Consumer-centric” is the key to success in today’s omni-channel environment. As retailers strive to meet consumer demand for a seamless shopping experience across all channels—brick and mortar locations and online—the winners will be material handling professionals who understand the need for new approaches to distribution and fulfillment centers. “Over the past 10 or 15 years, we’ve seen traditional retailers add ...

In these days of rapidly advancing technology, Big Data can be seen one of two ways: as a vehicle for simplification or the speed bump that makes things more complex. The difference? In terms of the supply chain, the experts say it’s understanding big data’s new business case, using it to automate processes and discover end-to-end supply chain visibility and ...

Wayne Eckerson, founder of the Eckerson Group, is credited with coining the term “purple people” back in 2010. Last year, in an article,* Eckerson wrote about the yawning gulf between business (blue) and information technology (red) groups in most organizations. He said that successful leaders—the purple people—not only know how to talk the language of both camps and but also ...

In addition to creating the four Fundamentals of Warehousing and Distribution textbooks that support educators and enhance curriculum in high schools, community colleges, technical schools, correctional institutions and other training programs, MHI’s Career & Technical Education (CTE) program has a long history of collaborating with other industry associations and organizations to advance professional development and certifications. Among our most frequent ...

Most will agree that the shortage of talent is impacting supply chains. The field can’t find drivers, can’t find pickers, can’t find managers—just plain can’t find the talent needed to keep systems running. For some, the answer is simple: do what we do best, create a supply chain. Yes, human resources is a supply chain, or at least it had ...

Outsourced logistics services have shifted into overdrive. Also known as third-party logistics, or 3PL, market research firm Armstrong & Associates tags it as a $161.2 billion industry in the U.S. alone. It is a behemoth of an industry. According to Armstrong, revenues were up in 2015, thanks to lower fuel prices compared to the previous year. A number of mergers ...

What does your supply chain need? Is it automation? A new process? A breakthrough technology to enhance efficiency? Find your “X” at ProMat, the manufacturing and supply chain industry’s largest trade event. At ProMat you’ll see the latest innovations from 850+ solution providers. You can also network with your peers and learn from industry thought leaders in keynotes and over ...

Slow global growth, Brexit fallout, oil and gas credit risks and U.S. election fallout continue to present risks for the year ahead. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported global growth at 3.1 percent for 2015, with expected growth of 3.1 percent for 2016. On the upside, in October 2016, the IMF presented its forecast for 2017 global growth at 3.4 ...

Racks, mezzanines, staircases, walkways and storage shelves in material handling facilities have edges. Preventing people, boxes, pallets, tools, materials and packaging from falling off these edges onto the floor below is edge protection’s goal. Mezzanines maximize facilities’ cubic space. Falls of people and objects are a concern in these elevated work areas with the risk of harm extending to people ...

As e-commerce continues to grow, regulators and consumers are increasingly demanding that online retailers and fulfillment centers prove that their products are, indeed, authentic—and firms within the supply chain are employing emerging technologies to accomplish just that. The technology creating the biggest media buzz is blockchain, says Rick Fox, president and chief executive of MHI member FOX IV Technologies Inc. ...