There's something about the number seven— the seven deadly sins, seven dwarves, seven wonders of the world, and seven habits of effective people all come to mind. Now we can add "The Seven Keys to Improving Distribution Productivity" to the list. That's the title of a free report released by consulting company Tom Zosel Associates (TZA) in March.

The report, which companies can request via the firm's Web site (www.tzaconsulting.com), says managers can boost productivity via the intelligent application of engineering, labor reporting software and execution management. But a summary posted on that same Web site indicates that not all of the tips focus on technology. Also included are such management chestnuts as: "Start with individual accountability," "Focus management's attention on the details," and "Train operators and supervisors for success."

Are U.S. corporations really lagging when it comes to distribution productivity? TZA argues that they are. "While many companies have significantly reduced operating costs and increased performance through productivity improvement programs, the majority of the market is still unaware of the potential that exists in their companies to realize substantial performance gains through productivity initiatives," says Evan Danner, president of TZA. "Companies can achieve double-digit productivity gains, at low risk, by applying a proven set of tools and techniques."