Table of Contents: August 2009
Home Depot's supply chain remodel
For three decades, the world's largest home improvement chain operated without anything resembling a conventional distribution network. Now it's scrambling to turn that fixer-upper system into a showplace.
For three decades, the world's largest home improvement chain operated without anything resembling a conventional distribution network. Now it's scrambling to turn that fixer-upper system into a showplace.
doing what's right: interview with Vice Admiral Al ThompsonHe has P&L responsibility for an operation roughly the size of a Sunoco or Lockheed Martin. But Vice Admiral Alan Thompson says his top priority is making sure the Defense Logistics Agency does what's right for America's armed forces.
juice them for all they're worthLooking to keep your lift-truck batteries going and going and going? The secret's in the maintenance and charging.
movin' on... and on... and on"Continuous moves" distribution strategies aren't for everyone. But under the right conditions, they can produce double-digit transportation savings.
keeping track of frozen assetsSeveral years of double-digit growth left Frozen Gourmet, a small California frozen food distributor, scrambling to keep tabs on inventory. Then it learned about a promising—but untried—new solution.
more green, less green?Transportation interests worry that cap-and-trade environmental legislation will do little more than lighten their wallets.
productivity gains without (labor) painIt's widely assumed that a union work force won't accept engineered labor standards. But if you work within the contract and bring the union in from the start, you might be surprised.
Voices
Basic Training: the hard work of managing diversity
DC operations are turning to non-traditional sources for labor, and that brings new challenges for management.
DC operations are turning to non-traditional sources for labor, and that brings new challenges for management.
Outbound: got a shovel?
Remember that bold plan to solve America's infrastructure woes by funding "shovel ready" projects? It appears some of those shovels weren't quite as ready as we were led to believe.
Remember that bold plan to solve America's infrastructure woes by funding "shovel ready" projects? It appears some of those shovels weren't quite as ready as we were led to believe.
Big Picture: give freight a voice
As the next surface transportation bill takes shape, it is imperative that freight have a seat at the table and a voice in the outcome.
As the next surface transportation bill takes shape, it is imperative that freight have a seat at the table and a voice in the outcome.
Fastlane: vested interests
In the outsourcing world, a genuinely new concept comes along only once every 10 years or so. I have a feeling Vested Outsourcing is one of them.
In the outsourcing world, a genuinely new concept comes along only once every 10 years or so. I have a feeling Vested Outsourcing is one of them.
Inbound
how old is your handheld?
Ryzex and Psion Teklogix are offering a reward for the oldest working bar-code scanner.
Ryzex and Psion Teklogix are offering a reward for the oldest working bar-code scanner.
the doctor is in ... the container
A 40-foot ocean container has a new use: housing a medical clinic in El Salvador.
A 40-foot ocean container has a new use: housing a medical clinic in El Salvador.
2009: a material handling odyssey
NASA photos show it takes more than thrusters and rocket launchers to get a space mission off the ground.
NASA photos show it takes more than thrusters and rocket launchers to get a space mission off the ground.
the name of the (logistics) game
"Scott Riddle" seems to be an unusually popular name among logistics executives.
"Scott Riddle" seems to be an unusually popular name among logistics executives.
Frito-Lay chips in for Women in Trucking
Frito-Lay has signed on as the first major corporate sponsor of Women in Trucking.
Frito-Lay has signed on as the first major corporate sponsor of Women in Trucking.
Newsworthy
benchmarking at your convenience
WERC's interactive benchmarking tool lets you compare your operations with those of your peers.
WERC's interactive benchmarking tool lets you compare your operations with those of your peers.
Mr. Smith flexes his muscle in Washington
FedEx chairman scores Senate victory in battle against proposed labor law changes.
FedEx chairman scores Senate victory in battle against proposed labor law changes.
MCFA, Jungheinrich ink North American manufacturing and distribution agreement
MCFA will act as exclusive distributor of Jungheinrich's branded equipment across the continent, while Jungheinrich will design products that will be manufactured by MCFA.
MCFA will act as exclusive distributor of Jungheinrich's branded equipment across the continent, while Jungheinrich will design products that will be manufactured by MCFA.
Continuing Education
getting a world view
University of Tennessee's Center for Executive Education launches Global Supply Chain Executive M.B.A.
University of Tennessee's Center for Executive Education launches Global Supply Chain Executive M.B.A.
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