Workforce

The digital transformation of supply chains promises to supercharge performance, improve efficiency and resilience, slash operating costs, increase customer satisfaction and boost sustainability efforts. However, a persistent shortage of workers with the right skillsets has become a major roadblock to realizing these much‑ballyhooed benefits. It’s time, experts say, to focus on the people side of the human‑tech equation.   BY ...

BY MARY LOU JAY   ISTOCK.COM/2D ILLUSTRATIONS AND PHOTO The ongoing shortage of talent remains a top concern of supply chain companies throughout the world. In fact, the newly released 2025 MHI Annual Industry Report found that 52% of leaders surveyed described hiring and retaining talent as extremely or somewhat challenging. One way to prime the talent pipeline is by ...

Here are five strategies to help employees of different generations, races, ethnicities, genders and more work together successfully. BY SARA PEARSON SPECTER ISTOCK.COM/MONKEYBUSINESSIMAGES No matter how you slice it, the supply chain workforce of the future will be vastly more diverse than ever before. Although supply chains have traditionally been white male‑dominated, the status quo is quickly changing due to ...

CEO Update Technology and talent are the fuel of any successful supply chain operation. However, in terms of priority, the human element trumps technology. The talent gap has become one of the biggest barriers to technology adoption. According to the newly released 2025 MHI Annual Industry Report, 83% of the manufacturing and supply chain professionals surveyed said that the ongoing ...

Executive Viewpoint BY CRYSTAL PARROTT, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, MUJIN US In today’s high‑growth, rapidly evolving job market, it is crucial to quickly place the right individuals in the appropriate roles. Equally important is the retention of these individuals through effective onboarding, consistent communication and appropriate leadership training. While the pace of hiring may be fast, it is essential to take ...

What tools are available to make supply chain hiring run more efficiently?   BY SANDY SMITH   Robots in the warehouse. Artificial intelligence (AI) for predictive analytics. There is no doubt that the supply chain industry is embracing today’s technology. But just how ready is the industry to use AI‑enabled tools in another area—that which deals with all aspects of ...

Digital scheduling tools give companies greater access to available workers.   BY NICK FORTUNA ISTOCK.COM/A STOCKPHOTO Amid low unemployment and stubbornly high turnover, many material‑handling companies have grudgingly concluded that there just isn’t enough talented labor available. Across industries, employers have stepped up recruiting efforts and increased wages but still lack sufficient manpower for their growing operations. It’s easy to ...

BY JOANNA LEON, MANAGING DIRECTOR, CICMHE Last year, the College‑Industry Council on Material Handling Education (CICMHE) was buzzing with activity aimed at strengthening the bond between academia and the material handling industry. A standout event was the Material Handling Teachers Institute (MHTI), held at North Carolina State University in Raleigh last July and led by Lauren David, PhD, North Carolina ...

Feature Collaborative robots (cobots) and autonomous vehicles are increasingly finding a home in warehouses and distribution centers (DCs). The success of those deployments, however, is not assured. Industry experts shared six best practices that can help achieve an effective implementation. BY SARA PEARSON SPECTER ISTOCK.COM/ONURDONGEL Well entrenched in manufacturing processes, collaborative robots (cobots) and mobile autonomous vehicles (MAVs) have increasingly ...

WERC Matters WERC’s new Team Memberships offer enhanced value for organizations seeking educational and benchmarking resources for warehousing professionals. BY JOANNA LEON, DIRECTOR, WERC MEMBERSHIP & CHAPTERS AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, COLLEGE‑INDUSTRY COUNCIL FOR MATERIAL HANDLING EDUCATION (CICMHE) ISTOCK.COM/MONKEYBUSINESSIMAGES If you’re in warehousing and logistics, you know the importance of people, especially in today’s fast‑paced global supply chain. Helping individuals and ...