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Feature Realizing ESG goals and science-based emission reduction targets takes commitment and cooperation along the full length of the supply chain. BY MARY LOU JAY DOME LIFETHIBAAN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM Moving toward more sustainable operations is no longer an option for corporate supply chains—it’s a necessity. Although restructuring supply chains to make them more sustainable can cause some short-term pain points for businesses, ...

WERC Matters BY MICHAEL MIKITKA, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF MHI’S KNOWLEDGE VALUE CENTER AND WERC As global warming continues and world leaders negotiate regulations to minimize the damage humans have inflicted on Earth, multiple global corporations have already established sustainability initiatives that support internal goals, as well as those of their customers. Three such companies include third-party logistics (3PL) services ...

Higher Education BY DR. MALINI NATARAJARATHINAM, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY & INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTION, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY IURII MOTOV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM The future of our work environment is going to be highly influenced by several technological advancements such as automation, artificial intelligence (AI), robots, big data and data analysis. These significant technological changes are referred to as “Industry 4.0” or the Fourth Industrial ...

Education BY MARIA LEGGETT, MHI DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION Recently, an executive for a global material handling company shared a story with me about his daughter. She had attended a week-long camp that culminated with an awards ceremony. Her prize for the week was the award of being the most resilient. Thrilled with the prize, she excitedly displayed it to her ...

BY CHRISTIAN DOW, MHI EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIP AND INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP Organizational culture is increasingly recognized as a strategic and competitive advantage, both for operational performance and to attract the best talent. According to McKinsey & Company, culture “is the common set of behaviors and underlying mindsets and beliefs that shape how people work and interact.” It matters, note ...

Industry Focus Widespread Supply Chain Congestion Has Practitioners Looking at New Practices to Ease Delays BY TOM GRESHAM POTOWIZARD/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM Ships sit for days offshore as they wait for an open berth at their destination port. Terminals and warehouses are stacked with containers with no one to pick them up. Shippers get turned away for service by overwhelmed, understaffed carriers. The ...

Feature With end consumers more aware of the environmental impact of online shopping and the tremendous amount of packaging waste it creates, manufacturers and suppliers are responding with a variety of design and material innovations. BY SARA PEARSON SPECTER PHOTO: STOROPACK Consumers who embraced the necessity of shopping online in 2020 due to the pandemic have continued to do so ...

Feature Utilizing the latest supply chain innovations to boost productivity, efficiency and throughput can also deliver a range of environmental benefits that enhance the bottom line while protecting the planet. BY CAROL MILLER, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, MHI As technology advances have taken supply chain management from art to science, organizations can now analyze, tweak, measure and optimize operational processes across ...

Feature Companies are realizing the benefits of environmentally friendly warehouses and DCs and are embarking on both new builds and renovations that are earning LEED accreditation. BY SANDY SMITH ISTOCK.COM/GWYCECH The idea of environmentally friendly warehouses took off a few years back. Big brands announced plans—and many of them have since come to fruition. The United States Green Building Council, ...

More materials suppliers than ever are disclosing the environmental impact of their operations and their efforts to offset them, according to the Consumer Data Platform (CDP). Despite pandemic-related disruptions, 8,000 suppliers disclosed their environmental data through CDP in 2020, an increase of 16%. Those suppliers are addressing requests for transparency from 154 major buyers that are members of the CDP ...