Technology

Competing in the Age of AI-centric Supply Chains Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ultimate evolution of business intelligence and analytics as it uses data to generate smart insights. At the same time, it gets smarter by learning from patterns, behaviors and feedback from various digital and human interfaces. * By Mary Lou Jay * Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ultimate ...

Flexible Automation, Robotics and Autonomous Vehicles in Warehousing Interest in automatic solutions is rising and there’s a perception that this is where the industry is headed. But questions about ROI, applications and integration are slowing down adoption. * By Fiona Soltes * Robotics, flexible automation, autonomous vehicles and the like are no longer just something “everyone else” must be doing. ...

Confront Barriers to Innovation to Keep Pace with Innovation Manufacturing and supply chain operations continue to invest heavily in innovation, but even the most successful companies are still struggling to understand how and when to adopt them. * By Tom Gresham * Interest in next-generation supply chain innovations has never been higher. However, barriers to innovation are keeping some organizations ...

Data Quality and Timeliness Drive Better Supply Chain Decisions High-quality supply chain infrastructure engines need high-quality, timely data for best performance, but more doesn’t always mean better. * By Mike Ogle * Shipments for production, distribution or sale must be the right stuff, at the right place, at the right time, in the right condition, with the right information. Simple ...

CEO UPDATE: Building a Digital Supply Chain Workforce * By George W. Prest, Chief Executive Officer, MHI  * One issue has been the common thread over the last six annual industry reports MHI has released with Deloitte over the same number of years—the supply chain workforce. So, it is no surprise that, according to the newly released 2019 MHI Annual ...

Companies exploring ways to combat workforce shortages are finding that technology is impacting their workforce talent strategies. * By Doug Reed * Last December, The Conference Board—a think tank sharing insights about future developments and issues facing business among top executives in multiple industries—released a report detailing why blue-collar workers are now scarcer than white-collar workers. The findings confirm the ...

Businesses are encouraged to be sensitive to privacy rights and issue during background checks, but where is the line? By Fiona Soltes Today’s tight job market creates all sorts of challenges—including the issue of background checks. Include them, and possibly scare off otherwise suitable candidates? Avoid them, and risk a problematic hire? And what of the often murky waters of ...

Because it provides a safe, yet highly realistic, environment in which to train employees, virtual reality training is increasingly being embraced within supply chains. * By Morgan Pettrone * Because it provides a safe yet highly realistic environment in which to train employees—particularly those learning to safely execute potentially dangerous tasks—virtual reality (VR) training is increasingly being embraced within specific ...

Robotics and other types of advanced technology not only can serve to improve the efficiency and productivity of supply chain operations but can “supercharge” the productivity of workers. * By Tom Gresham * When MHI member Vecna Robotics first went to a FedEx facility to introduce its robots there, a worker reacted less than enthusiastically to the arrival of the ...

CEO UPDATE: Data-Driven Supply Chains—Risk Versus Big Reward * By George W. Prest, Chief Executive Officer, MHI  * We can all agree that the risk of becoming a technology laggard is fraught with peril. From the famous Kodak story to more recent examples like Borders, Blockbuster and Toys “R” Us, there are many cases of major brands that failed because ...