Supply Chain Management

As the economy continues to gradually show signs of improvement, retail-based shippers are being proactive in shifting from cost-cutting to growth. That was one of the main findings of the Third Annual State of the Retail Supply Chain report by The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and Auburn University.

The January NMI—at 57.3—is up 0.5 percent over January and is at its highest level since reaching 58.3 in January 2011.

The January NMI—at 57.3—is up 0.5 percent over January and is at its highest level since reaching 58.3 in January 2011. A reading above 50 represents growth.

Dealing with challenges and the unknown is considered a given for supply chain and logistics managers. When the unexpected happens, it is imperative that they are taking steps to manage risks in an efficient and proper manner. But according to a report from Accenture and the World Economic Forum, entitled “New Models for Addressing Supply Chain and Transport Risk,” that is not always the case.

Data from Panjiva showed gains from December to January for both United States-bound waterborne shipments and the number of manufacturers shipping to the U.S.

The January NMI—at 56.8—is up 3.8 percent over December’s and is at its highest level since reaching 56.3 in March 2011.

For every shipper, the topic of supply chain security is always top of mind. That is why I was not entirely surprised to see today that the White House has issued what it’s calling the “National Strategy for Supply Chain Security.”

As China strides into the Year of the Dragon, its economy is in the midst of an aggressive slowdown, warns IHS Global Insight economists.

In the freight transportation world, one of the most predictable things over the years is the unpredictable nature of the price per gallon of diesel fuel. That is the case once again now, given the fluctuation in fuel prices in recent months.

Seattle-area based Pacific Alaska Freightways (PAF), a provider of freight transportation services to Alaska, including steamship, barge, rail, air, truckload, less-than-truckload, and intermodal, said that it has officially acquired Southern Alaska Forwarding, a freight consolidator serving Kodiak and Cordova, Alaska from Seattle.

The December edition of Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) Manufacturing Report on Business pointed to manufacturing growth finishing 2011 on a positive note.

Logistics Management Group News Editor Jeff Berman recently spoke with Dachser USA President and CEO Frank Guenzerodt about how the $5 billion global 3PL is approaching its U.S growth strategy.

As 2011 winds down, there has been a fair amount of optimism of late when it comes to the economy. But as we know there are road blocks, too, of course.

DHL Global Forwarding, a subsidiary of global logistics and express delivery provider Deutsche Post DHL focused on air and ocean freight, has made it clear it is committed to expanding its presence in the United States market.

Slight signs of economic stability appeared to take hold on the global trade front from October to November, according to data from Panjiva.