The second half of 2015 is likely to be characterized by a solid U.S. economy, an improving global economy, modestly increasing commodity prices and continued foreign exchange rate volatility. Despite the deceleration in U.S. growth in Q4 2014 and Q1 2015, we still expect solid year-over-year U.S. economic growth for all of 2015, as well as continued improvements in the ...

Perhaps this article caught your eye because your supply chain strategy is not generating the results you expect and need, or perhaps it’s because you know that you need to completely transform your supply chain. Perhaps your supply chain routinely fails to deliver products on time and manage inventory and cost to the right levels. Maybe you realize that the ...

Our economic expectations have not changed in the past quarter; we still expect solid U.S. economic growth in 2015. This growth is likely to be accompanied by downside risks to global growth, benign materials costs that rise later in the year, and volatile foreign exchange markets. While we previously acknowledged elevated risks to global growth in the first half of ...

Despite the introduction of robotic and other mechanical means of moving materials, manual material handling (MMH) is still an essential part of the supply chain process. To minimize the injuries from the repetitive motion involved in MMH means companies must introduce ergonomic interventions. Two major factors impact the need to improve MMH methods: the available pool of workers and market ...

Members of MHI’s Automatic Guided Vehicle Systems (AGVS) Product Group are the industry’s leading suppliers of automatic guided vehicle systems. Automatic guided vehicle (AGV) systems move parts and materials in many industries—automotive, chemicals, plastics, hospital, newspaper, commercial printing, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, warehousing and distribution and manufacturing. For manufacturers, however, AGV systems can do more than carry parts and materials ...

No doubt about it. The past year has been a huge one for the U.S. Roadmap for Material Handling & Logistics. Not only was it published and made available at www.mhlroadmap.org, but the Roadmap went on a tour of its own—coast to coast and internationally. Some of the cities it has visited include Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Charlotte, Trenton, Louisville ...

This year, MHI is kicking off two Solution Groups—Automation Alliance (AA) and Information Systems (IS)—as part of the association’s effort to tout more holistic solutions to end-users by positioning MHI and its member companies as authoritative resources on material handling and supply chain topics. “This represents an evolution of the market and the industry,” says Bill Leber, director, business development ...

Supply chain management is getting an adrenaline shot in the arm with emerging wearable and mobile technologies. From smart glasses, to voice-directed hands-free wearable scanners, to real-time views of every touchpoint within the supply chain via mobile devices, manufacturers, distributors and their partners are experimenting with various technologies to expedite processes, improve worker safety and increase transparency within the supply ...

On “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” Captain Jean-Luc Picard often pondered the week’s signature conundrum over a cup of comfort. “Tea. Earl Gray. Hot,” he’d say to the Replicator, and a moment later it would materialize. We’re not quite there just yet, but at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, we got one giant step closer with the ...

Predictions about the future of logistics often include scenarios of driverless trucks loaded with goods cruising effortlessly down the highway and flying drones departing from warehouses to make last-mile deliveries of consumer goods. Will such visions become a reality? Despite anticipated benefits to automated driving and delivery systems, technological, legislative and other barriers could slow their adoption. Assisted not autonomous ...