How to choose a planning tool? Planning is where what your customers ask meets what you can actually deliver. When you’re just starting out a business, you’ll probably have a pretty good feeling how much you can do and how much work you have in front of you. E.g. a baker can more or less […]
Can you reduce your inventory by 20% by next quarter? Supply chain managers often get some goal or target to reduce their inventory by x amount of dollars or a certain percentage. Sometimes this is because the industry benchmark is lower than your own, or because your manager will get a nice bonus out of […]
With global warming in our backyard, sustainability is trending now and everywhere, a business sector not being an exception. Recent studies show that consumers command accountability and prefer eco-friendly and socially responsible products over less sustainable goods and services. Sustainability, being one of the more recent trends, its definition is not always clear and the standard […]
Just reorder when you hit the safety stock Both working as a supply chain consultant and as an employee in a supply chain department, I was tasked to lower the safety stock as a cost reduction project, of course without impacting our service levels towards our customers. When discussing strategies with the supply chain managers […]
Within the shipping world, ‘Incoterms’ are a set of standards used within a trade regardless of whether the trade is domestic or international. Published by the International Chamber of Commerce, International Commercial Terms (Incoterms) essentially outline all the important details within the trade including time of delivery, location of delivery, payment, and which party pays […]
Back in 1934, the US saw what would become one of the most well-known dates in maritime history after six people died during a strike. Located in San Francisco, there had been no union in place for the workers on West Coast ports since the end of World War I. As a result, many started […]
When it comes to ocean freight containers, there has long been a debate as to whether floor loading or palletization is best. So, it is floor loading versus palletization. Thanks to researchers at Virginia Tech, we could now have an answer to this very question as they’ve developed a tool that will optimize all aspects […]
When it comes to shipping, there are certain hazardous freights and products that present certain dangers to all those involved in the process. Not only could they cause harm to those handling the containers and shipments, they could also cause damage with leaks in the sea. In the US, this has led to the use […]
Just like every industry, companies in the shipping corner of the world are now paying millions to increase their visibility on a global scale. In order to attract the attention their way, they’re using top-of-the-range programs and software solutions to make the industry more accessible. However, is it possible to achieve both freight visibility and […]
When it comes to exports just over a decade ago, transportation equipment led the way with over $218 billion worth of products and services. With the US not producing as many electronic goods in 2006, this sat in second with $169 billion with forestry products rounding off the top three with $133 billion. Interestingly, energy-related […]