Rising Floodwaters on Mississippi River Force Lock Closings, Drive Up Corn and Soy Prices

Rising Floodwaters on Mississippi River Force Lock Closings, Drive Up Corn and Soy Prices

Reuters news agency reports that the Army Corps of Engineers is being forced to close numerous locks along the Mississippi River due to rising flood waters. According to spokespeople for the Corps, it is unclear when barge traffic will be allowed to resume due to chances of even more rains in these regions in the…

U.S. Rebounds as Manufacturing Jobs Return, But There’s Still a Long Way to Go

U.S. Rebounds as Manufacturing Jobs Return, But There’s Still a Long Way to Go

As production costs and energy prices rise overseas, the U.S. is looking more attractive to companies looking for low-cost areas to manufacture goods. Top manufacturers such as Caterpillar, GE and Ford, which led the way towards moving manufacturing overseas, are once again considering the U.S. for new manufacturing facilities. This growth in U.S. manufacturing jobs…

Supply Chain Disruptions are on the Rise: One Consultant Explains Why

Supply Chain Disruptions are on the Rise: One Consultant Explains Why

Since 2000, supply chain disruptions have been on the rise. Dr. Alan Punter, a risk management consultant with 25 years’ experience, carefully studied the rise to try to identify reasons. The study examined business-to-business processes and how automating these processes can benefit companies in the long run.

Study Reveals Biggest Challenge to MES Deployments

Study Reveals Biggest Challenge to MES Deployments

According to a new report released by two Gartner analysts in conjunction with MESA International determines the single largest obstacle to deploying MES applications is a lack of clarity on the costs and benefits these systems can offer. This came as a surprise to Gartner analysts Simon Jacobson and Michael Doran because these issues were…

Smartphones Squelch Market Demands for Several Key Consumer Electronics Supply Chains

Smartphones Squelch Market Demands for Several Key Consumer Electronics Supply Chains

In an uncertain world, there were still things people believed they could depend on. Some of these things included our need for consumer electronics like alarm clocks and home telephones. However, the introduction of the smartphone to the market has uprooted a number of key supply chains, leaving once-thriving industries wondering what’s to come.

Automotive Industry Holds Its Breath While Suppliers Try to Meet Demands

Automotive Industry Holds Its Breath While Suppliers Try to Meet Demands

During the severe economic recession, which began in 2009 and is only lessening its grip on the world very recently, suppliers in the automotive parts industry consolidated their operations, closed manufacturing facilities, and laid off workers. In all, they reduced capacity by about 30 percent. Now, the auto industry is experiencing an unprecedented boom in…

BP Releases Much-Anticipated Annual BP Statistical Review of World Energy

BP Releases Much-Anticipated Annual BP Statistical Review of World Energy

Respected as the single most comprehensive report of energy consumption around the globe available, the Annual BP Statistical Review of World Energy was released in June, as usual. What isn’t so normal about the report is that it suggests energy consumers around the globe are responding to slow growth in the worldwide economy and calls…

Social Media Making an Impact on the Supply Chain Sooner, Not Later

Social Media Making an Impact on the Supply Chain Sooner, Not Later

In 2011, Aldelante conducted a survey of supply chain executives and asked them what the impact of social media sites would likely be in the future. Half of the responding executives indicated social media would change the supply chain in positive ways, one-third answered that it would make supply chain processes more responsive, efficient, and…

Large Energy Buyers Unwilling to Pay Extra for Green Energy

Large Energy Buyers Unwilling to Pay Extra for Green Energy

Amidst a global worry over energy prices, green technologies are taking a backseat to traditional power sources, especially when it comes time to spend more for greener power, according to a new survey conducted by EnergyQuote JHA. The survey analyzed the responses of 50 large-scale energy buyers. Of the respondents, almost half (49 percent) expressed…