Industry Trends

Robotic Process Automation Serves as an Intelligent Automation Tool Capable of Increasing Efficiency, Accuracy Feature   BY SARA PEARSON SPECTER SERGEYBITOS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM Intelligent automation technologies—artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, cloud computing, and more—are increasingly being leveraged within supply chains to help manage the tremendous complexity associated with getting goods into the hands of the ...

Just like safety, productivity and other key business imperatives, reaching your net-zero emissions goals won’t happen without a dedicated team pulling together, and the best way to deploy your human capital will look different depending on the nature and size of your organization. Feature BY DAVID H. COBURN When Michelle Tarry joined American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) in 2013, her work ...

Feature BY TOM GRESHAM G-STOCK STUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM As supply chain organizations grow increasingly complex, many workers are serving in highly specialized roles. In that environment, the inclination can be to keep everyone operating in their lanes, focused on narrowly defined responsibilities. However, companies following that game plan will struggle to innovate, according to experts. Instead, they say, companies should choose a ...

The Importance of Embodying Your Company’s Culture Through Leadership Feature BY CAROL MILLER, MHI CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER With the war for talent at a fever pitch across every level, more organizations than ever before are prioritizing culture as a means to both attract and retain employees, from the front lines to upper management. Yet with the onset of the Great ...

The persistent labor shortage is forcing many companies to accelerate the automation of their manufacturing plants, warehouses and distribution centers. This past spring, ABB and Guidance Automation each surveyed executives in the supply chain industry to see how they’re using technology to address manpower issues. Here are some key findings: AUTOMATION TRENDS IN THE LABOR MARKET 62% Respondents who expect ...

Economic Market Analysis BY JASON SCHENKER, PRESTIGE ECONOMICS The economic and financial market landscape has shifted sharply in the past year. In the fall of 2021, there were many reasons for economic optimism in 2022, even with anticipated high inflation and Fed rate hikes. Looking ahead to 2023, the outlook is less positive. The year 2022 has been generally good ...

MHI Solutions Community BY CHRISTIAN DOW, MHI EXECUTIVE VP OF MEMBERSHIP AND INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP If you’re managing a manufacturing plant, warehouse or distribution center, then you’ve likely heard of VUCA. But even if you haven’t, in today’s business climate, you’ve surely experienced it. VUCA stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity, an acronym that fairly sums up the challenges facing ...

What Grocery Distribution Centers Are Currently Doing to Prevent Musculoskeletal Injuries Higher Education BY STEVEN LAVENDER AND CAROLYN SOMMERICH, THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY TRONG NGUYEN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM Musculoskeletal injury rates in grocery and related products continue to be approximately twice the overall industry average. Most of these injuries in grocery distribution centers (DCs) are experienced by the “selectors” who are the people ...

Food and Beverage Industry Turns to Technology Amid Challenging Market Dynamics Industry Focus   BY NICK FORTUNA ABDUL RAZAK LATIF/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM   It’s been said that Ginger Rogers was more talented than Fred Astaire because she did everything her dance partner did but backwards and in high heels. In a sense, food and beverage (F&B) manufacturers and distributors can make a ...

The Workforce Institute at Ultimate Kronos Group surveyed 314 executives at United States-only manufacturers and multinational manufacturers with a strong U.S. presence about their talent-management practices. Some key findings: USING MOBILE TECHNOLOGY Read more.