Tag Archives: supply chain

BY JASON SCHENKER, PRESIDENT OF PRESTIGE ECONOMICS®, CHAIRMAN OF THE FUTURIST INSTITUTE® Could a change of presidential control kill sustainability initiatives? It is highly unlikely. Despite the election outcome, sustainability preferences for many economic stakeholders are poised to remain popular. However, the upcoming U.S. presidential election will be critical for the near-term future of sustainability because the executive branch of ...

CEO Update According to the 2024 MHI Annual Industry Report, the biggest supply chain trends include AI, robotics, automation, cybersecurity and sustainability. The common theme for all these trends is the growing need for transparent, data-driven supply chains. This is no easy task, and you can’t get there without a commitment to data integrity, an innovative workforce culture and supplier ...

DEI Feature BY CHRISTY DULA, CHIEF EXPERIENCE & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, MHI When considering your organization’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, is neurodiversity a part of those efforts? It’s estimated that up to 40% of neurodiverse adults are unemployed. That includes persons with certain neurological differences, including those with autism spectrum disorder—a neurological condition that affects social interaction and ...

Executive Viewpoint BY SCOTT SUMMERVILLE, PRESIDENT AND CEO, MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC AUTOMATION, INC. There was a time when I thought the business end of work was all that mattered, and personal relationships weren’t as important. It was immature and naïve, and I was young. It’s been a journey since then, and I’m fortunate that I’ve had the opportunity to do some ...

WERC Matters The WERC Distribution Logistics Education Program explores a comprehensive collection of equipment, safety and processes. BY MICHAEL MIKITKA, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF MHI’S KNOWLEDGE VALUE CENTER AND WERC With the release of the last two learning courses, the WERC Distribution Logistics Education Program is complete and available for warehousing and distribution center teams. Structured as a stackable micro-credentialing ...

Higher Education What does the ergonomic data tell us about these low-tech but essential selector tools? BY STEVEN A. LAVENDER, PH.D. CPE, ANTHONY UDEMBA, M.S., ANAS KACHLAN, M.S., AND CAROLYN M. SOMMERICH, PH.D., THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY Full case selection processes in distribution centers (DCs) frequently have selectors obtaining products from two level racks. Given the pallets are usually stored ...

Economic Market Analysis BY JASON SCHENKER, PRESIDENT OF PRESTIGE ECONOMICS®, CHAIRMAN OF THE FUTURIST INSTITUTE® As we look to finish out 2024, the number of risks threatening the outlook are numerous. The geopolitical landscape is fraught with conflict risks from Cold War Two tensions and proxy conflicts. Domestically, the run-up to the 2024 presidential election has been divisive and frustrating ...

Safer Handling BY TOM GRESHAM The protective guarding industry has been busier than ever in recent years as those who operate warehouses and distribution centers demonstrate an increasingly sophisticated and determined commitment to safety. “I think we’ve seen a general increase in concern for safety,” said Kenneth Parrott, product manager for MHI member Impact Recovery and chair of the Protective ...

Solutions Spotlight BY KATIE KUEHNER-HEBERT The SLAM Industry Group, which focuses on the automation of scanning, labeling, applying and manifesting, has now started a new Pharmacy Fulfillment Committee to educate the pharmaceutical industry on how SLAM members can best handle the special requirements for handling prescription medications and other sensitive items. The SLAM group is composed of companies that integrate ...

Product Spotlight Using the combined strength of Crane Manufacturers Association of America Inc., the Hoist Manufacturers Institute and the Monorail Manufacturers Association, the Overhead Alliance helps promote three organizations at once. BY SANDY SMITH Just as cranes, monorails and hoists complement the work in a manufacturing or warehouse setting, the Crane Manufacturers Association of America Inc., the Hoist Manufacturers Institute, ...