Risk/Resilience

Chocolate makers map 600K cocoa farms in Ghana, Ivory Coast

Companies increased traceability efforts in 2020, tracking more than 74% of purchases in the two countries, according to the World Cocoa Foundation.

By A.B. Brown • May 13, 2021

Procurement meets marketing: Responsible sourcing turns trendy in the public eye

With collaboration, supply chains have the opportunity to tell the stories of their A-plus vendors — and bank goodwill in case a bad apple is exposed.

By Jen A. Miller • May 13, 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

Shipper committee to guide FMC on container issues by year's end

With Daniel Maffei as chairman, the agency will seek advice from importers and exporters while also looking to modernize the Shipping Act.

By Matt Leonard • May 11, 2021

Opinion

Responsible sourcing is key to rid labor abuse from PPE supply chain

Legislation and governmental sanctions can help, but businesses must commit to ethical sourcing standards.

By Steve Ardagh • May 06, 2021

Concerns over Xinjiang forced labor prompt transparency tool for solar sourcing

The protocol aims to better equip companies to navigate U.S. import compliance obligations and ensure products are ethically produced.

By Jean Haggerty • May 06, 2021

Ford doubles down on lean in the face of semiconductor shortage

The automaker expects the semiconductor shortage to get worse before the supply levels improve, with the second quarter now the expected trough for the sourcing issue.

By Matt Leonard • May 03, 2021

Starbucks says it will help distribution partners struggling with labor shortages

Delayed or disrupted fulfillment from distribution centers to stores are possible if Starbucks-delivery partners can't find the labor they need to move goods.  

By A.B. Brown • April 30, 2021

Supply chains turn to Vietnam, India to diversify sourcing: Qima

Rising labor costs, a trade war and the pandemic have prompted companies to rethink their dependence on China, whether that means reshoring, nearshoring or China+1.

By A.B. Brown • April 29, 2021

USPS invests in more parcel sorters, overflow facilities to prepare for peak

Last peak season, the agency had a record-breaking 25% YoY growth in volume, but on-time performance dropped below 80%.

By S.L. Fuller • April 29, 2021

Tesla faces 'insane' supply chain headwinds, from semiconductor shortages to port congestion

The manufacturer is building factories as quickly as possible and aims to double supplier capacity next year, executives said.

By S.L. Fuller • April 28, 2021

How the pandemic changed retail supply chains

Whether sales were up or down, retail supply chain leaders knew one thing was clear: Strategies had to change.

Study: Spend analytics, category management top priorities for supply chain leaders

The IHS Markit survey results come on the heels of a Gartner report that found data and analytics will become a "core business function" this year.

By A.B. Brown • April 22, 2021

It's game on for packaging procurement as lead times lengthen

Stadiums and concessions anticipate surging demand as events resume. Can supplies keep up?

By Jen A. Miller • April 22, 2021

Ceva Logistics adds guaranteed airfreight capacity in volatile market

Shipper demand for sea-to-air conversions reduced airfreight capacity and increased rates in the aftermath of the Suez Canal blockage.

By Matt Leonard • April 22, 2021

5 freight technologies send supply chains on a greener path

A growing level of shipper interest, along with pressure from the public and regulators, is driving carriers to invest in more sustainable delivery options.

By Matt Leonard , S.L. Fuller • April 21, 2021

54% of companies plan to up spending on inventory planning: MHI

Inventory and network optimization tools saw the largest YoY jump in companies reporting the technology as "in-use today" with 45% of companies falling into that category, up from 40% last year.

By Matt Leonard • April 20, 2021

Mars, PepsiCo and McCormick form coalition to guide supplier sustainability

The group gives suppliers tools to create their own emissions-reduction plans, with the first year focused on calculating footprints and creating targets.

By Lauren Manning • April 20, 2021

Retail supply chains and consumers are at a crossroads with returns

Do retailers need a C-suite position to manage reverse logistics?

By Kaarin Vembar • April 19, 2021

TSMC plans $100B investment to battle semiconductor shortages

The semiconductor shortage should be "greatly reduced" by the next quarter, though it could still last until 2022 if demand remains high, CEO C.C. Wei said.

By Matt Leonard • April 16, 2021

'Chaotic' supply chain pushed up supplier prices: MSC

Port congestion, severe weather and COVID-19 disruptions to production lines have impacted product availability and led to inflation.

By A.B. Brown • April 15, 2021

Supply chains brace for container issues, blank sailings as ships cleared from Suez arrive at ports

Hapag-Lloyd reported some disruptions in its network with equipment shortages in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary and Czech Republic.

By Matt Leonard • April 15, 2021

9 charts show the highs and lows of supply chains in Q1

By the end of March 2021, supply chains had spent more than a year fighting the fires of the pandemic.

By Shefali Kapadia , Matt Leonard • April 14, 2021

How the pandemic impacted demand at FedEx, Clorox and C&S Wholesale

Companies across industries began to shift operations in early 2020, as signs pointed to changes in demand and consumer habits.

By Matt Leonard • April 14, 2021

How the pandemic drove retailers to on-demand warehousing

Supply chains had a front-row seat to volatility over the last year, and a need for more flexible operations.

By Matt Leonard • April 12, 2021

Lamb Weston reports higher transport costs after pivot to spot trucking

The company usually relies more on rail for moving inventory from factories to distribution centers, but changes in production schedules necessitated a more flexible transportation option.

By Matt Leonard • April 09, 2021