CEO Update Supply chain technology investment is growing, and it is empowering supply chain workers as they collaborate with these new technologies to create more resilient, transparent and data-driven operations. Fifty-five percent of supply chain leaders are increasing their supply chain technology and innovation investments according to the survey results from the 2024 MHI Annual Industry Report, “The Collaborative Supply ...

Executive Viewpoint BY KAREN NORHEIM, CEO, AMERICAN CRANE & EQUIPMENT CORPORATION It can be so tempting to chase after shiny objects. But at American Crane & Equipment Corporation, we know that before we can run, we have to walk. And before we can walk, we need to crawl. Back in 2019, we made the first movement toward integrating the technology ...

Economic Market Analysis BY JASON SCHENKER, PRESIDENT OF PRESTIGE ECONOMICS®, CHAIRMAN OF THE FUTURIST INSTITUTE® Global manufacturing and growth were under significant pressure in 2023 and early 2024. But the prospects for the second half of 2024 are more favorable. Despite elevated interest rates, U.S. and Chinese manufacturing PMIs picked up in late Q1 2024, hinting at more upside ahead ...

Safer Handling BY TOM GRESHAM When energy is involved, safety is always a major point of emphasis, particularly in the material handling field. Founded in 2023, the Advanced Energy Council (AEC) is an industry group within MHI that represents companies that produce, implement and support advanced energy technologies and accessories. Safety unsurprisingly is a focus of the new group’s efforts ...

Solutions Spotlight BY KATIE KUEHNER-HEBERT Autonomous mobile robots in distribution facilities are “the future”—and members of MHI’s Storage Manufacturers Association (SMA) are working to make their products compatible with this emerging technology. SMA members are the industry’s leading suppliers of industrial storage equipment. They supply storage solutions worldwide and in virtually every major manufacturing and distribution sector. Industrial storage equipment ...

The 11th edition of the MHI Annual Industry Report found increased investment in human-centric, collaborative technologies that empower workers to be more productive and make better decisions. BY SARA PEARSON SPECTER Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and automation have dominated the supply chain technology adoption conversation over the past year. Recognition of their ability to enhance resilience amid unpredictability and improve ...

The 12th Annual MHI Innovation Awards saw strong entries across four categories, including the inaugural Best Innovation in Sustainability competition, at MODEX 2024. BY GREG BAER, DIRECTOR OF SALES, MHI Of the hundreds of solutions that filled all three of the Georgia World Congress Center’s exhibition halls during MODEX 2024, four supply chain and material handling solutions stood out among ...

Product Spotlight BY SANDY SMITH MHI’s Mobile Automation Group (MAG) fills an important role in connecting suppliers to end users and helping integrators understand that mobile automation is just one part of the overall warehouse process. But none of that matters if safety isn’t at the forefront. “That’s not going to change” as a focus of the group, said Brian ...

Where Are They Now? Catching up with an MHEFI Scholarship Recipient BY SHERYL S. JACKSON BEN BRUNS, SENIOR SUPPLIER, INDUSTRIALIZATION ENGINEER, TESLA As a student at the Rochester Institute of Technology, Ben Bruns had opportunities to work as a team member in his co-op positions as well as part of the school’s team that was awarded second place in the ...

Pandemic-era bottlenecks, soaring geopolitical tensions and other factors have ushered in a new era of globalization as manufacturers bring production closer to where their products will be consumed and create lower-cost, more resilient supply chains. South of the U.S. border, Mexico’s nearshoring boom presents a treasure trove of opportunities as demand for material handling and logistics solutions grows. BY DAVID ...