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CEO Update The efficient movement of goods and products is the lifeblood that fuels supply chain operations. Each stage of this process carries its own set of complexities and challenges. One thing that is true for all stages is that speed, accuracy, efficiency and transparency are paramount. Meeting the challenges of first, middle and last mile logistics is no easy ...

Executive Viewpoint BY ARCH THOMASON, CEO, SUNLAND LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS AND CHAIR, WERC ADVISORY COMMITTEE Over the past 15 years, Sunland Logistics Solutions has grown from a small, local company with 75 total employees—most of them temporary—to a national third-party logistics provider serving Fortune 500 organizations in warehousing and transportation. We now have 14 sites and a high-performance team of about ...

BY CHRISTIAN DOW, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIP AND INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP, MHI If you’re managing a warehouse or distribution center, then you’ve got many questions on your mind. Do I have the products and manpower I need to get all these orders out the door? Are this week’s deliveries still on schedule? Am I meeting my customers’ expectations? Where are my ...

BY JASON SCHENKER, PRESIDENT OF PRESTIGE ECONOMICS®, CHAIRMAN OF THE FUTURIST INSTITUTE® The global economy has also been slowing, but the U.S. economy continues to post solid growth. Our U.S. economic outlook is modestly positive, although we expect a slowing in U.S. growth, U.S. job gains and U.S. inflation this year. Meanwhile, European, Chinese and emerging market growth have been under ...

The MHI Industry Leadership program is pleased to announce the opening of registration for its in-person cohort in Charlotte, NC. Held April 16-18, 2024, the program is dedicated to nurturing emerging and evolving leaders. A team building session is scheduled for the week preceding the program, setting the stage for collaborative learning. During the three-day boot camp in Charlotte, the ...

SAFER HANDLING BY TOM GRESHAM The loading dock is a flashpoint for safety, with approximately 25% of warehouse accidents happening in the space, according to OSHA. That makes it essential for the material handling industry and every organization with a loading dock to prioritize loading dock safety. “It’s important for us to do what we can to prevent those accidents and ...

SOLUTIONS SPOTLIGHT BY KATIE KUEHNER-HEBERT MHI’s Electrification and Controls Manufacturers Association (ECMA) rebranded in 2023 as the Automation, Controls and Electrification Association (ACE), signifying a new era of innovation in industrial automation and material handling. ACE members are at the forefront of delivering automation solutions across the globe, spanning significant manufacturing and distribution sectors. This includes a range of cutting-edge offerings ...

The Warehousing Education & Research Council (WERC) is pleased to announce the release of an online Safety & Compliance course. This course follows the successful launch of the Distribution Logistics Fundamentals and Equipment modules earlier this year. These three courses are part of a series of six that lead to a WERC certificate for warehousing education. The new Safety & ...

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT BY SANDY SMITH The hoisting equipment sector may be both stable and mature—but that doesn’t negate the work of the Hoist Manufacturers Institute (HMI), nor does it signal that the sector will always remain that way. HMI, a 107-year-old organization, represents suppliers of hoists and trolleys and, throughout its history, has developed performance and safety standards for the industry. ...

Catching up with an MHEFI Scholarship Recipient BY SHERYL S. JACKSON Michael Bretz is a mechanical engineer focused on maintaining a robust electrical and water grid so manufacturers, logistics and other companies can continue producing in a cost-efficient, sustainable way—but he took an unconventional journey to his current position. “I was a nontraditional student when I began working on my mechanical ...