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 ...
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The Supply Chain Workforce of the Future is More Diverse
Here are five strategies to help employees of different generations, races, ethnicities, genders and more work together successfully. BY SARA PEARSON SPECTER ISTOCK.COM/MONKEYBUSINESSIMAGES No matter how you slice it, the supply chain workforce of the future will be vastly more diverse than ever before. Although supply chains have traditionally been white male‑dominated, the status quo is quickly changing due to ...
Read More »Keeping Workers in the Loop When Implementing Automation
BY CHRISTIAN DOW, EVP OF INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP, MHI At manufacturing plants and warehouses plagued by high turnover, it might seem like employees don’t truly value their jobs and happily would jump ship to make a few bucks more somewhere else. That outlook tends to change, however, upon the first sign of new automated material‑handling solutions in the facility, as workers ...
Read More »New Season of MHI’s “Jobs of Tomorrow” Docuseries Is Now Ready to View
Glimpse into the future of the supply chain by watching the next season of “Jobs of Tomorrow” (JOT). MHI has now made all 12 episodes of this docuseries available to stream for free on MHIview and Tubi. As part of MHI’s commitment to education, this series offers the perspectives of supply chain leaders and academics about the future of the ...
Read More »Building the Talent Pipeline
Feature Expanding the recruitment pool, upskilling and promoting the industry BY SHERYL S. JACKSON No industry is immune to today’s workforce challenges of recruiting and retaining qualified talent to fill positions today and in the future, so supply chain members are not alone. In the 2023 MHI Annual Industry Report, 57% of companies surveyed identified hiring and retaining workers and ...
Read More »Building Your Green Team
Feature Overcoming the Sustainability Skills Shortage BY MARY LOU JAY Companies that commit to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improving the sustainability of their operations usually understand that this will be a complex, years-long task. What they may not realize until they begin the process, however, is just how big a challenge it will be to find the skilled ...
Read More »MHI's New Docuseries Introduces Viewers to the Supply Chain Jobs of Tomorrow
Feature Inaugural 12 episodes spotlighting the unique value and skills of material handling and supply chain jobs will air on MHIView. BY CAROL MILLER, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, MHI GROUND PICTURE/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM For decades, supply chains have clandestinely performed anonymously and unrecognized in spite of their criticality to delivering the goods and supplies we rely on to live our daily lives. As ...
Read More »Take WERC Membership for a Test Drive with Annual Conference Recordings
WERC Matters BY MICHAEL MIKITKA, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF MHI’S KNOWLEDGE VALUE CENTER AND WERC As the only organization focused on providing resources to help distribution practitioners and suppliers do their jobs better, the Warehouse Education and Research Council (WERC)—a division of MHI—has some of the most unique offerings in our field. Through WERC, members find both education and support ...
Read More »Using Mathematics to Find Efficiencies and Inform Decisions
Where Are They Now? Catching up with an MHEFI Scholarship Recipient BAILEY WHITMAN BONJOUR, OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY In high school, Bailey Whitman Bonjour was such a talented math student that she studied calculus, trigonometry and advanced algebra at the local junior college. Math wasn’t her favorite subject, but cutting class wasn’t an option since her mom was the professor. It ...
Read More »Eat, Drink and Automate
Food and Beverage Industry Turns to Technology Amid Challenging Market Dynamics Industry Focus BY NICK FORTUNA ABDUL RAZAK LATIF/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM It’s been said that Ginger Rogers was more talented than Fred Astaire because she did everything her dance partner did but backwards and in high heels. In a sense, food and beverage (F&B) manufacturers and distributors can make a ...
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