Consumer electronics used to be limited to radio and TV, but in a few short decades, it has expanded to include computers, tablets, phones—and yes, that refrigerator. At the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year, attendees were able to see refrigerators that used a built-in camera to take pictures of its contents, or provided the capability to order groceries via an ...

Connected. Intelligent. Scalable. Nimble. These are the words used to describe the anticipated outcome of the current transformation of traditionally linear supply chains in the third edition of MHI’s Annual Industry Report, “Accelerating change: How innovation is driving digital, always-on supply chains.” As evidenced by the title, the report examines the concept of the always-on supply chain, defined as: “An ...

For the fourth year, MHI honors the most innovative products and solutions in our industry. At MODEX 2016 exhibitors were invited to submit entries in three different categories: Best New Innovation, Best Innovation of an Existing Product and Best IT Innovation. We received 95 entries between the three categories—an increase from 84 entrants at MODEX 2014. It’s a clear demonstration ...

MHI launched the #iWorkInTheSupplyChain awareness campaign late last year, aiming to dispel popular preconceptions about careers in manufacturing and supply chain. The initiative set out to tell the world about the broad and diverse range of people who have chosen a career in our field. Because, by its own admission, the industry hasn’t done an especially great job at communicating ...

In 2015, MHI’s Career & Technical Education (CTE) program received several calls from school districts on both coasts seeking more information about how to establish their own supply chain, material handling and logistics education programs at the high school level. Those calls led directly and regional workforce development to our participation in two different Supply Chain Education and Workforce Summits— ...

Collaboration has always been a pillar of MHI’s commitment to enhancing and improving the supply chain, material handling and logistics industries. Not just by creating opportunities for connections among our members, but also externally. For decades, we’ve built relationships with other industry associations, including (but not limited to): the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA), the Warehousing Education and Research ...

The outlook for U.S. economic growth and material handling for 2016 and 2017 has softened sharply in recent quarters. U.S. manufacturing activity fell to recession levels when it began contracting at the end of 2015, which can be seen in the yearover- year rate of industrial production and the ISM Manufacturing Index (see graph on page 110). Although U.S. manufacturing ...

When was the last time that you stopped to think about the journey that brought you into the supply chain? I speak to students frequently, and I end up explaining my journey pretty much the same way each time. Instead of telling the real story, I just list the sequence of jobs that I’ve had. Who cares? The important information ...

Ergonomic workstations bring the work to the workers by optimizing the fit between people, their tools, the task and their environment. Examples include raising tables or using tilting work surfaces. The goal is to avoid forcing operators to lean over to do their work using a poor posture that could result in low back and/or upper back discomfort, explained Kelly ...

The U.S. Roadmap for Material Handling & Logistics (Roadmap) identifies trust and technology as two key barriers to effective collaboration. At MHI we are building and testing a platform with trust embedded so that the value of sharing information and assisting others with their material handling and supply chain issues can be realized. The opportunities for MHI members to elevate ...