Current Features

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 ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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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Managing the Human-Tech Relationship in Supply Chains

Feature Organizations can gain more value from these collaborations when they understand the capabilities and limitations of the technology and of the people who work with it. BY MARY LOU JAY It’s been a milestone year for artificial intelligence (AI), with generative AI technology like ChatGPT, Google’s Bard and Bing Chat capturing the public’s attention and generating a great deal ...

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Building the Talent Pipeline

Feature Expanding the recruitment pool, upskilling and promoting the industry BY SHERYL S. JACKSON No industry is immune to today’s workforce challenges of recruiting and retaining qualified talent to fill positions today and in the future, so supply chain members are not alone. In the 2023 MHI Annual Industry Report, 57% of companies surveyed identified hiring and retaining workers and ...

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Mental Health Requires More Than Time Off

BY FIONA SOLTES If recent years have taught us anything, it’s that the business environment is ever-changing, and the ability to keep up depends on your ability to adapt and continuing to gain new expertise. But that’s not just about the latest technology or the smartest methodologies. These days, it also includes greater understanding of workers’ needs—including when it comes ...

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Tales From the Front Lines

The changing supply chain landscape for consumer goods BY TOM GRESHAM The consumer goods sector has been on the front lines of the changing supply chain landscape in recent years. In particular, the growth of e-commerce during the pandemic continues to have a transformative impact on the category. Not only do more consumers buy goods online now—both from retailers and ...

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