getting better, not worse," as other companies struggle to navigate supply chain disruptions. 

By Sarah Zimmerman • Sept. 16, 2021

Column

Facing shortages? Here's 5 ways to build a resilient procurement strategy.

Procurement teams can turn supply constraints into an opportunity to rebuild with sourcing in mind.

By Praveen Kumar Soni • Sept. 16, 2021

Vietnam closures push retailers to shift tactics, suppliers ahead of the holidays

Big Lots expects $60 million in lost sales due to lockdowns in Vietnam, which may last until the end of the month.

By Edwin Lopez • Sept. 13, 2021

Deep Dive // Lessons learned from 5 years of supply chain disruptions

Aircraft emissions present a roadblock to supply chain sustainability goals

FedEx's Chief Sustainability Officer says true aviation sustainability "is an intractable problem." Will environmentally conscious shippers move away from airfreight?

By Max Garland • Sept. 08, 2021

Industrial buyers face a resin market with tight supplies, spiking prices

Demand for resins is far outstripping supplies, leaving manufacturers of plastic parts scrambling.

By Meena Thiruvengadam • Sept. 02, 2021

Burlington's sourcing costs are up 78% over 2 years due to pandemic supply chain disruptions

Company executives laid out three reasons why supply chain costs are leading to high prices — and why they think price hikes won't last.

By Edwin Lopez • Sept. 01, 2021