-
A social marketing primer for carriers and owner-operators
Elizabeth Kraus Distribution & WarehousingA whopping 7 of 10 U.S. adults are active on social networks — a number that jumps to 9 out of 10 among millennials and younger generations, a third of whom say social is their preferred channel for communicating with brands.
-
Succession planning in the warehouse
Ken Ackerman Distribution & WarehousingSuccession planning is the development of a formal program to provide timely replacement for every key manager. It includes a system for developing potential successors within the existing organization, or for hiring new people as needed. The plan also is designed for protecting corporate and personal assets during the transition caused by succession.
-
Can the alliance proposition work in managing warehouses?
Ken Ackerman Distribution & WarehousingOne of the greatest misunderstandings in business is the illusion that employment is permanent. Few companies can offer guaranteed employment with a straight face. Even those who do offer have no credibility with employees who probably know better.
-
Disengagement: Your greatest threat in the warehouse
Ken Ackerman Distribution & WarehousingSenior management in the warehousing industry has every reason to worry about the many external challenges. While warehousing today is relatively prosperous, it remains competitive. Government regulations are more intrusive than ever before. Furthermore, the regulators are frequently people who have no love for private enterprise and are perfectly willing to push their weight around. In some industries, cyberattacks have tarnished corporate reputations as they steal the identities of innocent customers. Finally, there is a continuing shortage of skilled labor.
-
Driver retention comes down to company culture
Elizabeth Kraus Distribution & WarehousingWith a driver shortage nearing epic proportions, small wonder that driver retention tops the list of carrier objectives. A new report by employment screening firm HireRight offers insights into why drivers leave their jobs, and sometimes leave the industry altogether. Among the list of top reasons for driver turnover is company culture. In fact, about 1 out of every 5 drivers who leaves the industry does so because they don't feel like the organizational culture is right for them.
-
Should you add monitoring devices to your company vehicles?
D. Albert Brannen Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementHighway accidents remain the leading cause of work-related deaths and also carry tremendous personal, social and economic costs. The good news is new technologies in on-board safety monitoring systems are being developed and implemented in both commercial fleets and private vehicles to offer the potential to further improve safety.
-
How the Internet of Things improves the supply chain
Charles Bell Distribution & WarehousingYou've likely heard of the Internet of Things (IoT) with regard to everyday technologies that can make your life more convenient. For instance, some of the most popularly discussed uses are fitness bands and smart thermostats, both of which can impact your life in a fairly intimate manner. But in a broader sense, the IoT is truly about full, wireless connectivity between devices for the sake of improved efficiency and safety in all walks of life. One application that not a whole lot of people talk about is the IoT's use in company supply and shipping divisions.
-
Slimming down to a lean warehouse
Ken Ackerman Distribution & WarehousingSome say "lean" was the biggest management idea of the past 50 years. If that is true, the concept of lean could well be a masterpiece of wording. Everyone knows the difference between fat and lean, so lean is a word that should have no mystery, right?
-
The future is now: 3-D printers are poised to disrupt the economy
Ronnie Richard ManufacturingIt's Monday morning. Your alarm goes off, and you slowly spill out of bed. You shuffle along to the kitchen and pour a fresh cup of coffee in your favorite mug — all set to start a new work week. But as you reach for some sweetener to add in, your arm knocks the mug off the counter, shattering it on the floor. How do you replace it?
-
Connecting the disadvantaged with warehousing opportunities
Ken Ackerman Distribution & WarehousingDecades ago, warehouse managers discovered that people with certain disabilities could perform some kinds of warehouse work. For example, a footwear manufacturer employed deaf-mute people as order selectors with great success. The only accommodation needed was to caution lift-truck operators that these people could not hear and therefore might not sense the approach of the machine.
All Distribution & Warehousing Articles