Carriers have taken measures to try to improve security, including beefing up their technologies, internal processes, and employee training. Yet theft of cargo still continues to rise. During the three-month period between June and August of this year, cargo theft rose by five percent, while the value of the cargo stolen rose by nine percent….
Ship owners are having to be more careful about what companies they trade with, under threat from their banks to cancel loans when the owner enters contracts with companies the bank believes to be at risk of defaulting on contracts. This means shippers are having to settle for shorter term contracts with an increasingly smaller…
The news is bright for both shipping and air cargo, but shipping is seeing the lion’s share of profit growth, according to the latest reports. The International Air Transport Association revised their outlook for the global air cargo industry for 2013 down from $12.7 billion to $11.7 billion.
The very monotonous nature of the supply chain presents a unique opportunity for supply chain managers that few are aware of and even fewer use to their full advantage. Day after day, week after week, and year after year, companies go through the same processes of acquiring raw materials, shipping them to manufacturing facilities, turning…
The most popular time of year for retailers to begin promoting their Holiday season sales is the first two weeks of November. This year, however, retailers are looking to capitalize on the highest level of consumer spending confidence seen since the end of the recent economic recession. Many are beginning their promotional launch for the…
The Federal Reserve issued a report this week that highlights strength in manufacturing, among other sectors of the economy, which bode well for the outlook of both the national and the global economy. Leading the way are the manufacturing of automobiles, appliances, and home furnishings. There were also solid gains in mining and utilities.
The Laker’s Carrier Association (LCA) represents vessel operators on the Great Lakes. U.S. flag Great Lakes Freighters, or lakers, carried 10.5 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in the month of August. This is an increase of more than 1 million tons, or about 10.6 percent compared to the same month of last year. It was…
Jobs in the supply chain have long suffered from a stigma of low-paying, blue collar work, according to SCM Talent Group president Rodney Apple. This misconception has led to a shortage of well-trained and highly qualified workers in the field. This meant that even during the recent severe recession, graduates in supply chain management still were…
A recent study released by Motorola Solutions indicated that almost half of all distribution center managers plan to implement task interleaving within the next few years. Many vendors of warehouse management systems advertise task interleaving as part of their packages. When implemented correctly, task interleaving can boost productivity within the distribution center, lowering labor costs…
As businesses, individuals, and the government continue to keep their fingers on the pulse of the economy, it continues to give mixed signals about what the future holds. Some sectors, such as automotive sales, continue to be strong, as new jobs are added and unemployment rates continue to shrink. However, consumer confidence and consumer retail…