Supply Chain
Intelligrated Completes Acquisition Of Knighted, Developer Of Supply Chain Software
December 21, 2012 10:29 am | News | CommentsIntelligrated, a leading North American-based automated material handling solutions provider, announces the successful acquisition of Knighted, a developer of supply chain software solutions. The acquisition is a strategic component of Intelligrated’s mission to deliver innovative solutions that increase fulfillment velocity for e-commerce, multichannel retail, 3PL, wholesale, consumer products and food and beverage industries.
The Next Frontier Of Competitive Wars In Supplier Management
December 17, 2012 1:20 pm | by Vineet Seth, Head of Product Management, SAP Global Business Incubator | Articles | CommentsEmerging technologies are now coming to market that incorporate external information into your analytics to give you a 360 degree view into your suppliers so you are better able to predict such risks and address them in a timely manner.
NRF Urges President Obama To Intervene In Port Negotiations
December 17, 2012 10:58 am | News | CommentsThe National Retail Federation today sent a letter to President Obama to express the retail industry’s growing concern if a contract agreement isn’t reached between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd. The two sides have been in negotiations, with the assistance of federal mediators, for the past few months with little demonstrable progress.
Terra Technology Updates Product Suite, Improves Performance For Global Manufacturers
December 13, 2012 9:38 am | Products | CommentsTerra Technology announces the immediate availability of Demand Sensing 4.2, Multi-Enterprise Inventory Optimization 4.2 and Transportation Forecasting 4.2. Product enhancements improve supply chain performance across more diverse business situations and larger multi-national deployments to better serve customers, free cash flow and increase return on capital.
UPS Design Lab Puts Boxes To The Smash Test
December 13, 2012 9:04 am | by Carla K. Johnson, Associated Press | News | CommentsAt a lab in suburban Chicago, UPS Inc. tests new packaging designs by dropping, shaking and smashing boxes with brutal-looking equipment. The point is to see what type of packaging can withstand the trip from supplier to customer, protecting the delicate products inside.
aPriori Eases Costing With Latest Release Of Product Cost Management Platform
December 10, 2012 9:48 am | Products | CommentsaPriori, a provider of enterprise product cost management software solutions, today announced the general availability of the newest release of its award-winning technology. aPriori 2012r2 delivers expanded capabilities that further enable the platform to be deployed across global manufacturing organizations.
Turning Manufacturing Visibility Into A Competitive Advantage
December 7, 2012 1:58 pm | by Andy Vabulas, CEO and Owner, I.B.I.S., Inc. | Articles | CommentsCapturing and sharing manufacturing information requires a strategic approach that identifies what should be tracked, with whom to share information, and how to leverage this manufacturing visibility into improved operations and business performance.
It’s Storm Season: Your Best Insurance Is Agility
December 5, 2012 10:46 am | by Glen Margolis, Founder and CEO, Steelwedge | Articles | CommentsIn mere minutes, last year’s earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan broke apart supply chains that took global companies 30 years to build. And we just experienced it again with Hurricane Sandy, the 2012 “megastorm” that shut down cities and paralyzed transportation — much of which is still not functioning.
Schaeffler Group USA Expanding South Carolina Operations
November 29, 2012 12:21 pm | News | CommentsSchaeffler Group USA, an automotive and industrial component supplier, today announced that it will expand its existing operations in Chesterfield County. The $40 million investment is expected to generate 190 new jobs. “Schaeffler Group USA is proud to continue our long standing partnership with the Town of Cheraw, Chesterfield County and the state of South Carolina,” said Bruce Warmbold, CEO of Schaeffler Group North America.
IU Kelley School Initiative Combines Supply Chain Companies And Students, Faculty
November 28, 2012 4:01 pm | News | CommentsNearly 20 companies with innovative supply chain operations have entered into a new alliance with Indiana University's Kelley School of Business to create opportunities for faculty and students. The Supply Chain Alliance will be a forum for interaction between the companies, Kelley faculty and top students interested in careers in supply chain management.
Links In The Chain
November 27, 2012 11:44 am | by Jeff Reinke, Editorial Director | Articles | CommentsBuilt from a career in supply chain and manufacturing leadership, Chip White’s interview offers some interesting perspective on where U.S. manufacturing has been and where it can go with the right direction and investment.
Logistics Clusters: Delivering Value & Driving Growth
November 20, 2012 9:30 pm | by Yossi Sheffi, Author, "Logistics Clusters" | Articles | CommentsLogistics clusters are geographical agglomeration of logistics activities. They are characterized, among other factors, by low transportation costs and high transportation service level when moving items in and out of the cluster. As such, far from being isolated, logistics clusters are the building blocks of globalization.
Companies, NGOs, Investors On Challenge To Conflict Mineral Rule
November 20, 2012 10:55 am | News | CommentsSince 2009, a multi-stakeholder group has been working together to develop an agenda for action to address the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC”) by cutting off funding from trade in conflict minerals. Recently, a petition was filed by the National Association of Manufacturers, the US Chamber of Commerce, and the Business Roundtable for judicial review of the final rule implementing Section 1502.
