Industry Trends

Supply Chain Digitization Makes Cybersecurity a Top Priority

Lurking behind the real-time benefits of interconnected technologies and trading partners are the disruptive dangers posed by threat agents armed with ransomware as a service. BY CAROL MILLER, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, MHI Behold, the wonders of the digital, integrated supply chain! Real-time visibility through automated, connected access to information shared between suppliers, customers and third-party service providers and to data ...

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Monitoring Supply Chains From Space

Low Earth Orbit Satellites Offer Global Asset Tracking BY MARY LOU JAY Companies desiring greater visibility into their supply chains now have another option for tracking their goods. By using IoT sensors that communicate with low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, they can gain new insights into where their products are and the conditions under which they are traveling. IoT sensors ...

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Building the Business Case for Automation

Is the lack of a clear business case preventing your operation from implementing automation? Use this guide to build a compelling justification. BY SARA PEARSON SPECTER Every year, MHI’s Annual Industry Report queries supply chain leaders on a multitude of topics surrounding their adoption and deployment of innovative technologies—including automation. Survey questions ascertain budgets, operational challenges, investment plans, obstacles to ...

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Quality Data and Strategic Approach Ensures AI Implementation Success

BY SHERYL S. JACKSON AI technologies ranked highest of innovations that respondents to the 2024 MHI Annual Industry Report survey expected to adopt within the next five years. In addition to the 58% who expect to adopt AI technology, 27% of respondents report already using AI and only 15% say that they are unlikely to adopt AI tools. Leveraging the ...

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Transforming Supply Chains With Unified Data

Decision Intelligence Data Platforms Help Companies Optimize Operations BY NICK FORTUNA Supply chain executives are bullish on the ability of artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline operations and improve decision-making, but to fully unlock the power of AI, companies need to put a laser focus on their data. It has been said that data is the lifeblood of AI, as it ...

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In the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain, Complexity Is a Constant

Industry Focus BY TOM GRESHAM The pharmaceutical supply chain saw itself thrust into the spotlight during the pandemic. As a result, there is now a growing appreciation for its importance. “It’s something that people are getting a better grasp of,” said Perry Fri, executive vice president, industry relations and member services, Healthcare Distribution Alliance and COO, HDA Research Foundation. “People ...

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Supply Chain 2025—Transparency, Sustainability and the Importance of Data

CEO Update According to the 2024 MHI Annual Industry Report, the biggest supply chain trends include AI, robotics, automation, cybersecurity and sustainability. The common theme for all these trends is the growing need for transparent, data-driven supply chains. This is no easy task, and you can’t get there without a commitment to data integrity, an innovative workforce culture and supplier ...

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Seeing—and Appreciating—People for All That They Are

Executive Viewpoint BY SCOTT SUMMERVILLE, PRESIDENT AND CEO, MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC AUTOMATION, INC. There was a time when I thought the business end of work was all that mattered, and personal relationships weren’t as important. It was immature and naïve, and I was young. It’s been a journey since then, and I’m fortunate that I’ve had the opportunity to do some ...

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Supply Chain Investment Growth in Technologies That Empower Human Workforce

The 11th edition of the MHI Annual Industry Report found increased investment in human-centric, collaborative technologies that empower workers to be more productive and make better decisions. BY SARA PEARSON SPECTER Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and automation have dominated the supply chain technology adoption conversation over the past year. Recognition of their ability to enhance resilience amid unpredictability and improve ...

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Four Companies Honored For Supply Chain Innovations With Transformative Potential

The 12th Annual MHI Innovation Awards saw strong entries across four categories, including the inaugural Best Innovation in Sustainability competition, at MODEX 2024. BY GREG BAER, DIRECTOR OF SALES, MHI Of the hundreds of solutions that filled all three of the Georgia World Congress Center’s exhibition halls during MODEX 2024, four supply chain and material handling solutions stood out among ...

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