Collaborative distribution brings together different shipments from different companies that are going to the same location. A third-party transport company can identify which shipments are going to the same location so these shipments can all be loaded onto a single truck. This not only fills that truck so space is not wasted but, it also cuts down on the number of trucks required to move goods.
Companies and governments have been discussing the challenges that lie ahead as we enter a period of rapid innovation and change unlike any the world has ever seen. In a previous post we have made a number of observations about the increasing importance of data and connectivity in realizing the Fourth Industrial Revolution and singled … More Will Open Data Save Supply Chains?
The circular economy is a generic term for an industrial economy that is, by design or intention, restorative and in which material flows are of two types, biological nutrients, designed to re-enter the biosphere safely, and technical nutrients, which are designed to circulate at high quality without entering the biosphere. The term encompasses more than … More Is the Circular Economy a Myth?
When you think of an automated process, the words agile, flexible or nimble may not be the first words that typically come to mind. Most people think of automated processes as efficient, accurate, or repetitive – but not agile. You may even picture an automated process as one that cannot be stopped once it has … More Workflow Automation Increases Supply Chain Agility And Efficiency
The importance of customer centricity and speed in today’s consumer economy is well understood. Examples are everywhere, from custom vending machines that integrate with social media to companies such as Netflix and Uber. Consumers increasingly expect products to be individualized to their unique specifications and to be delivered on demand. The extended supply chain, from … More How The Network Economy Is Revolutionizing Supply Chains
As risks in the supply chain continue to occur and customer demand continues to be less tolerant of disruptions, more companies are recognizing the importance of creating and managing a visible supply chain. Although different interpretations and definitions abound, one way to think of supply chain visibility is: The right information, in actionable detail, on … More How to Gain “True” Visibility in the Supply Chain
Supply chain efficiency helps an organization reduce costs and speed time-to-market. Fifteen years into the new millennium, it is clear to see that advances in technology, increasing globalization and rising customer expectations have made streamlining the supply chain more important than ever. Analyzing and streamlining the supply chain is one way to help companies respond … More 5 Tips To Streamline Your Supply Chain
It seems that there’s a robot available for every conceivable position imaginable these days and it can get quite unnerving if you stop to think about it. What human position or function can you think of that isn’t vulnerable to robotic transplanting? Technology feeds on itself and expands exponentially. What used to take a machine … More Robotics and Job Security in the Supply Chain
We stand on the brink of a technological revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work, and relate to one another. In its scale, scope, and complexity, the transformation will be unlike anything humankind has experienced before. We do not yet know just how it will unfold, but one thing is clear: the … More The Fourth Industrial Revolution And How It Will Affect Supply Chains
For those unfamiliar with the supply or reverse chain industries, consider the lowly wooden pallet as a shining example of the complexity of many of the world’s largest international supply chains. The wooden pallet? Are you serious? How could such a simple concept possibly be the cause of complexity in any application? Here’s a short … More Supply Chains Are Costing Us More Than You Know!
According to the Carbon Footprint Calculator found under the “Fleet Tools” drop-down menu at Fleet News in the UK, there is 11.91 Kg of CO2 created with every gallon of diesel burned. If that figure is accurate then let’s apply it to the number of miles traveled by the US fleet. According to Business Insider a single class 8 … More Cool it! Supply Chain’s Carbon Footprint Quantified
Circular Supply Chains Inc. 