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 ...
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Fast Track Fulfillment
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 ...
Read More »Rail System Electrification to Reach Net Zero?
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 ...
Read More »Electrifying Rail Freight
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 »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 ...
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