October 2013

CEO Timothy Gomez led the charge to vertically integrate manufacturing and distribution at the 218-year-old pencil company—and saved $5 million in logistics costs in the process.

Intermodal is becoming increasingly more viable as logistics managers find themselves under pressure to keep costs down and improve supply chain operations. But how can shippers wring out its full value?

Cloud-based applications continue to penetrate the supply chain management (SCM) software space as more operations are eager to embrace the advantages it maintains over traditional options. We explore how far shippers have gone into the Cloud and reveal several limitations that could hinder the flight.

With new, complex regulatory obstacles on the horizon, our panel says that improving relationships with intermediaries should be a top priority for global shippers heading into 2014. Want to stay ahead of the game? It’s time to listen up.

Our Technology Correspondent offers an in-depth look at how voice and mobility are driving speed and efficiency inside today’s more automated, multi-functional distribution operations.

The combination of financial necessity and commercial reality is further forcing top ocean carriers to shed their integrated logistics offerings and return to their core competencies. Meanwhile, a new alliance promises to further disrupt the global marketplace.

It’s early in the game, but warehouses and distribution centers are looking at new ways to use Big Data to maintain equipment, deliver services, and manage processes.

The editorial staff of Logistics Management (LM) is thrilled to once again have the winner of the NASSTRAC Shipper of the Year Award grace our October cover. For nearly 20 years, LM has partnered with NASSTRAC, one of the leading logistics and transportation advocacy organizations, to fix the spotlight on a savvy logistics operation that has demonstrated excellence in the execution of a strategy designed to advance their company’s business mission.

What’s a dim? It’s your domestic intermodal manager. If you don’t have one you might need one soon. Or better yet, you might want to consider a cross-functional team knowledgeable on domestic intermodal management.

Every year, more products are being produced by companies whose supply chain operations are intelligently linked with suppliers and business partners. Many of the machines that make those products are guided by advanced data analysis, decision science, and other smart technology. The people who consume those products are probably using digital connections to guide their choices and ultimately make a purchase.

The natural gas market outlook has been a frequent topic covered in this column over the last two years. Over this time, I have consistently argued that although natural gas is abundant, natural gas prices will inevitably rise because the costs of production do not support the “glut” prices that have resulted from the fracking boom.