Industry Trends

AI and human intelligence are a potent blend in route planning and optimization. BY MARY LOU JAY Artificial intelligence (AI) is currently in the hype stage of new technology adoption; some proponents see it as the answer to many problems, including, for the supply chain industry, last mile logistics. While AI does have potential for resolving some last mile issues, ...

For Grocers and Other Online Retailers, Dark Stores Offer Pros and Cons BY NICK FORTUNA Are dark stores here to stay, or are they just a supply chain experiment spurred on by a singular event and destined to fizzle out? That’s a question grocery chains and other online retailers will grapple with over the next few years as they continue ...

Industry Focus BY TOM GRESHAM In the eyes of some, the port industry once appeared reluctant to adopt sophisticated technological solutions to strengthen their operations. In fact, for years, Jonathan Daniels, CEO and port director of Port Everglades in Florida, said carriers, ports and the rest of the shipping industry seemed loath at times to “go away from paper and ...

SOLUTIONS SPOTLIGHT BY KATIE KUEHNER-HEBERT MHI’s Electrification and Controls Manufacturers Association (ECMA) rebranded in 2023 as the Automation, Controls and Electrification Association (ACE), signifying a new era of innovation in industrial automation and material handling. ACE members are at the forefront of delivering automation solutions across the globe, spanning significant manufacturing and distribution sectors. This includes a range of cutting-edge offerings ...

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT BY SANDY SMITH The hoisting equipment sector may be both stable and mature—but that doesn’t negate the work of the Hoist Manufacturers Institute (HMI), nor does it signal that the sector will always remain that way. HMI, a 107-year-old organization, represents suppliers of hoists and trolleys and, throughout its history, has developed performance and safety standards for the industry. ...

CEO Update The focus on technology in supply chains is undeniable. We are now a tech-forward industry that uses tech to make operations more efficient, transparent and sustainable than ever before. This tech adoption has put our industry at the center of innovation and productivity. But supply chains are run by people, and this human-centricity is the key to continued ...

BY CHRISTIAN DOW, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP, MHI If you’ve ever noticed that your car gets substantially worse mileage per gallon than was advertised at the dealership, then you understand why predictive and preventative maintenance are so essential to warehouse operations. In the past, warehouses and distribution centers would rely upon scheduled and reactive maintenance to keep equipment humming, ...

Feature Spurred by a desire for greater supply chain resilience, companies are increasingly reshoring and investing in new and updated manufacturing operations in North America. BY SARA PEARSON SPECTER For the past decade, global management consulting firm Kearney has produced an annual Reshoring Index report to uncover the mindset of top U.S. executives surrounding reshoring. This year—for the first time—the ...

BY THE NUMBERS   According to Kearney’s annual Reshoring Index, U.S. gross manufacturing output rose at a faster pace than the U.S. manufacturing imports from 14 Asian low-cost countries and regions, resulting in a positive score. The U.S. manufacturing import ratio was as follows:     The Kearney Reshoring Index found that, among the CEOs surveyed: 96% report they are evaluating ...

Product Spotlight BY NICK FORTUNA Back in the day, most lift tables, scissor lifts and tilters came with just a single control: a button or switch allowing the user to move the equipment up or down. These days, however, manufacturers and distributors are demanding smarter lift equipment that integrates with other material-handling products to increase efficiency and reduce labor costs. ...