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How will AI impact your business?
Shawn Smajstrla Science & TechnologyIs your business ready for AI? Artificial intelligence has become common conversation in business media as we seem destined to eliminate the fiction part of science fiction. A Deloitte survey of what it calls "aggressive adopters of cognitive technology" revealed three-quarters expect AI to "substantially transform" their organizations within three years. But AI isn’t a one-tech-fits-all solution. It’s an array of systems, processes, tools and algorithms — all still developing rapidly.
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Preparing your business for hurricane season
Scott E. Rupp Facilities & GroundsPerhaps the following bit of guidance only applies to approximately one-third of the United States, but with another storm season upon us, one can never be too prepared. The 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season began on June 1, and with deadly subtropical storm Alberto having moved through the Gulf Coast and the Midwest already, and an extremely deadly storm season only a year behind us, preparation now could save lives and facilities.
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10 things businesses need to know in uncertain times
Dr. David Hillson Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementEveryone knows that "business hates uncertainty." Uncertainty poses a clear threat to business, but it also contains significant opportunity. Sources of uncertainty must be understood so that these threats and opportunities can be effectively managed, avoiding and minimizing unnecessary problems as well as capturing and maximizing benefits. In the current uncertain business climate, it has never been more important for businesses to assess and manage their risks. But how do we do that when we are surrounded by uncertainty?
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The road to ruin: How US infrastructure is hurting logistics
Delany Martinez Distribution & WarehousingFrom crumbling, aging bridges that failed to pass any but the most basic of structural tests to endless waves of patch-fixing on the torn-up highways traversing them, many of the 4 million miles of roadways in the United States have seen much better days. For everyday drivers, this amounts to an inconvenience, and perhaps a pinch of worry when ugly weather is tossed into the mix. For logistics professionals, however, the situation is much more dire.
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Food supply chain is bee-ing naïve about pollinator decline
Shawn Smajstrla Food & BeverageThe declining bee population isn’t news. Scientists have tracked a diminishing number of bees and other pollinators for years. Some fear extinction is on the table for these insects, and the impact could be far worse than losing a species. The deteriorating numbers of pollinators could have catastrophic results on food supplies, and thus the food supply chain. Just how important are these creatures?
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Cobots are coming: When mech, man and manufacturing combine
Delany Martinez ManufacturingWhile humans are capable of astonishing endurance and precision, repetitive motion tasks are bad news for manufacturing: they aren't just physically harmful over time, they can lead to worker burnout. When productivity is the main focus of most industries today, what's a large company with large needs to do when faced with human limitations? Hiring more workers is a huge drain on finances, but going fully automated isn't likely to win any favors with the workforce, and by extension, the public. The solution? Cobots, or collaborative robots.
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Neutralizing chemical warehousing pain points
Julie Bernhard Distribution & WarehousingWarehouse space might be hot at the moment, but for chemical manufacturers, 3PLs and distributors — this space can actually be hard to come by. In a session at WERC 2018, conducted by William Miller, director of business development of the Faure Brothers Corp., attendees tackled the issues they all face while trying to provide responsible care of regulated and hazardous chemicals. The group collaboratively hashed out what they found to be the most challenging aspects of this particular warehousing vertical. "The question really boils down to — does the warehouse really know how to handle chemicals?" said one attendee.
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Supply chain negotiations during inflationary contexts: Adjustment clauses
Pablo Scaffidi Distribution & WarehousingIn this new article, we will review one of the most important tools to be negotiated and included in contracts: adjustment clauses. This tool is by far the most important one to be considered during the negotiation process from both suppliers' and buyers' points of view. From the supplier point of view, it is because the adjustment method settled will determine the evolution of the price and its consequent impact in the profits of the business. From the other side, the buyer side, it is critical to determine and negotiate the correct adjustment clauses, because the price determined by the adjustment will impact the cost and the profits of the company.
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Managing millennials: Under 35 and changing the warehouse
Julie Bernhard Distribution & WarehousingEasily identified by their smartphone obsessions, tech savvy and attention deficit disorders, millennials are bombarding the recruiting offices — occupying all surrounding office and warehouse space. In fact, last year, the Census Bureau stated that a quarter of the U.S. population is now made up of 83.1 million millennials, those born between 1982 and 2000. During a session of WERC 2018 at the Charlotte Convention Center, conference attendees discussed how this specific generation is impacting the warehouse and logistics industry.
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Can Blockchain bring back trust to the food industry?
Bambi Majumdar Food & BeverageFour food companies from Australia and New Zealand recently formed a consortium with online retail giant Alibaba. They have announced the launch of a new food-tracking system that uses Blockchain technology. Using the technology widely known from cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, the companies will offer improved supply-chain traceability and transparency. Blockchain’s immutable central ledger will help them build a trusted platform for cross-border trade. In the process, they stand to rebuild and enhance consumer confidence.
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