Manage Purchase Orders And Inventory Transfers On Your Smartphone
November 15, 2012 3:10 pm | Products | CommentsGuardian Business Solutions, Inc. has added two new applications to its Mobilize-IT library of enterprise applications for smartphones and tablets. The Inventory Transfer app offers shop floor and warehouse workers a way to move and track inventory from one bin location to another, or between warehouses.
PACK EXPO International 2012 Breaks Records
November 9, 2012 1:18 pm | News | CommentsPackaging and processing professionals gathered in Chicago last week for PACK EXPO International 2012, the largest packaging and processing trade show in the world this year. The four-day event, Oct. 28–31, covered more than 1.1 million net square feet (nsf) in McCormick Place with 1,965 exhibiting companies — an increase of over 6 percent for space and 7 percent for exhibiting companies.
On Disclosing ‘Conflict Minerals’
November 5, 2012 2:28 pm | by by Joel Hans, Managing Editor, Manufacturing.net | Articles | CommentsUnder a recent SEC rule, public companies must acknowledge if their supplies of tantalum, tin, gold or tungsten originate from the Democratic Republic of Congo or its nine adjoining countries. Because of a complex global supply chain, compliance isn't exactly a walk in the park.
Superstorm Sandy Central
November 1, 2012 1:24 pm | by Manufacturing.net Editorial Staff | News | CommentsHurricane Sandy has, without a doubt, already caused an enormous toll on human life and businesses alike. As with all major events, it is important to track the road to recovery. This is where, for the time being, Manufacturing.net will compile news about Hurricane Sandy, its aftermath, and how that will affect American manufacturing. This will be consistently updated as more news arrives, so check back often.
Boeing Touts Outsourcing For Suppliers To Mexico
October 26, 2012 11:56 am | News | CommentsBoeing is encouraging its suppliers to attend a workshop next month to learn how to outsource business to Mexico. The Seattle Times reports that Patrick McKenna, director of Supply Chain Strategy and Supplier Management at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, has urged suppliers to attend a Nov. 15 workshop in Chicago to learn how to do business in Mexico.
U.S. Packaging Machinery Shipments Jump 19 Pct. In 2011
October 5, 2012 12:06 pm | News | CommentsShipments of U.S. packaging machinery grew 19 percent in 2011, reaching US$7.7 billion, according to PMMI’s 2012 Shipments Study. PMMI’s annual research also shows total consumption in the United States climbing by 23 percent to US$8.8 billion. “Positive growth is always good news,” says Jorge Izquierdo, vice president, market development, PMMI.
China Slashes Rare Earths Mining Permits
September 19, 2012 2:14 am | by Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsAnnouncement comes amid tensions between Beijing and Tokyo over control of a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. Beijing temporarily suspended rare earths shipments to Japanese buyers the last time tensions over the islands flared in 2010 but there was no indication whether Japan might be affected by the latest change.
U.S. Wholesale Stockpiles Up In July But Sales Fell
September 12, 2012 10:37 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsU.S. wholesalers increased their stockpiles in July from June, but sales fell for a third straight month. Declining sales could force companies to cut inventories in coming months, a troubling sign that economic growth could weaken. The Commerce Department said Wednesday that wholesale stockpiles grew 0.7 percent in July, the biggest increase in five months.
Common Type Of Rail Car Has Dangerous Design Flaw
September 12, 2012 3:28 am | by Jason Keyser, Associated Press | News | CommentsFor two decades, one of the most commonly used type of rail tanker has been allowed to haul hazardous liquids from coast to coast even though transportation officials were aware of a dangerous design flaw that almost guarantees the car will tear open in an accident, potentially spilling cargo that could catch fire, explode or contaminate the environment.
China's Imports Shrink In Sign Downturn Worsening
September 11, 2012 9:43 am | by Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsChina's imports shrank unexpectedly in August in a sign its economic slump is worsening, bad news for exporters elsewhere that count on the appetite of the world's second-largest economy for natural resources and industrial components to offset anemic Western markets.
U.S. Trade Deficit Grew Slightly To $42B In July
September 11, 2012 9:36 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsThe U.S. trade deficit grew slightly in July as exports fell at a slightly faster pace than imports. The Commerce Department said Tuesday that the trade deficit widened to $42 billion, 0.2 percent higher than June's imbalance of $41.9 billion. U.S. exports fell 1 percent to $183.3 billion, lowered by weaker sales of autos, telecommunications equipment and heavy machinery.
Cheaper Equipment Can Cost You More
September 7, 2012 1:55 pm | by Carol Thorsen, Manager of Inside Sales, Wynright Corp. | Articles | CommentsIf you’re looking for a Sony video camera or a new Chevy Volt, or an authentic 1950s Wurlitzer “bubble” jukebox, Amazon and eBay great. But when it comes to purchasing warehouse and industrial supplies and equipment, the waters get a lot murkier.
