Industry Trends

CEO Update In today’s global economy, supply chains are no longer just the backbone of commerce—they are the strategic battleground. As organizations face mounting pressures from geopolitical tensions, shifting tariffs and unpredictable disruptions, the need for end‑to‑end visibility and real‑time transparency has never been more urgent. This issue of MHI Solutions explores how forward‑thinking companies are reimagining their operations to ...

Executive Viewpoint BY BRIAN C. NEUWIRTH There might not be anything more valuable in business than true perspective. If you don’t have it as a leader—if your view is blinkered and narrow—then your work will suffer, as will your business. On the flip side, those who are able to gain a clear‑eyed view of their field and the broader world ...

Safer Handling BY TOM GRESHAM Protective guarding solutions are an essential component of creating and maintaining safe environments in a variety of industrial settings, helping to protect not only workers but the equipment, products and facilities themselves. Due to the vital nature of protective guarding, users need to have the utmost confidence that the solutions they choose are up to ...

Solutions Spotlight   BY KATIE KUEHNER‑HEBERT The Scan, Label, Apply and Manifest (SLAM) Industry Group of MHI offers automated solutions for packaging and shipping products from a warehouse—and now the group has established a new committee for automating inbound processes: Warehouse Automated Receipt and Putaway (WARP). WARP is almost an identical process to the SLAM outbound system, except it’s for ...

Product Spotlight The Advanced Energy Council provides education and training on advanced energy technologies and accessories. BY SANDY SMITH There is no doubt that the energy industry has undergone significant changes, and the energy needs of modern warehouses have evolved accordingly. It’s no giant leap, then, to see the need for the Advanced Energy Council (AEC), MHI’s two‑year-old industry group. ...

In 2025, MHI celebrates 80 years of leadership, innovation and connection in the material handling, logistics and supply chain industry. Founded in 1945 in the wake of World War II, the association has grown into a global leader in supply chain innovation, with more than 1,000 member companies shaping the equipment, systems and technologies that keep supply chains moving. From ...

1850—Sir William Fairbairn patents the Fairbairn steam crane. 1908—Hymie Goddard patents the first roller conveyor, allowing for the smooth transport of goods by means of internal ball bearings. 1913—Henry Ford introduces the moving assembly line. 1919—The automotive industry begins using free and powered conveyor lines, introduced by Jervis B. Webb, to handle mass production in factories. 1920s—Conveyors become the primary ...

Improved collaboration and advanced operational technology strategies can help enhance security.   BY CAROL MILLER, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, MHI Cybersecurity remains a critical concern for supply chain leaders as digitalization increases both connectivity and complexity across global networks. The growing number of digital touchpoints between suppliers, partners and enterprise systems has significantly expanded the attack surface for cybercriminals. No longer ...

This year’s tariff turmoil is just the latest in a growing list of shocks to global supply chains. Experts say we can expect more frequent and less predictable challenges to stability from geopolitical upheaval, wars, extreme weather, supply‑and‑demand fluctuations—and even the occasional black swan event. As disruption becomes the new normal, companies are evolving new mindsets, strategies and tactics to ...

MHI News The industry’s largest manufacturing and supply chain trade show returns to McCormick Place in April 2027 MHI recently announced the dates for ProMat 2027, which will be held from April 19 to 21 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. ProMat is the largest international manufacturing and supply chain show and conference held in the United States. ProMat brings together solution ...