December, 2017

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Mike Rother: The Toyota Kata Practice Guide

The Lean Thinker

When I landed in Detroit last week to visit Menlo Innovations , Mike Rother picked me up at the airport. As soon as I settled in to the passenger’s seat, he handed me my long-anticipated copy of his new book The Toyota Kata Practice Guide. That is the first disclaimer here. The second disclaimer is that last winter he asked if I would do him a favor and take a look through the manuscript with a red pencil.

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9 Scary Challenges a Warehouse Manager Faces Every Day

Cyzerg

I came across a rather interesting fact about warehouse managers in a study by Intermec. It said that 1 out of 6 managers who were in charge of a warehouse were not likely to review their workflow processes unless a customer complaint is raised. And, it’s not hard to believe. However, contrary to what one may be led to believe, it is not always their fault.

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Fulfillment Year In Review: Most Popular Blogs Of 2017

Amware Logistics and Fulfillment

As a father of four, I’ve learned never to play favorites, especially at this time of year. But I’ll make an exception in this case. Following are the three most popular Amware blog posts on warehousing and fulfillment for 2017, based on readership. If you missed them the first time around, give them a read.

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Future-Proof Parcel Technology

Talking Logistics

Keeping up with consumer-driven demand can be exhausting. As consumers, we’re accustomed to being able to order almost anything we need or want, get it faster than ever, and track its every move. Great for us! But as supply chain professionals, the Amazon effect — with its omni-channel, next-day, full visibility pressures — puts a strain on the operation.

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Rethinking warehouse work culture: Can automation create better workplaces?

Heico Sandee, CEO of Smart Robotics, explores how automation redefines warehouse culture. By shifting repetitive tasks to skill-based roles, automation improves safety, fosters collaboration, and makes warehousing more appealing to today’s workforce.

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New Paper Published

Supply Chain and Logistics

We just published an article in Research in Transportation Business and Management (RTBM). It’s called Fleet management for rail car transport of ethanol. The “we” is Khalid Bachkar, Idrissu Aminu, Atif Osmani, and me.

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Toyota Kata and The Menlo Way

The Lean Thinker

I have been telling everyone who will listen to read Rich Sheridan’s book Joy, Inc. ever since I came across and read it in the fall of 2015. Fast forward to earlier this year when Lean Frontiers sent out their request for suggested keynote speakers for KataCon. I wrote to Mike Rother and asked him “Do you think we could get Rich Sheridan?”. Skip ahead a bit more, and I spent four days last week at Menlo Innovations in Ann Arbor – two days “ in the chalk circle ” paying close attention to the ac

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Carter Logistics Extends Lanetix with Robust Driver Retention Program

Carter Logistics

Carter Logistics Extends Lanetix with Robust Driver Retention Program. Using process automation, data and analytics to solve an industry problem San Francisco, California ( PRWEB ) December 6, 2017. After two years of success using Lanetix to manage its commercial operations, Carter Logistics has tapped Lanetix to build a more effective driver retention program.

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Amware Client Spotlight:  All In The Pillow's Comfy Pillow Lap Tray

Amware Logistics and Fulfillment

Amware has a new customer. And a pretty cool one at that. All In The Pillow™ has reinvented the lap tray. You know, those cumbersome, unstable trays for your your electronic devices, newspapers, work documents, and other items. The new twist: combine the tray with a pillow to deliver a stable and comfortable platform to get work done at home or on the go.

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Research in Focus: Sourcing Trends and Concerns

Talking Logistics

Editor’s Note: Our “ Research in Focus ” series highlights research conducted by select partners on timely and important trends impacting supply chain and logistics professionals today. Below is an excerpt from a report published recently by Amber Road and the American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI) titled “ The Trade Trends Report: 2017 Report on Sourcing, Trade, and e-commerce.

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Load Optimization: A Sustainable Way To Reduce Transportation Costs

Discover strategies to optimize load building and achieve significant transportation cost savings. Plus, learn how load optimization can help reduce CO 2 emissions and align with climate regulations and consumer expectations. Finally, discover best practices for sustainable load optimization.

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American Airlines glitch leaves 15,000 Christmas flights without a captain

Supply Chain and Logistics

Got this story by way of the Loadstar. Reading the story I am impressed by the level of incompetence management showed. But in the view of the traveler (customer) the union will be blamed.

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Numbers Don’t Lie—Demand is Driving Industry Growth

Stord

As we all know, the transportation sector is an integral part of the U.S. economy. It employs millions of people and comprises 8.9 percent of the nation’s economic activity as measured by gross domestic product (GDP). Despite advances in automation technology, work related to transportation, logistics and warehousing remains highly labor intensive. According to the Wall Street Journal , trucking companies hired 6,700 workers in March 2018, giving that sector the strongest sector growth since 201

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Only Action Reveals What Must Be Done

The Lean Thinker

I am reading Story by Robert McKee (because the structure of stories interests me). There is a profound passage which totally resonates with everything we discuss here. Every human being acts, from one moment to the next, knowingly or unknowingly, on his sense of probability, on what he expects, in all likelihood, to happen when he takes an action.

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Top 3 Priorities for Manufacturing Companies in 2018

GlobalTranz

Companies are hoping to continue their revenue growth in 2018 by setting priorities for manufacturing in 3 key areas. KLR has released the results of its annual manufacturing industry outlook report , and the optimism following last year’s elections will continue straight through 2017. With promises of tax reform, decreased federal regulations and looser trade agreements, manufacturers have slowly seen revenue growth throughout the U.S. markets.

