Just about everywhere you turn these days someone has something to say about current and impending Supply Chain labor shortages. Boeing estimates a global shortage of 533,000 pilots over the next 20 years.... View More

The short answer to the question above is a definite…...maybe. Before we explore the issue, you should know that my personal, very biased answer throughout my career has been a resounding “yes”.... View More

Have you noticed how few people are attending after hours professional meetings these days? It’s a disturbing trend that extends to virtually all service and professional organizations, way beyond... View More

As this is being written, most of us in the supply chain world are still waiting for explanations of what went wrong this past Christmas season at UPS. Did e-tailers and UPS not share forecasts? Did large... View More

The short answer to the question raised above is yes. As explained in greater detail in an earlier eUpdate, a transportation broker is a company which owns no assets and acts as a wholesaler by arranging... View More

The phone rings in your pocket and you get that dreaded call from a good friend: He (or she) has just been laid off. This person performed well for years but is yet another addition to your growing list... View More

What defines a successful transportation program in your company? Do you manage transportation with real information, or do you just get by with a couple of data elements? The difference is subtle yet... View More

In the supply chain world we rightfully worry about the packaging which protects our cargo. We ask: Is it safe, effective, economical, & practical? Does it contain consumer-directed messages that shout... View More

A complex international shipment delivered exactly on time, intact, and to the right address can still be a major failure if not properly documented as both an export in the country of origin and as an... View More

In the first three “Basics” articles we defined the major Supply Chain partners who physically move or store your freight, or facilitate its smooth movement and storage. In this fourth “Players”... View More

As mentioned in earlier columns, these “Basics” articles are not intended for the experienced, while hopefully those new to the Supply Chain or entering the Logistics world from a different... View More

As we said last time, if you’re an experienced practitioner these “Basics” articles are not necessarily for you. But for those new to the Supply Chain, or entering Logistics from a different... View More

If you’re an experienced practitioner, this article isn’t for you. In fact, you probably could have written it yourself. But if you’re new to the Supply Chain this first in a series of... View More

If you're an experienced practitioner, this article isn't for you. In fact, you probably could have written it yourself. But if you're new to the Supply Chain this first in a series of occasional columns... View More

Have you ever thought about how much improper returns could cost your company? We are not talking about transportation costs. Other costs and liabilities can be very high. One very large retail company... View More

As you read this article, your company could be at risk right now for fines or even an incident caused by a piece luggage. “Luggage?”, you’re wondering. In fact you’re probably... View More

Are you the seat belt that your supply chain depends on to survive a crash? Risk management is something every one of us practices every day, multiple times a day, in both our private and business lives... View More

Last month in Part One of this article we examined options for keeping your own position functioning when you are unable to do so yourself. Today we'll look at some ways to insure yourself against the... View More

This article completes a trilogy of approaches to surviving various Supply Chain disasters by planning ahead. In last April's eUpdate we discussed: "Are Your Suppliers’ Supply Chains Strong Enough... View More

If your freight bills aren’t being audited before payment and/or after payment, you’re losing money. Why? People make mistakes, and even the best automated billing systems depend on the accurate... View More