Deep Dive: Page 6
Industry insights from our journalists
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Food distributors, restaurants reinvent business models in a scramble to survive
From wine bar to mini grocery store, from restaurant distribution to direct to consumer — food sector firms are pivoting operations to keep business flowing.
Gary Wollenhaupt • Aug. 6, 2020 -
Electronics supply chains are stuck between a pandemic and a trade war. Where do they go from here?
Shifting operations is a mammoth undertaking for the electronics industry due to China's specialized production capacities, co-location of key suppliers and economies of scale.
Morgan Forde • July 23, 2020 -
How a small-batch distillery improvised a hand sanitizer supply chain in 72 hours
When hand sanitizer was in short supply, nontraditional producers retooled operations and worked with suppliers to fill the gap.
S.L. Fuller • July 14, 2020 -
Why reshoring the textile supply chain is easier said than done
U.S. textile production, and the apparel manufacturing that depends on it, cannot return to its former glory without multi-million dollar infusions into the industry.
Emma Cosgrove • July 13, 2020 -
The 5 Ws of reshoring supply chains
The decision to reshore is a balance between price and risk and a trend that started long before the coronavirus pandemic.
Shefali Kapadia • July 13, 2020 -
Amazon Air's fleet expansion is a bid for logistics domination
The company announced plans to add an additional 12 aircraft to its fleet, bringing its total size to 82 planes by the end of 2021.
Matt Leonard • June 4, 2020 -
How tariffs ravaged the COVID-19 medical supply chain
Months into the pandemic, the U.S. faces an ongoing shortage of PPE and some of it is still subject to tariffs.
Deborah Abrams Kaplan • May 27, 2020 -
Canceled orders, delayed payments: How supplier collaboration could reverse apparel's nose dive
Stakeholders envision a future where demand, not merchandisers, drive fashion supply chains, and buyers bring vendors into the planning process.
Emma Cosgrove • May 21, 2020 -
COVID-19 changed the stakes for e-commerce. Do fulfillment networks need to change too?
A global pandemic that drove consumers into their homes, cratered demand for discretionary goods and upped screen time has changed the risk calculus for e-commerce fulfillment.
Emma Cosgrove • May 12, 2020 -
6 charts show how PSR changed rail
Early adopters of precision-scheduled railroading saw increased speed and lower dwell times in 2019. Do the changes benefit shippers?
Matt Leonard • April 22, 2020 -
Carrier force majeure explained
A basic understanding of force majeure — and the real reason carriers make the declaration — may help to lessen some of the panic they generate.
Emma Cosgrove • April 20, 2020 -
From Section 301 to COVID-19: How a volatile China changed supply chains
An ongoing trade war, and now a global pandemic, pushed U.S. businesses to diversify and raised the question: Are we too dependent on China?
Shefali Kapadia • March 31, 2020 -
What procurement managers should expect from a 'bullwhip on crack'
Slight variations in demand at the retail level grow larger until they reach the manufacturer. This bullwhip effect is playing out in real-time in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Matt Leonard • March 26, 2020 -
Wayfair is all in on logistics
Executives insist 2020 is the year Wayfair's logistics investments will show their worth.
Emma Cosgrove • Feb. 28, 2020 -
With the promise of faster speed, inventory moves closer to consumers
Amazon could deliver nearly everything to the lower 48 states within two days by air freight. The decision to offer one-day shipping changed the equation.
Matt Leonard • Feb. 18, 2020 -
Supply chain certifications: What's new?
Just as the business world evolves, associations offering supply chain certifications are revamping them to include relevant content.
Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Jan. 16, 2020 -
The 3 most common forecasting errors retail CFOs make
Smart investment on the planning side can help retailers better align forecasts with actual sales.
Robert Freedman • Jan. 14, 2020 -
Trucking braces for impact as uncertainty surrounds California's AB5 law
Though temporarily stayed, the controversial law presents a major shift for supply chains that experts expect to affect trucking capacity and eventually rates should it be fully enforced.
Matt Leonard and Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 23, 2019 -
How to prevent cargo rolling when contracts lack teeth
Solutions involve time-consuming contract negotiations, more accurate forecasting, or higher costs to guarantee shipment.
Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Nov. 21, 2019 -
Ocean freight ushers in a new era with instant quotes
Instant online quoting is becoming "table stakes" and freight forwarders must digitize to keep up with the status quo.
Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Nov. 18, 2019 -
Where is the new China?
As the trade war carries on and labor costs rise, supply chains seek a new home for manufacturing and sourcing. But each alternative location comes with pros and cons.
Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Nov. 14, 2019 -
Walmart's last mile around the world
From tricycles to drones, Walmart is casting a wide net to find out how shoppers want to receive their goods.
Emma Cosgrove • Oct. 29, 2019 -
How grocery pickup is evolving
As demand grows along with competition, retailers are trying to erase wait times, improve fulfillment and even reach shoppers away from the store.
Lauren Manning • Sept. 30, 2019 -
8 ways warehouse construction has evolved
21st century warehouses require specialized construction techniques, precise scheduling and highly experienced teams to meet industries' expectations.
Jennifer Goodman • Aug. 8, 2019 -
Why are fashion supply chains so wasteful?
Consumer textile waste may be the larger problem, but the pre-consumer supply chain has wasteful practices built in to the way garments are designed and produced.
Emma Cosgrove • July 23, 2019