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

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Risk Management

Risk takes many forms in the supply chain: severe weather, geopolitical uncertainty and labor tensions. Explore the tactics supply chain managers use to prepare for disruptions.

By Supply Chain Dive staff

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

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

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. 8, 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. 2, 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. 1, 2021

Geodis leases freighter to secure capacity in tight air cargo market

The forwarder said the A330-300 aircraft, which is leased for a minimum of five years, will also fly between China and Europe during peak season.

By Max Garland • Sept. 1, 2021

A tale of two dollar stores: Dollar Tree contends with freight, Dollar General mostly shrugs off costs

The $1 price point means limited options for mitigating expenses as supply chain congestion leads to extraordinary cost increases.

By Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 31, 2021

Ida disrupts freight movement after making landfall as Category 4 hurricane

Rescue and relief efforts are underway, but the damage to infrastructure and impact on business could be long term. 

By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 30, 2021

5 years of supply chain disruptions and the lessons learned

Hindsight has the virtue of revealing opportunities we may have missed.

By Edwin Lopez • Updated Dec. 31, 2021

Inflation: Negotiate with suppliers and don't panic

Tried-and-true methods can help procurement managers combat across-the-board price increases in an inflationary environment.

By Rich Weissman • Aug. 26, 2021

Air cargo carriers shift operations as Shanghai disruption drags on

Changes due to disruption at Shanghai Pudong International Airport have already affected at least one major shipper.

By Max Garland • Aug. 26, 2021

What retail executives are saying about widespread supply chain bottlenecks

From air shipping to ship charters to price increases, industry players are managing chaos at ports and throughout the global production network every way they can.

By Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 26, 2021

Shanghai airport terminal closure leads logistics firms to expect cargo delays

China has implemented strict measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, leading to strains on already-limited air cargo capacity out of the country.

By Max Garland • Aug. 23, 2021

PepsiCo aims to replenish more water than it consumes by 2030

The company said stringent water-use-efficiency standards would cover more than 1,000 global facilities, saving over 11 billion liters annually.

By Christopher Doering • Aug. 23, 2021

Automakers work to increase transparency into semiconductor supply

Ford CEO Jim Farley said the company was working directly with semiconductor fabs, the first tier in the semiconductor supply chain.

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 19, 2021

Shortages and other challenges across liquor supply chain throw a wrench in summer rebound

"We’re at the mercy of the supply chain," said the CFO of Brown-Forman, the maker of Jack Daniel's and Woodford Reserve. 

By A.B. Brown • Aug. 19, 2021

Closing the gap: Supply chains bring more women to the table

Millions of women left the workforce in 2020. But in supply chain management, their representation grew as companies navigated "glass cliffs" and diversity commitments.

By Jen A. Miller • Aug. 17, 2021

Port congestion has Biden's attention. Here's what San Pedro ports recommend.

Executives at the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach have a long list of ideas they want to implement as Biden brings together various stakeholders on the issue.

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 13, 2021

Sysco struggles with shipper delays, works to find alternative sourcing

The company's sales teams are asking customers whether alternate supplies could be used for products, while its merchant teams coordinate with suppliers.

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 12, 2021

Say hello to your pandemic price increase

Inflation, supply chain disruptions and changes in business strategies all point to higher prices. And that may be a good thing.

By Rich Weissman • Aug. 12, 2021

Stress tests: The right tool for strengthening supply chains.

Simulations of potential disruptions — large economic shifts, trade wars, climate change or even cyberattacks — can yield forward-looking assessments of risk.

By Jonathan Welburn • Aug. 9, 2021

Customs workers in Canada reach agreement, end slowdown that threatened supply chains

The four-year tentative agreement applies to nearly 9,500 border services officers and follows work-to-rule actions by Canada Border Services Agency employees that began Friday.

By Max Garland • Updated Aug. 9, 2021