Of about 807,000 MILES of track worldwide, about 233,000 MILES are electrified. The U.S. freight industry is an $80 BILLION INDUSTRY, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. Source: Association of American Railroads. 1% Percentage of U.S. railroad tracks that are currently used for electrified rail. 140,000 Miles of railroad track that are privately owned by railroads in the U.S., the ...
Read More »Current Features
The Debate on Dark Stores
For Grocers and Other Online Retailers, Dark Stores Offer Pros and Cons BY NICK FORTUNA Are dark stores here to stay, or are they just a supply chain experiment spurred on by a singular event and destined to fizzle out? That’s a question grocery chains and other online retailers will grapple with over the next few years as they continue ...
Read More »Ports Turn to Tech Solutions for New Levels of Efficiency
Industry Focus BY TOM GRESHAM In the eyes of some, the port industry once appeared reluctant to adopt sophisticated technological solutions to strengthen their operations. In fact, for years, Jonathan Daniels, CEO and port director of Port Everglades in Florida, said carriers, ports and the rest of the shipping industry seemed loath at times to “go away from paper and ...
Read More »MODEX 2024 Preview
REGISTRATION INFORMATION If you pre-registered for MODEX 2024, you should have received your registration confirmation email when you registered. Bring it to a registration kiosk when you arrive at the Georgia World Congress Center to retrieve your badge. If you did not pre-register, proceed to the Registration Counter. Registration is in the Georgia World Congress Center, Building B, Lobby Level ...
Read More »Annual Conference Sessions to Deliver Inspiration
With the theme “Inspiring Action,” WERC’s premier event features sessions about actions that inspire, and that inspire attendees to act. BY MICHAEL MIKITKA, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF MHI’S KNOWLEDGE VALUE CENTER AND WERC After the endless changes and challenges experienced throughout the supply chain over the past few years—and warehousing, distribution and logistics professionals’ constant pivoting to respond—WERC extends an invitation ...
Read More »Empowering Middle Management to Promote DEI Initiatives
BY CHRISTY DULA, CHIEF EXPERIENCE & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, MHI When it comes to nearly all corporate initiatives, support from the upper levels is crucial to generate the momentum that drives successful achievement of a goal. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts likewise require the backing of top leaders. But, as it turns out, these efforts also require the support of ...
Read More »Redefining Innovation in Material Handling
The Role of OpenAI and ChatGPT in Fostering Creative Solutions BY MOHAMMAD MAYYAS, PH.D., STUDENT DAY ORGANIZER, MEMBER OF CICHME, PROFESSOR OF ROBOTICS ENGINEERING AT BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY OpenAI, established in December 2015 by a group including Elon Musk and Sam Altman, has become a key player in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Through a blend of sophisticated machine ...
Read More »Future-Proofing Warehouses: Upskilling for the AI Revolution
BY LINDSEY ROONEY, MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, MHI Warehouses have long served as test labs for automation. In 1962, MHI member Demag installed the first automated storage and retrieval system at a book club warehouse in Germany. From there, innovation led to the complex Warehouse Management Systems that rule facilities today. As we careen into the Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution, warehouse ...
Read More »Tech and the Worker Experience
Feature More than ever, companies in material handling and supply chain are prioritizing improvements in worker safety and the overall worker experience. Investing in an arsenal of cutting-edge technology is a major strategy they are employing to keep workers safe, reduce the physical and mental toll of their jobs, transform training and empower workers by giving them a stronger voice ...
Read More »Is Your Facility OSHA Inspection Ready?
Feature Learn more about OSHA’s new national emphasis program for warehouses and distribution centers. BY CAROL MILLER, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, MHI Inspections for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Warehousing and Distribution Center Operations began on October 13, 2023. Announced this past summer as directive number CPL 03-00-026, the goal is to reduce and ...
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MHI Solutions Improving Supply Chain Performance