Technology

CEO Update One important lesson learned from the pandemic was the need to address the fragility of global supply chains. To mitigate the risk of future disruption, it’s become clear that firms need to automate and invest in technology to keep up. According to the newly released 2023 MHI Annual Industry Report: The Responsible Supply Chain, 86% of the manufacturing ...

Feature Retailers, manufacturers and distributors are increasingly leveraging Artificial Intelligence-powered software to aggregate and analyze data for forecasting, allocation and replenishment planning. BY CAROL MILLER, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, MHI If you’ve ever been frustrated because your favorite brand of ketchup is sold-out at the grocery store or had to postpone a home improvement project because some of the key materials ...

Feature Does the customer remain at the center? BY FIONA SOLTES ISTOCK.COM/IPOPBA Action and adaptability, said speaker and author Garrison Wynn, create opportunity. After years of experiencing the former, it’s surely the time for the latter. With pandemic-related disruptions and reactive solutions increasingly in the rearview mirror, has there ever been a better season for re-evaluating overall supply chain strategies ...

Feature BY MARY LOU JAY ISTOCK.COM/METAMORWORKS When companies introduce new automation and digital technology into their supply chains, they anticipate it will provide benefits like lower costs and increased production. But they’re also concerned about the potential for business disruption during transition. Will they be able to get their products out the door on time? Can key staff members support ...

Feature Autonomous mobile robots can cut time out of labor-intensive fulfillment tasks. When combined with warehouse software, AMRs can improve an operation’s productivity even more. BY SARA PEARSON SPECTER MONOPOLY919/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM With operations increasingly unable to staff adequate labor to achieve their goals for higher throughput and productivity, more companies are turning to autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). These intelligent mobility platforms ...

MHI released the list of finalists for the 2023 MHI Innovation Award. After receiving 156 submissions for this year’s awards, judges comprised of professionals from the material handling and supply chain industry completed the initial vetting process. Four finalists were chosen as the most innovative products in each category—Best New Innovation; Best Innovation of an Existing Product; and Best IT ...

Feature BY MARY LOU JAY ANDREY SUSLOV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM How good is your company at detecting intrusions into your computer network? Even if you aren’t aware of any problems, hackers may already be in your system and accessing your data. “It’s not at all uncommon that the first time a company knows they’ve been attacked is when the FBI comes and tells ...

By the Numbers In September, Keeper Security released its second annual U.S. Cybersecurity Census, polling 516 information-technology decision-makers at U.S. companies. Here are some key findings. 22% Percentage of U.S. businesses subjected to more than 250 attacks annually, while 12% experience more than 500 attacks per year. 57% Percentage of respondents saying it’s now taking longer to identify and respond ...

Feature BY TOM GRESHAM ISTOCK.COM/2D ILLUSTRATIONS AND PHOTOS The digital supply chain has brought new efficiencies and strengthened connectivity among partners. For companies to remain competitive today, engaging in the digital supply chain simply cannot be avoided. However, the digital supply chain also has brought an array of fresh challenges, including a heightened risk for cyberattacks. A major part of ...

Feature BY SARA PEARSON SPECTER GREENBUTTERFLY/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM One of the key takeaways for companies operating disrupted supply chains during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic (and its aftermath) was how imperative it had become to gain visibility throughout multiple tiers of suppliers—specifically their inbound deliveries. By gaining a more precise view of where a product was enroute, not to mention its ...