Reading between the supply chain lines: Labor, work-life balance and a coup across the world

There is often more to a headline than meets the eye. These news stories may impact supply chain managers in unexpected ways.

By Rich Weissman • Feb. 8, 2021

Anheuser-Busch to invest $1B to expand capacity, sustainability initiatives

The company said $50 million would go toward expanding its seltzer brewing capabilities and $100 million for new lines to produce cans.

By Christopher Doering • Feb. 5, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Supply Chain Dive

Here’s how companies are navigating rising costs, network changes and logistics disruptions across global supply chain networks.

By Supply Chain Dive staff

Dry ice demand rises more than 1,100% as procurement leaders navigate vaccine rollout: Thomas

Sourcing for freezers and syringes ticked up significantly, and nitrile gloves are expected to be in high demand throughout the year.

By A.B. Brown • Feb. 4, 2021

Home Depot opens automated Dallas fulfillment center with hydrogen-powered forklifts

The facility is part of the retailer's $1.2 billion supply chain investment and includes six miles of mechanized lines. 

By Shefali Kapadia • Feb. 4, 2021

Harbor truckers dispute millions of detention, demurrage charges as fees surpass $200

Trucking firms may pass added costs down to shippers, depending on the relationship, as well as the terms of the contract between the two parties, HTA's CEO said.

By S.L. Fuller • Feb. 3, 2021

Why the empty container math doesn't add up in US exporters' favor

What led to a global imbalance of available shipping containers? And what were the effects on U.S. businesses?

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 3, 2021

Manufacturers face price increases, shortages to start new year: PMI

"We had zero of our companies report price decreases — zero," ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee Chair Timothy Fiore said Monday.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 3, 2021

CDC publishes vaccination posters, templates for employers with essential workers

Though the agency greenlit plans to put essential workers next in line for vaccines, state rollout plans vary.

By Ryan Golden • Feb. 1, 2021

FMC calls on Biden to prioritize vaccines, PPE for port workers

Unions and groups representing maritime employees reported nearly 2,000 COVID-19 cases since March 2020.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 1, 2021

Boeing starts moving through 737 inventory backlog after FAA allows return to service

Spirit AeroSystems, Boeing's largest supplier, said it would lag Boeing's production rate by five shipsets as it works through its own inventory buildup.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 29, 2021

Nestlé sets goal of 100% responsibly sourced coffee by 2025

The company requires farmer groups and suppliers to adopt practices aligned with Nestlé’s Responsible Sourcing Standards.

By A.B. Brown • Jan. 29, 2021

A moral monopoly: The difference between supplier-performance management and bullying

Businesses must reevaluate the highly unequal distribution of risk and reward.

By Kim van der Weerd • Jan. 28, 2021

3M increases N95 production rate to 2.5B annually

The ability to expand production of personal protective equipment is thanks, in part, to 3M's agile supply chain and shorter cycle times, the CEO said.

By Shefali Kapadia • Jan. 28, 2021

Is Lunar New Year the turning point for equipment shortages?

Manufacturers are operating at full capacity to produce containers. It's just a matter of moving the new equipment to where it's needed.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 27, 2021

The pandemic put supply chains front and center for retailers — perhaps for the first time

Retail supply chains came under intense strain and went through wild convolutions last year. To weather the next storm, the industry must be agile and take risk seriously.

By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 25, 2021

Pandemic parcel dynamics drive a new shipper hierarchy

In a world where parcel carriers choose which volume they carry, some shippers will win capacity and some will lose. Skill and investment will determine the winners.

By Emma Cosgrove • Jan. 25, 2021

US nitrile glove factory to triple production by 2022

Raw materials suppliers, manufacturers and distributors are weighing longer contracts and new relationships after a tumultuous year in the personal protective equipment supply chain.

By Emma Cosgrove • Jan. 22, 2021

Timberland, Vans parent maps supply chains through tier 4

Poor visibility has plagued apparel supply chains for years, but VF's detailed data collection and mapping signals advancements in traceability.

By A.B. Brown • Jan. 21, 2021

BNSF: Network redundancy key to intermodal speed

The railroad's new CEO, Katie Farmer, discussed adding redundancy at a time when other railroads see whittling away at network assets as the more in-vogue option.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 21, 2021

California proposes points system to hold warehouses accountable for truck emissions

Road transport has been at the forefront of Southern California's emissions crackdown, but it's also one of the most challenging areas for supply chains to curb given the involvement of external parties.

By S.L. Fuller • Jan. 20, 2021

How Dick's and Wayfair connect consumers with real-time inventory data

The pandemic upped the stakes for data accuracy, as well as the velocity and volume at which it needed to flow.

By Emma Cosgrove • Jan. 19, 2021

BDO: 50% of manufacturers plan to secure backup suppliers in 2021

Many manufacturers are rethinking their sourcing because of tariffs and high shipping costs, though they're treading cautiously on implementing wholesale changes during the pandemic.

By A.B. Brown • Jan. 14, 2021

Loves Furniture declares bankruptcy following shipping issues, Penske Logistics dispute

Loves leadership says it has "too much inventory and too little cash" to operate its stores. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 13, 2021

Damco is gone. Where do Maersk, freight forwarders and shippers go from here?

Shippers face a choice as they plan freight strategies: the simplicity of a single end-to-end provider or the reduced risk of a diversified carrier network.

By Shefali Kapadia • Jan. 13, 2021

Packaging, PPE and surgical supplies: How COVID-19 is pushing hospitals to reduce waste

Some waste is inevitable, but supply chain leaders are finding ways to reduce the quantity — reusing and recycling when possible and adjusting procurement and packaging.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Jan. 12, 2021