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The enemy within: How indirect spend management impacts profit margins
Frank Wilhelm Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementAs the global economy continues to sputter, careers stall and many companies continue to tread water, we obviously cannot just watch helplessly as economic conditions continue to compress and batter our profit margins with continually depressed revenue streams. But what can management do? As opportunities to bolster our top lines diminish, we need to focus intently and intelligently on the issues that impact the bottom line that can help us to mitigate the cash flow challenges, help expand profit margins and take advantage of emerging opportunities as others fail.
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Creating a collaborative network of YouTube truckers
Matt Chase Distribution & WarehousingMany young people in today's society will do almost anything to become a celebrity. YouTube's motto of "Broadcast Yourself" has been the ticket for many to reach instant celebrity status by creating content that is usually entertainment-based.
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Total cost of ownership: The challenge of effective supply chain management
Frank Wilhelm Facilities & GroundsCompanies are always looking for creative ways to reduce costs and expand profit margins. In some cases, new and innovative approaches are employed. In others, proven but overlooked techniques are being resurrected and applied.
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Mastering the basics of leading warehouse people
Ken Ackerman Distribution & WarehousingIn the warehouse, it is not uncommon for an outstanding forklift operator to be promoted into management. Yet the promotion decision is frequently made because of an outstanding work effort, not because that person has any training or experience in managing the activities of other people.
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The costs of holding inventory in the paper industry
Jeff Ell ManufacturingWhen working with our customers, we've noticed that the concern about how to handle inventory is often spoken about at the last minute before things are final. We have also found inventory holding costs are often misunderstood by a wide margin in the paper industry.
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UK making efforts to improve ‘cold chain’
Andrew Gaved ManufacturingI have written before about the efforts being made by the cooling industry to emphasize the importance of the "cold chain" — the route by which food is distributed from producer to retailer under refrigerated conditions. An improved cold chain, the industry argues, is a win-win globally. In the developed world, it can improve shelf lives and thus reduce food wastage. In the developing world, it can literally save people's lives by reducing the amount of spoilage.
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Making your warehouse more effective
Ken Ackerman Distribution & WarehousingSo much has been written on the subject of warehouse productivity improvement that one is tempted to believe nothing else needs to be said. Yet in our constantly-changing environment, we must look at new ideas from the present decade, as well as recycled ideas from the past. Certain things about warehousing do not change, at least not rapidly.
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Ethics in logistics come down to a matter of trust
Ken Ackerman Distribution & WarehousingWhether business ethics are improving or declining is a question that is highly debatable. Whether conduct is getting better or worse, warehousing is an activity in which ethics are particularly critical.
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The business case for forklifts powered by hydrogen fuel cells
Piyush Bakshi Distribution & WarehousingHydrogen fuel cells as a source of power have piqued the interest of the distribution and warehousing sector. The energy is renewable and sustainable, and it offers a viable alternative to lead-acid batteries for powering forklifts.
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The critical importance of sequence in warehouses
Ken Ackerman Distribution & WarehousingOne aspect of warehousing that is readily overlooked is the order in which tasks are performed. In many warehouses, the sequence is dictated by tradition, or the attitude that "we have always done it that way." In most cases, the sequence is fine and should not be changed. In many others, however, a change in the order in which things are done can have a material effect on warehouse operations.
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