Industry Trends

Competition has always been fierce in retail. But as retailers continue to contend for greater customer loyalty and a larger share of the market, those in shipping and material handling are finding themselves racing to keep up with demands for ever-faster delivery. “In the last years, humans are getting used to a much higher level of service,” said Marc van ...

During the past decade public-private partnerships (P3s) have built some vital transportation and infrastructure projects in the U.S. Now a similar cooperative approach is being applied to an entirely different sector—manufacturing. Regional manufacturing innovation institutes are bringing together the resources of private industry, colleges and universities, associations, research institutions and federal, state and local governments in an effort to boost ...

It’s no secret that the material handling and logistics industry faces a workforce challenge, both in attracting good workers to our field and in training them. MHI has been focused on this issue for many years, making it a key topic at MODEX and ProMat Expos. We’re also continuously building a collection of educational resources for both the secondary school ...

Sure, savvy business professionals always try to anticipate the future. But few come together with leading thinkers in the industry to anticipate the next decade. More than 100 participants—including end users, suppliers, consultants, academics, government officials and non-governmental organization representatives—did just that, holding sessions to discuss current issues and envisioning the future of material handling. The result is The U.S. ...

A year ago, our organization rebranded as MHI—The Industry That Makes Supply Chains Work. At the same time, we also evolved our focus. We recognize that suppliers and end users throughout the material handling industry—as well as in manufacturing, distribution, logistics and transportation—play a crucial role in supporting the overall supply chain. MHI is dedicated to offering more tools, not ...

Weather events around the world disrupts production of a key component. A port strike delays imports. An equipment breakdown strands a shipment. These require action in the moment. But anticipating these events before they happen can make the difference between surviving and succeeding. “You have to have increased sensitivity in your company to the severe impacts that supply chain disruptions ...

In many fields, technological advances bring focus and simplification. The exponential growth of e-commerce and omni-channel retail, however, has done quite the opposite when it comes to distribution centers and material handling. Conversations have become increasingly complex, solutions more varied—and the timeline faster than ever. “Before, there certainly was more predictability,” said Kris Bjorson, international director, retail e-commerce and distribution, ...

In a time of increased scrutiny of factory conditions in developing countries, for-profit startup LaborVoices Inc. aims to make supply chains transparent for corporate brands while providing “a voice for global workers” by gathering real-time data from thousands of laborers across the world. The Sunnyvale, Calif., company has set up a system to regularly survey workers on safety, wages and ...

  Cold storage isn’t just about storage anymore. Different processors often specify different shelf lives – 90 days for this product and 100 days for that one – and cold storage warehouses must often provide multiple temperature zones for different products. And, when the seasons change, so might the products and the temperatures. Industries that need cold storage facilities – ...

Implementation of lean principles throughout the organization is the route taken by many companies to achieve optimal performance and provide high value service to customers. By Sheryl S. Jackson