Tag Archives: Technology

The digital transformation of supply chains promises to supercharge performance, improve efficiency and resilience, slash operating costs, increase customer satisfaction and boost sustainability efforts. However, a persistent shortage of workers with the right skillsets has become a major roadblock to realizing these much‑ballyhooed benefits. It’s time, experts say, to focus on the people side of the human‑tech equation.   BY ...

Executive Viewpoints BY ANNETTE DANEK‑AKEY, CHIEF SUPPLY CHAIN OFFICER, BARNES & NOBLE AND MEMBER OF THE MHI BOARD OF GOVERNORS It was the greatest compliment I’ve ever received. Our team was giving a tour to a group of customers when someone noticed that the material handling equipment went in and out through different buildings. They asked whether the building and ...

Executive Viewpoint BY KAREN NORHEIM, CEO, AMERICAN CRANE & EQUIPMENT CORPORATION It can be so tempting to chase after shiny objects. But at American Crane & Equipment Corporation, we know that before we can run, we have to walk. And before we can walk, we need to crawl. Back in 2019, we made the first movement toward integrating the technology ...

Transforming Last Mile Delivery with Real-Time Visibility, Technology and Data Integration BY SARA PEARSON SPECTER In supply chain, perhaps no question is asked more often than “where’s my stuff?” From ocean freight aboard transport ships, ports and inbound logistics via rail or tractor trailer, to receiving at the warehouse or distribution center for crossdocking or put away into stored inventory, ...

Automating your DC to Speed Up Delivery BY LINDSEY ROONEY, MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS, MHI For retailers struggling to speed up the last mile of delivery, it could be productive to look backward. The so-called “middle mile of logistics,” where products travel from a factory or port to a distribution or fulfillment center, is ripe for the type of performance enhancements that ...

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 Organizations can gain more value from these collaborations when they understand the capabilities and limitations of the technology and of the people who work with it. BY MARY LOU JAY It’s been a milestone year for artificial intelligence (AI), with generative AI technology like ChatGPT, Google’s Bard and Bing Chat capturing the public’s attention and generating a great deal ...

MHI Solutions Community BY CHRISTIAN DOW, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIP AND INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP, MHI If warehouse workers are constantly bumping into each other while navigating high-traffic aisles, then hiring more manpower likely would add to the chaos instead of boosting throughput. Likewise, moving into a bigger warehouse, a tremendous undertaking with a hefty cost, is no quick fix for businesses ...

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 ...