Category Archives: Supply Chains

Warehouses on the edge

Posted on August 28, 2013 by | 1 comment

On the edge of large urban centers, that is.  And that is what Chicago, Will County, and Joliet have in abundance.  It’s one reason why the area is becoming economically attractive to firms who must distribute quickly to large urban area populations, such as e-tailers and manufacturing suppliers.  Add to it the ability to serve a large population inside the ‘truck’ radius of say 400 mi, and you have a hot spot for intermodal supply chain builders to locate here.  Just one of the opportunities research and study in Joliet brings.

Warehouses on the edge offer opportunities – Supply Chain Digital.

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Posted in Logistics, Strategy, Supply Chains

Bangladesh: Redefining the apparel supply chain

Posted on August 27, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Has the tragedy in Bangla Desh forced changes in our view of supply chains worldwide?

http://www.just-style.com/analysis/the-catalyst-for-change-in-the-supply-chain_id118808.aspx

Changes taking place in Bangladesh are redefining the apparel supply chain

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Posted in Logistics, Production Operations, Strategy, Supply Chains

Energy Efficiency in Supply Chains

Posted on August 20, 2013 by | Leave a comment

.http://business.edf.org/sites/business.edf.org/files/EDF_Supply_Chain_Energy_Efficiency_Report.pdf_

This report from the U of Minnesota’s Northstar Initiative shows why it’s hard to keep business interested in energy efficiency in the supply chain. And it also indicates that cooperation is essential. There’s too much waste in re-positioning vehicles and containers, and no single firm can manage it all alone.

Cooperation is hard to come by, though. Europe is ahead of us in the US, but that’s because the EU has taken a very strong regulatory position.  Here we don’t have that added incentive.  And supply links are longer here.  But we do have the advantage of extensive rail transport, if we continue to improve the system and eliminate bottlenecks, technical, physical, and administrative.

For instance, here in Will County there are several different permitting systems for overweight trucks. Truckers may divert routes to avoid another payment, or may simply go elsewhere to avoid losing time and money.

 

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Posted in Logistics, Supply Chains, Sustainability