Technology

Building Disruption‑Proof Supply Chains

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 ...

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From Real‑Time Data to Real‑Time Action

How Agentic AI Turns Supply Chain Uncertainty into Business Advantage Five industry experts share how agentic artificial intelligence is transforming supply chains by enabling autonomous decision‑making, real‑time adaptation and resilience in the face of an unpredictable future.   BY SARA PEARSON SPECTER   In today’s globalized and hyper‑connected world, supply chains face an extraordinary array of challenges. From geopolitical instability, ...

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The End-to-End Supply Chain Visibility Mandate

Emerging Technologies Give Companies Insights from Every Vantage Point   BY NICK FORTUNA   When supply chains operate in the dark, costs add up quickly—and for too long, instinct and improvisation have stood in for solid information. “Supply chains, by and large, are run by heroes,” said William Wappler, chief executive of MHI member Surgere. “These folks often don’t have ...

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The AI Challenge

Protecting the Power and the Water Supply   BY MARY LOU JAY   Discussions about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the supply chain tend to focus on all the potential benefits it offers for improving operations. But those improvements come at a cost that is just now starting to receive more attention: Implementing AI places considerable demands on ...

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Optimizing Data Chains

How Accurate, Unified Data Enhances Efficiency, Forecasting and Resilience   BY VICTORIA LIM   The frantic scramble for toilet paper and hand sanitizer during the COVID‑19 pandemic just a few years ago was likely the first time many consumers paid attention to supply chains. The world saw firsthand that supply chains aren’t just logistics puzzles; they are essential systems working ...

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Digital Investments Cover End‑to‑End Supply Chains

More than half of industry leaders plan to increase investments in supply chain technologies to facilitate end‑to‑end orchestration of equipment, workforce and goods, according to the 12th edition of the MHI Annual Industry Report. BY CAROL MILLER, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, MHI The increasing complexity and volatility of today’s highly competitive business environment is prompting companies to pursue a more integrated ...

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Agentic AI: The Next Big Thing?

Feature The next generation of artificial intelligence—called agentic AI—is being hailed as the technology that will finally fulfill the promise of autonomous supply chains that are smarter, faster, more agile, more efficient and more reliable than ever before. What are the real opportunities and roadblocks, and when can we expect agentic AI to make a real impact? We talk to ...

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How to Know if You’ve Outgrown Your Automation

MHI Solutions Community BY CHRISTIAN DOW, EVP OF INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP, MHI Maybe your manufacturing plant or warehouse was an early adopter of automation, but that original material handling equipment is now showing signs of age. Or maybe your automated systems were built for the business‑to‑business selling model, before the shift to business‑to‑consumer e‑commerce. Or maybe robust order growth and SKU ...

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4 Groundbreaking Supply Chain Solutions Receive Innovation Awards

Feature   Ingenious technologies honored with the 13th Annual MHI Innovation Awards across four categories during ProMat 2025. BY GREG BAER, VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES, MHI Among the thousands of supply chain and material handling technologies and products showcased throughout McCormick Place during ProMat 2025, four received MHI Innovation Awards. These solutions stood out amid 234 entries to MHI’s 13th ...

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‘Playing Nice’ with the Orchestration of Automation

Feature   BY FIONA SOLTES Solo performances and smaller ensembles can highlight any orchestra’s performance. But when the entire group plays seamlessly together, the magic of the symphony can be experienced in dynamic, powerful—and sometimes even awe‑inspiring—ways. In today’s supply chain community, there’s much talk of “orchestration” and “harmonization” in warehouses and distribution centers, alongside notes of scalability and interconnectivity. ...

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