Workforce

Supply chains are investing heavily in AI, automation and advanced analytics, yet workforce skills are not keeping pace, limiting the return on technology spend. Leading experts from academia and research organizations share strategies for closing this gap, including designing targeted upskilling programs, avoiding common pitfalls and measuring real business impact. BY CAROL MILLER, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, MHI SUPPLY CHAINS TODAY ...

BY CHRISTY DULA, CHIEF EXPERIENCE AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, MHI   AS SUPPLY CHAINS expand across borders, cultures and time zones, communication has become both more complex and more essential. Operations depend on people who think differently, work differently and bring varied expectations to the table. When aligned, that diversity fuels innovation, agility and creative problem‑solving. When misaligned, it can ...

THE PEOPLE WHO work at MHI and its Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) division are the gears that keep the association moving. They ensure MHI remains a valuable association and resource for people involved in the industry, doing so with wit, competence and smiles on their faces. The goal of this column is to give readers a glimpse into ...

Executive Viewpoint BY JAMES CABOT, PRESIDENT AND CEO, SOUTHWORTH INTERNATIONAL GROUP, INC. WE ALL KNOW that we have reached a critical moment in the material handling space. Our industry is growing and evolving at a remarkable speed, creating tremendous opportunities and fresh challenges. The pandemic and the shift in consumer behavior that led to the dramatic rise of e‑commerce have ...

Augmenting Supply Chain Talent with Intelligent Tools   BY MARY LOU JAY   COMPANIES ADOPT AI to boost efficiency, but many fall short because they overlook a critical factor: people. “People put too much focus on the technology and forget to focus on the people training, the people upskilling, on changing the process as well as the organization and the ...

BY CHRISTY DULA, CHIEF EXPERIENCE AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, MHI AS SUPPLY CHAINS face ongoing labor shortages and demand volatility, distribution centers and warehouses are rethinking how they schedule workforces. The traditional model of fixed, eight‑hour shifts across two or three blocks is giving way to more adaptive approaches. Flexible scheduling—supported by digital workforce platforms—is emerging as a way to ...

Where Are They Now? Catching up with an MHEFI Scholarship Recipient EMMA GRACE WOOLSEY, QUALITY ENGINEER, APPIAN CORP. Emma Grace Woolsey is getting a change of scenery later than originally planned, but in terms of launching her career, she’s right on schedule. In July, Woolsey began her role as a quality engineer at Appian Corp., a McLean, Virginia‑based software provider ...

Inside MHI Doug Marrelli Industry Group Manager The people who work at MHI and its WERC division are the gears that keep the association moving. They ensure MHI continues to be a valuable association and resource for people involved in the industry and do so with wit, competence and a smile on their face. The goal of this column in ...

WERC Matters Filling a new role, Capellán leads MHI’s workforce initiatives. BY MICHAEL MIKITKA, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF MHI’S KNOWLEDGE VALUE CENTER AND WERC As the material handling and supply chain industry continues to evolve rapidly, the pressure to build a skilled, diverse workforce has never been greater. Enter Pahola Capellán, MHI’s new Workforce Development Manager. She’s filling a new ...

Higher Education BY JOANNA LEON, MANAGING DIRECTOR, COLLEGE‑INDUSTRY COUNCIL ON MATERIAL HANDLING EDUCATION (CICMHE) The material handling and supply chain industries are evolving rapidly, driven by automation, data, sustainability and global challenges. Yet one of the most pressing concerns isn’t just technological—it’s human. A significant workforce gap threatens the industry’s growth, fueled by a lack of student exposure to the ...