In a time of increased scrutiny of factory conditions in developing countries, for-profit startup LaborVoices Inc. aims to make supply chains transparent for corporate brands while providing “a voice for global workers” by gathering real-time data from thousands of laborers across the world. The Sunnyvale, Calif., company has set up a system to regularly survey workers on safety, wages and ...

Since 1999, the Panama Canal has attracted more and more traffic. Supply chain strategists are all looking at the Panama Canal expansion to see what effect the expanded Panama Canal will have on business. Scheduled to open in 2015, the expanded Canal will have a third set of locks. “The third set of locks will add a third lane, which ...

New methods of harvesting natural gas and oil from shale formations through fracking (hydraulic fracturing) have already provided several benefits to the U.S. But how widespread and long-term will those effects be, and how will they impact the companies that make up the supply chain throughout the U.S.? Lower energy prices Unconventional production methods have produced an abundance of natural ...

  Cold storage isn’t just about storage anymore. Different processors often specify different shelf lives – 90 days for this product and 100 days for that one – and cold storage warehouses must often provide multiple temperature zones for different products. And, when the seasons change, so might the products and the temperatures. Industries that need cold storage facilities – ...

There are many areas in which changes—small or large—can be made to boost a manufacturer’s sustainability, including product design and packaging, facilities, materials, process, machinery, transportation, suppliers and supply chain network. By Sara Pearson Specter

More and more companies are choosing to invest in green building practices, enjoying quick returns on investments that pay off in profit and public opinion. Is LEED certification worth looking into for your next warehouse? By Amy Drew Thompson

Technological innovations and lower component prices are placing robotics within reach of far more companies now, allowing manufacturers to cut costs, provide better jobs and wages, modernize plants and move production onshore from overseas factories. By Dinah Wisenberg Brin