Whether oil and gas prices continue to drop or not, two prominent transportation experts are saying price levels are hurting the playing field for shippers and carriers, and the damage could be permanent.
At times, it seems the trends of going green and globalization are diametrically opposed to each other. According to this commentary from S&V Management Consultants' Carlos Alvarenga, It's not a matter of if there will be a conflict between the two, but when.
Go to any industry event these days and you're almost guaranteed to find one topic prominently featured on the agenda?green. But as often as not, you get the feeling there's still a lot more talk around the subject than real action. That's not the case at Herman Miller Inc., a $2 billion contract furniture manufacturer based in Zeeland, Michigan.
When products such as mobile phones can become obsolete in less time than it takes the supply chain to move them from drawing board to store shelf, it is clear that producers cannot succeed unless they plan and execute their supply chain operations with great precision, speed, and flexibility. In such cases?and they are increasingly typical?there is almost no margin of error for big...
As Kermit the Frog sings, “It's not easy being green.” It seems that every day I get something in my e-mail or mail box dealing with green supply chains. Invariably there is an event being advertised or an article written about “green.” Since there are few, if any, really green supply chains now, I think it is fair to say that we are in a “hype cycle.
Strategically located along major shipping routes between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, Singapore has been a key global transshipment hub for goods moving between the East and the West. Today, the city-state has developed into one of the world?s busiest air and sea ports with its world-class infrastructure and efficient customs.
Driven by the relentless rise in fuel costs, American businesses spent a record $1.4 trillion on logistics last year. That was equal to 10.1 percent of the nation?s Gross Domestic Product, a percentage not equaled since 2000.
Today's supply chain technology has a notable lack of risk management tools. Developers need to change this to compete in a global market. Traditional Supply Chain Management technologies with a primary focus on cost reduction and efficiency are not adequate in supporting global companies in managing and capitalizing on supply chain risks. As risk permeates every supply chain function, risk management logic must permeate every supply chain management solution.
Recent studies reveal that procurement still has surprising potential to deliver greater gains on both the top and bottom lines. Some leading supply management units are indeed achieving sustainable cost reductions in nontraditional areas and using market insights gained alongside suppliers to enhance the activities of their organizations as a whole. One common characteristic of those successful groups: They adopt a much more rigorous approach to talent.
Major developments in global sourcing, supply chain technology, and supplier management will change the way that supply management professionals, and the companies they work for, do their job.
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