Suffice it to say, FedEx Ground struggled with the decision. No doubt great debate occurred before marching orders were given. But, alas, service (a.k.a. the customer) came second. A very close second,... View More

So what is really to blame for the demise of so many dot-coms in the last year? The usual reasons given are the tumbling stock market and venture capitals new and very strange demand that the company actually... View More

Is your organization planning a brand new warehouse or the expansion of an existing warehouse? Of course the planning of the project will incorporate the physical requirements of the building(s), but youll... View More

In 1995, Congress enacted legislation deregulating the trucking and airline industries� intrastate operations. At the time, very few, if any, shippers (and probably few carriers) fully comprehended... View More

For more than 200 years, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service has been responsible for safeguarding the customers of the U.S. Postal Service. As the criminal investigative arm of the U.S. Postal Service,... View More

The more things change, the more they stay the same. That old adage is as true as ever, even in today's ever-changing economy. As industries enter the 21st century, the management of human and material... View More

Recently, I was asked to speak at a logistics and shipping conference held in Chicago. Prior to my presentation, I asked the audience the burning question, Five years ago, how many of your companies were... View More

The fulfillment and distribution reality check that struck the direct marketing industry in the last year has come full-circle. Its not enough to provide customers exceptional service in getting packages... View More

When a provider of telecommunications technology decides to streamline its manifest and shipping process, it cant put its customers on hold while making internal process improvements. Fujitsu Network Communications,... View More

Since the introduction of guaranteed service for ground commercial parcels, I am constantly being questioned about the logic behind carrier service standards. Its clear distribution managers throughout... View More

Supply chain strategies and management have, of course, always been a vital part of any manufacturers or distributors profit picture. Despite this obvious fact, until recently they were generally left... View More

The status quo doesnt cut it anymore. A significant transformation is needed in the rate-setting process. Some very interesting developments are occurring that will have a long-term impact on domestic... View More

Facing mounting pressure to manage rapidly growing order complexity with an outdated order fulfillment system, the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) decided to transform its entire operation... View More

The production floor looks great, thanks to your remarkable work in observing GMP principles. The setup time has been minimized; the workforce is well trained; all these great things are contributions... View More

Thanks to the Internet, demands for real-time supply chain management are being heard from the smallest customers to the most influential seats in the boardroom. This has brought increased attention on... View More

Shipping and distribution operations have a direct impact on the bottom line for any organization. Consistently being able to select the right carrier for the right customer and delivering parcels and... View More

The recent announcement by UPS to reduce its transit times in key lanes sparked interest in many of the people I have spoken with recently. At first glance, it would appear that UPS has launched a salvo... View More

Often, people will make comments about how critical their work is to a company. Well, theyre right! Everyone within a firm is a critical component of keeping and main-taining clients. Shipping and distribution... View More

In the October issue, we unveiled Part 1 of the annual Parcel Shipping & Distribution Best Practice Survey results. We delved into what impact the economy was having on the relationship between parcel... View More

Electric lift trucks provide many benefits in todays ever-changing business environment including cleaner and quieter operation, exceptional maneuverability, lower cost of operation and, most of all, versatility.... View More