Industry Focus BY TOM GRESHAM THIRD‑PARTY LOGISTICS providers, often known as 3PLs, play a vital role in the global supply chain, bringing much‑needed perspective to their clients. Shippers tend to be locked in on their own corners of the marketplace—and with good reason. 3PLs offer a broader view to consider. “As 3PLs, we often see different industries and how one ...

BY KATIE KUEHNER‑HEBERT THREE GROUPS COMBINING their marketing muscle pack a much greater punch than working separately. The Overhead Alliance does just that for three MHI industry groups—the Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA), Monorail Manufacturers Association (MMA) and Hoist Manufacturers Institute (HMI). These three industry groups have many related products and business interests, serve similar industries and potentially even ...

BY JASON SCHENKER, PRESIDENT OF PRESTIGE ECONOMICS® AND CHAIRMAN OF THE FUTURIST INSTITUTE®   SANSOEN SAENGSAKAORAT/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM SUSTAINABILITY HAS BEEN a growing priority in manufacturing and supply chain circles in recent years. It has been the focus of policy discussions, investor reports, corporate strategy decks and MHI presentations. However, throughout this year, the conversation about sustainability seems to have shifted with ...

Product Spotlight   BY SANDY SMITH IN THE FAST‑EVOLVING world of material handling, the Conveyor and Sortation Systems (CSS) industry group of MHI is focused on collaboration, education and innovation. With over 60 member companies spanning original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), component suppliers, integrators and end users, CSS is where ideas are exchanged, challenges are tackled and the future of intralogistics ...

MORE RESILIENT SUPPLY CHAINS START HERE. It’s time to gain a new perspective on what’s new and what’s next for your supply chain operations. As the largest manufacturing and supply chain event in 2026, MODEX showcases supply chains from every angle. The unique combination of hands‑on product and technology demonstrations, education and face‑to‑face connections makes MODEX the can’t‑miss experience for ...

Where Are They Now? Catching Up With an MHEFI Scholarship Recipient BREANNA SCHNEIDER, OPERATIONS ANALYST, GRAINGER BREANNA SCHNEIDER HAD a formative experience in high school when her Advanced Placement statistics class watched the movie “Moneyball,” about how the budget‑constrained Oakland Athletics used statistical analysis to build an overachieving roster. Schneider said the film inspired her to study statistics at the ...

THE PEOPLE WHO work at MHI and its Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) division are the gears that keep the association moving. They ensure MHI continues to be a valuable association and resource for people involved in the industry, doing so with competence and smiles on their faces. The goal of this column is to give readers a glimpse ...

BY CHRISTY DULA, CHIEF EXPERIENCE AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, MHI AS SUPPLY CHAINS face ongoing labor shortages and demand volatility, distribution centers and warehouses are rethinking how they schedule workforces. The traditional model of fixed, eight‑hour shifts across two or three blocks is giving way to more adaptive approaches. Flexible scheduling—supported by digital workforce platforms—is emerging as a way to ...

Trends Signal a New Era of Visibility, Resilience and Intelligence Amid Ongoing Uncertainty AS GLOBAL MARKETS brace for another year of transformation, MHI has released its Top Supply Chain Trends for 2026. The ranking combines research and industry analysis from the MHI Board of Governors and Roundtable Advisory Committee to identify the trends and technologies that will have the greatest ...

Providing a choice of language expands frontline workers’ access to the industry’s most comprehensive collection of equipment, safety and processes information.   BY REBECCA WOODS, DIRECTOR OF TALENT AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MHI THE WERC DISTRIBUTION Logistics Education Program has reached a new milestone: the first of its six courses—Distribution Logistics Fundamentals—is now available in Spanish. This marks an important step ...