The truck driver population in the U.S. is aging. That’s bad news for the supply chain industry, because not enough new truck drivers are entering the labor force to replace the truck drivers who retire. Take a look at what supply chains are doing to address this problem.
May, June, and July 2015 were rough months for businesses in Greece due to political unrest. The banking system has been facing collapse, causing myriad problems in manufacturing and distribution. Greek banks were closed between June 29 and July 20 to prevent money from flooding out of the country, but this also prevented businesses from…
2015 has seen the biggest bird flu outbreak in history. Countries around the world have been affected, but the U.S. is feeling it the hardest. More than 1.2 million birds have been killed by the disease already, and authorities are baffled on how to contain it. The bird flu outbreak has also been a supply…
Even though the U.S. has a primarily service-based economy, agriculture is still an important industry. The U.S. cannot rely solely on agricultural imports, which is why there are still thousands of working farms in operation across the U.S. They produce everything from apples and oranges to alfalfa and sprouts. New innovations in farming operations are…
Perishables cause a headache for supply chains because of the need for refrigeration. However, consumers want fresh foods and companies must learn how to deliver with a cold chain to stay competitive. Let’s take a look at the delicate balance companies must achieve between costs, regulations, and speed.
Nobody likes to make predictions about the price of oil because it is such a volatile market. Oil prices are affected by the climate, politics, and other industries. As a matter of fact, the price of a barrel of oil can easily double in only a few months depending on what’s happening in the world….
All successful businesses reach a point where they need more than a handful of employees. At that point, it’s time to consider outsourcing. However, it’s not a decision that should be based purely on labor costs. There are hidden costs not to overlook.
Countries around the world are adding more capacity for renewable energy at an incredible rate. It is a race to see who can lower their dependence on fossil fuels, coal, natural gas, and oil first by implementing solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources. Some of the leaders around the world include East Africa and…
Most of the clothing, electronics, and agricultural goods you buy are not made in the U.S. They are imported from developing countries, such as China. The Obama administration is pushing for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) to create fair competition in the Asia-Pacific region. Their goal is to create an environment where “Made in America” goods…
China’s economy has been booming for the past 15 years, but things are really slowing down. The auto industry is feeling the slowdown, too. New-vehicle sales in China are only half of what they were a year ago. Surprisingly, automakers are not slowing down production to match demand, and dealers in China are speaking out…