Manufacturing and Supply Chain is slowly starting to become my new favourite sector, and in my opinion it’s definitely the sector to watch out for in 2012. With the massive complex problems the world faces in terms of the economy, employment and environmental and social sustainability, solving the key problems within the sector seems to [...]

Brian Devine is Vice President of ProLogistix, a staffing firm which focuses exclusively on logistics personnel often for 3PLs and other supply chain segments. With over 40 million man hours recorded the last five years, Devine shared some of the unique and extensive experiences his firm has had in filling all levels of logistics positions [...]

For years, supply chain planners have used outdated inventory management models. The result has been that companies have had to suffer unnecessary inefficiencies, adding extra woe to their ERP performance in an already ultracompetitive market. What is Traditional Inventory Planning? Traditional approaches to inventory planning are based on a single stage, single-item model that sees [...]

Achieving greater production success and efficiency boils down to optimised manufacturing processes. Developing new information technology, supplier development programs and redesigning distribution networks has made this possible. However, an integral element commonly overlooked in this supply chain optimization strategy, is the needs of the customer. Value Chain Segmentation A traditional supply chain model is internally [...]

In today’s rapidly evolving market, dealing with the volume and variety of business information flooding through internal and external departments can be a daunting challenge for even the best of us. Analysis is a significant area of business, however many organisations struggle to get to grips with it. Enhancing your business activity is possible by [...]

Consumers’ confidence has dropped to an all time low after a number of public food scares, like the latest swine flu outbreak, which has sent shock waves within the industry over the last ten years. As with most industries, the widespread concern for safety has prompted action, stressing the need for retailers and branded manufacturers [...]

With growing competition in an increasingly condensed market, the need for companies to improve efficiency within their supply chain is more important than ever. Today customers expect better product and service quality for their money. Employees want job security, while shareholders demand higher return rates over a shorter timeframe. Meeting your stakeholders’ needs requires organizations [...]

Supporting a number of different distribution channels within one warehouse is creating mounting pressure for many manufacturers now consumer buying models have changed. Order fulfillment is the life blood of your organisation. Great products become meaningless when your fulfillment solution cannot accurately and cost effectively meet increasingly complex distribution demands. To demonstrate a more accurate, [...]

Warehouse management systems for must deliver efficient and lean material distribution operation systems through unrivaled personnel, inventory, and equipment management. According to Mark Stevenson, “Warehouse Management Systems must link the logistic environment and the equipment available in the warehouse and consists of two main modules.”

Thomas R. Cutler                                                                                                                                                Equipment distributors run the gamut of industry sectors from Material Handling equipment, Agricultural Equipment, Pumps, Power Generation, Office Automation, Construction Equipment, Trucks and buses, Medical Equipment, Audio Visual Equipment, and Electronic Payment Devices.  Each of these businesses want to improve their bottom line through improved business efficiency; specifically, finding better ways [...]