Current Features

Industry Focus BY TOM GRESHAM The pharmaceutical supply chain saw itself thrust into the spotlight during the pandemic. As a result, there is now a growing appreciation for its importance. “It’s something that people are getting a better grasp of,” said Perry Fri, executive vice president, industry relations and member services, Healthcare Distribution Alliance and COO, HDA Research Foundation. “People ...

BY JASON SCHENKER, PRESIDENT OF PRESTIGE ECONOMICS®, CHAIRMAN OF THE FUTURIST INSTITUTE® Could a change of presidential control kill sustainability initiatives? It is highly unlikely. Despite the election outcome, sustainability preferences for many economic stakeholders are poised to remain popular. However, the upcoming U.S. presidential election will be critical for the near-term future of sustainability because the executive branch of ...

DEI Feature BY CHRISTY DULA, CHIEF EXPERIENCE & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, MHI When considering your organization’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, is neurodiversity a part of those efforts? It’s estimated that up to 40% of neurodiverse adults are unemployed. That includes persons with certain neurological differences, including those with autism spectrum disorder—a neurological condition that affects social interaction and ...

WERC Matters The WERC Distribution Logistics Education Program explores a comprehensive collection of equipment, safety and processes. BY MICHAEL MIKITKA, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF MHI’S KNOWLEDGE VALUE CENTER AND WERC With the release of the last two learning courses, the WERC Distribution Logistics Education Program is complete and available for warehousing and distribution center teams. Structured as a stackable micro-credentialing ...

Higher Education What does the ergonomic data tell us about these low-tech but essential selector tools? BY STEVEN A. LAVENDER, PH.D. CPE, ANTHONY UDEMBA, M.S., ANAS KACHLAN, M.S., AND CAROLYN M. SOMMERICH, PH.D., THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY Full case selection processes in distribution centers (DCs) frequently have selectors obtaining products from two level racks. Given the pallets are usually stored ...

  IS DIGITIZATION A PRIORITY? 73%of warehouse decision makers have or will be accelerating timelines of modernization projects 86%of associates agree that implementing warehouse technologies, robotics and devices would help attract and retain workers 69%of warehouse decisionmakers already have or are planning to automate workflows by 2024 to support warehouse associates and shift them toward more customer-centric, high-value tasks 58%of ...

AI and human intelligence are a potent blend in route planning and optimization. BY MARY LOU JAY Artificial intelligence (AI) is currently in the hype stage of new technology adoption; some proponents see it as the answer to many problems, including, for the supply chain industry, last mile logistics. While AI does have potential for resolving some last mile issues, ...

After years in development, autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles continue to tantalize with their potential to keep supply chains moving in the distribution yard and on the highway. That alluring promise appears closer than ever to being fulfilled, but how humans will figure into the equation remains to be seen. BY DAVID H. COBURN When MHI member Phantom Auto began developing ...

Automating your DC to Speed Up Delivery BY LINDSEY ROONEY, MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS, MHI For retailers struggling to speed up the last mile of delivery, it could be productive to look backward. The so-called “middle mile of logistics,” where products travel from a factory or port to a distribution or fulfillment center, is ripe for the type of performance enhancements that ...

Sustainability Solution for Freight Rail Includes a Range of Technologies BY SHERYL S. JACKSON Electrification of rail transportation is one way to reduce greenhouse gases and meet the sustainability goals of regulators, rail industry members, manufacturers and customers. The call for rail electrification is spurred by growing interest in the reduction of emissions and mandates such as regulations passed in ...