Industry Trends

BY TOM GRESHAM   EVEN IN A time marked by disruption and complexity across all supply chains, pharmaceutical and health care supply chains face a notable array of challenges. “Supply chains remain fragile, vendor solvency risk and product shortages continue, costs are increasing and resiliency is a must,” Christy Christian, senior industry principal at Kinaxis, said. “Disruptions are the norm, ...

The group works to clarify mobile automation’s real capabilities while supporting safer, smarter adoption.   BY KATIE KUEHNER‑HEBERT   MEMBERS OF MHI’S Mobile Automation Group (MAG) are eager to share the latest innovations in automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs)—and to dispel some common myths. “People are looking to move things very quickly, easily, 24/7—and automation is ...

The Rack Manufacturers Institute (RMI) is preparing for a shifting warehouse landscape by providing education, standards and support. BY SANDY SMITH WHILE RACKS HAVE not changed much over the years, the Rack Manufacturers Institute (RMI), an industry group within MHI, is not about to stand still. RMI sees its work rooted in engineering rigor, safety and member value, and continues ...

BY CAROL MILLER, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, MHI FOR DECADES, SUPPLY chains have relied on spreadsheets, siloed systems and gut instinct to balance cost, service and risk. But as global networks have become more complex and data volumes have exploded, traditional tools are no longer enough. Today, structured data pours in from enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, warehouse management systems (WMS) ...

How AI Helps Supply Chains Predict and Mitigate Disruptions   BY CAROL BRZOZOWSKI THE WORLD OF supply chains looks radically different from what it was a few years ago, according to Aadil Kazmi, head of artificial intelligence (AI) at MHI member Infios. He noted that while software systems built over the past three decades remain resilient, data‑driven optimizers capable of ...

Industry Focus BY TOM GRESHAM THIRD‑PARTY LOGISTICS providers, often known as 3PLs, play a vital role in the global supply chain, bringing much‑needed perspective to their clients. Shippers tend to be locked in on their own corners of the marketplace—and with good reason. 3PLs offer a broader view to consider. “As 3PLs, we often see different industries and how one ...

BY KATIE KUEHNER‑HEBERT THREE GROUPS COMBINING their marketing muscle pack a much greater punch than working separately. The Overhead Alliance does just that for three MHI industry groups—the Crane Manufacturers Association of America (CMAA), Monorail Manufacturers Association (MMA) and Hoist Manufacturers Institute (HMI). These three industry groups have many related products and business interests, serve similar industries and potentially even ...

Product Spotlight   BY SANDY SMITH IN THE FAST‑EVOLVING world of material handling, the Conveyor and Sortation Systems (CSS) industry group of MHI is focused on collaboration, education and innovation. With over 60 member companies spanning original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), component suppliers, integrators and end users, CSS is where ideas are exchanged, challenges are tackled and the future of intralogistics ...

MORE RESILIENT SUPPLY CHAINS START HERE. It’s time to gain a new perspective on what’s new and what’s next for your supply chain operations. As the largest manufacturing and supply chain event in 2026, MODEX showcases supply chains from every angle. The unique combination of hands‑on product and technology demonstrations, education and face‑to‑face connections makes MODEX the can’t‑miss experience for ...

Trends Signal a New Era of Visibility, Resilience and Intelligence Amid Ongoing Uncertainty AS GLOBAL MARKETS brace for another year of transformation, MHI has released its Top Supply Chain Trends for 2026. The ranking combines research and industry analysis from the MHI Board of Governors and Roundtable Advisory Committee to identify the trends and technologies that will have the greatest ...