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Study: Researchers search for better ways to nix inventory errors

Gail Short Retail

You log onto your favorite retailer's app to look for that must-have pair of sneakers you want to buy. The shopping site says shoes are in stock. But when you arrive at the store, an empty shelf says otherwise. Inventory errors like this frustrate customers and can eventually lead to dwindling customer loyalty and lost sales, says Rafay Ishfaq, Ph.D., the W. Allen Reed associate professor of supply chain management at Auburn University's Harbert College of Business.

US payrolls add 1.8 million jobs; jobless rate drops to 10.2%

Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Employers added 1.8 million nonfarm new hires in July, down from 4.8 million jobs created in June, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. July’s rate of unemployment dropped to 10.2% from June’s 11.1%. July’s numbers indicate the reopening of commerce closed to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Most major worker groups saw their unemployment rates fall.

Practical ways to reduce gender inequality in the workplace

D. Albert Brannen Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Studies still show that working women are paid about 80 cents for every dollar men are paid. These studies suggest that women are at a disadvantage when it comes to holding higher-paying jobs and that men are generally on more accelerated career paths. This article offers some practical suggestions for actions that human resources professionals can take in their companies to address and hopefully improve this gender inequality.

Getting grounded: Implications for business

Linda Popky Business Management, Services & Risk Management

We may all be ready to be done with the coronavirus, but the virus isn’t ready to be done with us. As a result, some of the short-term changes to how and where we work may turn out to be more longer-term than we ever expected. Not only do we need to maintain social distance and wear masks when out and about near others, but we also have to face the fact that for the most part, we’ve all been grounded. What do you need to do to be as effective as possible given these constraints?

Report: Manufacturers and distributors neglect key cybersecurity activities

Jerry Murphy Manufacturing

Less than 40% of respondents in Sikich’s 2020 Manufacturing and Distribution Report said they perform important data breach prevention activities, such as penetration testing, phishing exercises on employees and assessments of vendors’ data security efforts. However, manufacturers and distributors remain vulnerable to breaches. Nearly half of respondents said their companies experienced cyberattacks during the past 12 months.

Crosscurrents ahead — proceed with caution and optimism

Lloyd Princeton Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

Our industry appears to have turned a corner. After a disappointing second quarter in which many clients delayed or postponed projects due to safety and economic concerns stemming from the COVID-19 health crisis, more architecture and design (A&D) firms are starting to see a resurgence in client activity. It may take a while for the industry as a whole to recover, but there is every indication that in the months ahead it will emerge not only intact but even more vital than before.

3 ways to make your supply chain more resilient

Gail Short Distribution & Warehousing

The COVID-19 pandemic has tested the strength of supply chains around the world this year. In the United States, the outbreak led to a spike in consumer demand for items like hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol and other essentials, and retailers struggled to keep them on the shelves. Today, as the pandemic rages on, experts say now is a good time for companies to determine how they can build more resilient global supply chains going forward.

Reevaluating the manufacturing supply chain beyond costs

Micah Chaban Manufacturing

Reshoring manufacturing processes, specifically additive manufacturing processes, have allowed manufacturers to reduce lead times by accelerating access to both supplies and inventory. However, manufacturers are still considering the cost-effectiveness of onshoring manufacturing processes. Traditionally, offshoring manufacturing processes means cutting costs, but not necessarily for all. Manufacturing processes, such as making parts, can still be obtained at competitive prices thanks to novel technologies like 3D printing. Here’s how.

Warehouse technologies: 3 trends to watch

Gail Short Distribution & Warehousing

These days, many warehouses and distribution centers are under the gun to boost efficiency and productivity and ship products and materials faster than ever. In the e-commerce industry alone, a recent survey by the global consulting firm Capgemini Research Foundation reported that 55% of consumers polled said they would choose a brand or retailer over its competitor if it offered a faster delivery service. That said, a white paper titled "Warehouses of the Future," published by the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University (ASU), says warehouses are becoming places "not just to store stuff," but places integrated into supply chain processes.

Federal agency sets final rule on truckers’ hours of service

Gail Short Transportation Technology & Automotive

Drivers of large, heavy trucks must regularly meet tight deadlines set by shippers and receivers to deliver goods to warehouses and other customers on time, and fatigue can make truckers' jobs both difficult and risky. To help keep fatigued and drowsy drivers of commercial motor vehicles off the road, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets hours of service (HOS) regulations for truck drivers. This spring, the FMCSA presented its final rule on updates to the HOS rules to give drivers more flexibility regarding when and how long they can take breaks.

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