One of the most overlooked components of the supply chain is packaging. There are still companies that take the simple �price and delivery� approach when selecting packaging. Inexpensive packaging may... View More
Many years ago, picking, packing and shipping an order was a slow and error-prone process. Expectations were far lower, and the time it took to get an order didn�t seem to be an urgent issue in most cases.... View More
While today�s cost-conscious businesses have reinvented just about everything from the manufacturing plant to the retail store, many have yet to truly analyze the significant cost of moving materials across... View More
Every time the United Parcel Service/Teamster labor contract comes due for renewal, the memories come rushing back, and I laugh to myself. Not because those two organizations have to square off again (although... View More
Discussions of efficiency in the workplace often focus on saving time or at least not wasting it. And thats a fine place to start, but simple algebra shows its not enough. Once you recall the basic axiom... View More
Women in Packaging, Inc. (WMPKG) packages the people, not the products. As a nonprofit, professional association dedicated to increasing the growth and professional development of packaging professionals,... View More
Probably one of the most important roles of any senior manager is to closely watch capital budgets. Inevitably, once the budgets are submitted for a fiscal period, management is committed to �stay the... View More
Ever wonder why so many of us hate grocery shopping? A trip to the local supermarket to collect your weekly groceries can be a tedious experience. First, you locate a cart and wander up and down the aisles... View More
Companies frequently need to make old, outdated facilities more efficient, particularly as a means of expanding capacity. This is not surprising. In todays financial climate, a brand new ware-house or... View More
A federal court has certified shippers who paid an excess value charge to UPS from January 1, 1984 to the present as a class for the purpose of a class action suit against United Parcel Service and related... View More
Some shippers think that simply negotiating the lowest prices with their carriers means they are shipping at the lowest possible cost. But more experienced distribution professionals know better. The reality... View More
Blame it on the likes of Amazon.com. Blame it on e-mail. Blame it on the Web itself. But make no mistake the Internet has changed customers expectations about order fulfillment. These days, whether your... View More
With companies continually streamlining their operations to squeeze out every bit of efficiency and productivity, it is increasingly important to minimize employee idle time as well as regulate overtime.... View More
Editors Note: On December 11, 2002, President George W. Bush authorized the establishment of a Presidential Commission on the future of the U.S. Postal Service. The Commissions mission is to study and... View More
If you use UPS to service your business, your rates increased on January 6th significantly! UPS press release announcing the new rates contained exactly two sentences pertaining to the actual impact to... View More
The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment. ... View More
Were all aware of the tight economy and especially the severe impact on the transportation industry. Many parcel carriers are now adding upcharges for services as they try to compensate for the sputtering... View More
Were past the idea that a warehouse is merely an afterthought, a place to store products when theres nowhere else to put them. Even companies that are reluctant to incorporate new technology have adopted... View More
It remains to be seen whether shippers will do anything about this new provision. United Parcel Service has never been known for its flexibility in contracting with its customers, regardless of the... View More
The primary reason hazardous material shipments are rejected is because the shipping company has not trained its employees in haz-mat requirements. There are a lot of reasons for a shipment to be rejected... View More
