Current Features

Feature As pressure ramps up on companies to cut their carbon footprints, more businesses are looking to the circular economy business model, a sustainability approach that focuses on decoupling economic growth from resource consumption. For companies that are serious about meeting their net-zero emissions goals, it might be time to start thinking circular. BY DAVID H. COBURN MIHA CREATIVE/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM Here’s ...

By The Numbers NANNA45/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM The 2022 Gartner Circular Economy Survey interviewed 258 respondents from June 1 to July 21, 2022. The survey found that: IFS conducted a survey to better understand the views of manufacturing companies worldwide around sustainability and the circular economy. Respondents of the IFS survey said top drivers of sustainability initiatives are: In April-May 2022, RRD surveyed ...

Feature Now is the time to prioritize data and visibility BY NICOLE NELSON BLUE PLANET STUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM Autonomous planning is increasingly being embraced as a supply chain solution to augment the ongoing worker shortage. Requiring a closed-loop planning approach utilizing a fully automated technology platform, autonomously integrated systems have the ability to oversee and control supply chains from end to end, ...

Industry Focus BY TOM GRESHAM ISTOCK.COM/1933BKK The third-party logistics (3PL) industry is a complex and varied one that includes a wide range of operators. 3PLs serve as crucial partners in the supply chain for manufacturers who opt to outsource some, or all, of their logistics operations, such as warehousing, fulfillment and distribution. The role of 3PLs can differ greatly, but ...

Feature BY JASON SCHENKER, PRESIDENT OF PRESTIGE ECONOMICS AND CHAIRMAN OF THE FUTURIST INSTITUTE® BILLION PHOTOS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM The call for sustainability in business has been growing in recent years. If your company hasn’t yet been called on to share sustainability metrics, it likely will be soon. In fact, sustainability is poised to become a key part of almost every business. Sustainability ...

Higher Education BY LAUREN B. DAVIS, DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING, NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY AND STEVEN X. JIANG, DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING, NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY ISTOCK.COM/GORODENKOFF Advances in technology have made it easier for companies to amass extensive amounts of data about every aspect of their supply chain, in real-time. Using this technology ...

DEI Feature BY CHRISTIAN DOW, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIP AND INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP Connection through commonalities is the linchpin of belonging, which is why companies seeking to foster a more inclusive business culture increasingly support the creation of employee resource groups (ERGs) among their ranks. “An employee resource group (ERG) is a supportive, inclusive network of employees who share knowledge, ...

MHI released the list of finalists for the 2023 MHI Innovation Award. After receiving 156 submissions for this year’s awards, judges comprised of professionals from the material handling and supply chain industry completed the initial vetting process. Four finalists were chosen as the most innovative products in each category—Best New Innovation; Best Innovation of an Existing Product; and Best IT ...

With over 1,000 of the world’s leading manufacturing and supply chain solution providers under one roof, you will see firsthand what the future holds – and find the tools you need to shockproof your operations and move your business forward. From hands-on demonstrations to 150 educational seminars and four exciting keynote speeches, attending ProMat is your unrivaled opportunity in 2023 ...

Feature BY MARY LOU JAY ANDREY SUSLOV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM How good is your company at detecting intrusions into your computer network? Even if you aren’t aware of any problems, hackers may already be in your system and accessing your data. “It’s not at all uncommon that the first time a company knows they’ve been attacked is when the FBI comes and tells ...