Industry Trends

Consumer electronics used to be limited to radio and TV, but in a few short decades, it has expanded to include computers, tablets, phones—and yes, that refrigerator. At the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year, attendees were able to see refrigerators that used a built-in camera to take pictures of its contents, or provided the capability to order groceries via an ...

Connected. Intelligent. Scalable. Nimble. These are the words used to describe the anticipated outcome of the current transformation of traditionally linear supply chains in the third edition of MHI’s Annual Industry Report, “Accelerating change: How innovation is driving digital, always-on supply chains.” As evidenced by the title, the report examines the concept of the always-on supply chain, defined as: “An ...

For the fourth year, MHI honors the most innovative products and solutions in our industry. At MODEX 2016 exhibitors were invited to submit entries in three different categories: Best New Innovation, Best Innovation of an Existing Product and Best IT Innovation. We received 95 entries between the three categories—an increase from 84 entrants at MODEX 2014. It’s a clear demonstration ...

Collaboration has always been a pillar of MHI’s commitment to enhancing and improving the supply chain, material handling and logistics industries. Not just by creating opportunities for connections among our members, but also externally. For decades, we’ve built relationships with other industry associations, including (but not limited to): the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA), the Warehousing Education and Research ...

There is a sea change coming, one that will require retailers to respond. And when they do, they’ll no doubt be leaning heavily on companies throughout the supply chain to assist. “Right now, Baby Boomers are providing the large proportion of sales for retailers,” said Sue Yasav, vice president, research insights leader at Synchrony Financial. But it won’t stay that ...

Six months ago, the U.S. Census Bureau noted that a quarter of our nation’s population is now made up of 83.1 million millennials (born between 1982 and 2000). So, it should be a snap to fill those 1.4 million new supply chain jobs the U.S. Roadmap for Material Handling & Logistics predicts our industry will create by 2018—right? Well, maybe. ...

About a year ago, a copy of The U.S. Roadmap for Material Handling & Logistics made its way into the hands of supply chain leaders at P&G. After reading it, they had this to say: “You may think you have a U.S. Roadmap here, but you don’t. What you have is a global Roadmap.” To tell the truth, it was ...

Passing the buck” doesn’t work when it comes to an outsourced supply chain. Here, whatever happens—no matter how far down the line—problems, challenges or missteps will be seen as part and parcel of the company’s image. Disastrous weather affecting production? Lack of compliance with international law? A different understanding of quality controls? Labor issues? In today’s demanding, transparency-seeking marketplace, outsourcing ...

Today’s pharmaceutical sector looks healthy on the surface. It’s growing and expanding into new markets. It’s taking advantage of increased understanding about diseases and treatments, and society increasingly relies on “better living through chemistry.” But this industry is prone to some side effects, too. And, at the risk of sounding like a pharmaceutical ad, these side effects could include impacts ...

A year ago, the MHI Board of Governors and the members of the Annual Conference Workgroup—the committee responsible for planning the event—unveiled a modified format for the MHI fall gathering. Historically known as MHI’s Annual Meeting, the consensus among MHI’s volunteer leadership was that the event could offer additional membership value. Most of the work conducted at the Annual Meeting, ...