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Autonomous AI Agents Are the Future of Procurement and Supply Chain Operations

As early as next year, procurement and supply chain operations will begin to adopt AI agents, often called “agentic AI,” to work alongside employees to make and execute decisions with precision across procurement and even the most complex global supply chains. Unlike LLM-based generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, these AI agents do not require prompts from humans.

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New eBook: How Many Warehouses Do You Really Need?

Amware Logistics and Fulfillment

Bigger is better, right? As the eCommerce fulfillment networks of the Amazons and WalMarts of the world get bigger and bigger with each passing day, you may feel that your own eCommerce footprint just isn't going to cut it. Does that mean that you need to expand as much as possible to try and keep up?

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Driving transformation in the postal Industry: Look at both culture and technology

AIMMS

Declining letter volumes and parcel competition are serious challenges faced by postal companies. Having a competitive supply chain is key to thrive, and survive, in this environment. How can postal companies make headway? The answer lies on changing culture as much as it does on rethinking technology. Change should start with culture and organizational alignment.

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Top 10 Talking Logistics Videos and Posts in 2017

Talking Logistics

As 2017 comes to an end, a quick thank you to all of our readers, followers, and sponsors for another great year of learning and conversation on Talking Logistics. The numbers speak for themselves: 43 episodes produced in 2017, totaling more than 1,200 minutes of conversations with thought leaders and newsmakers in the supply chain and logistics industry. 217 posts published on a wide range of timely and important industry topics, including the most comprehensive weekly news roundup in the indus

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UPS, FedEx Handle Record Holiday Surge with Minimal Delays

Material Handling and Logistics

On-time rate for items delivered by ground was 99.1% for UPS in the week ended Dec. 23, and FedEx’s rate was 98.7%. The rate was in the high 90s for each company for packages shipped by air.

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Freight Procurement Simplified: Bids from Hours to Minutes

Speaker: Eric Berdinis, Ran Sun, & Chris Chmielewski

Procuring freight can be cumbersome, time-consuming, and error-prone. If you’re frustrated with the complex and manual processes for obtaining bids for your contract and spot freight, you’re not alone. In today’s fast-moving supply chain environment, optimizing these processes is critical to staying competitive and cutting costs. Join this exclusive webinar with experts from Uber Freight to learn how the latest digital tools and automation can transform your freight procurement strategy by strea

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Portal único de Comércio Exterior beneficiará todos na cadeia de importação e exportação.

Now, That's Logistics

Com o Programa do Portal Único de Comércio Exterior, o Brasil lança novo processo de importação e exportação propício aos negócios entre fronteiras. Com a intenção de criar um ambiente mais amigável e propício aos negócios para as empresas que querem enviar e receber mercadorias através de suas fronteiras, o Brasil está implementando um novo portal único que beneficiará tanto os exportadores como os importadores.

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How is Technology Enhancing Supply Chain Management?

GlobalTranz

From RFID and Drones to Autonomous Vessels, new technologies are already transforming and enhancing supply chain. But how will these technologies revolutionize supply chain management in the coming years? Take a look at the interactive graphic below to find out. Author information Adam Robinson Adam Robinson oversees the overall marketing strategy for Cerasis including website development, social media and content marketing, trade show marketing, email campaigns, and webinar marketing.

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(Don’t) Supersize Me:  Finding the Best Fulfillment Company for Your Growing Business

Amware Logistics and Fulfillment

Remember Morgan Spurlock? He’s the filmmaker who spent a month eating nothing but McDonald’s food – and “supersizing” his portions whenever someone asked – only to wind up 24 pounds heavier. His experience is a fitting parallel for what tends to happen during many fulfillment provider searches, because without the right approach, it’s easy to get wowed by a provider’s size and technology, even though it may lack some of the essential requirements you need.

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Lingmo breaks down language barriers with IBM

PINC

Try to picture this scenario: you are in a foreign country, let’s say China, on a business trip. You don’t speak the language, don’t have any contacts, and are relying on a vanilla translation app on your phone to help you get out and about. Then, something unexpected happens: your passport gets stolen. You rush to the police station, try to communicate with the officers… and let’s just say it doesn’t go very well.

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How to Drive Cost Savings, Efficiency Gains, and Sustainability Wins with MES

Speaker: Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions

Is your manufacturing operation reaching its efficiency potential? A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) could be the game-changer, helping you reduce waste, cut costs, and lower your carbon footprint. Join Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions, in this value-packed webinar as he breaks down how MES can drive operational excellence and sustainability.

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KANE Expands National Capability for Wine Logistics with Acquisition of Vintners Logistics

Kane is Able

KANE’s planned acquisition of Vintners Logistics , based in Kennewick, WA, adds to the company’s strong wine logistics expertise. It also expands KANE’s national network, providing a strategic foothold in the Pacific Northwest and giving customers an ability to put product closer to customers.

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This Week in Logistics News (December 11-15, 2017)

Talking Logistics

One week to go before we go on hiatus for the holidays, which means I have one week to finish a million things on my “To Do” list. So, without delay, here’s the supply chain and logistics news that caught my attention this week with some brief commentary: Target to Buy Grocery Delivery Startup Shipt for $550 Million (WSJ – sub. req’d). Supervalu expands Instacart program to all of its retail stores (StarTribune).

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Wine Consumption Surges, Creating Opportunity for 3PLs

Food Logistics

People have been drinking wine for 10 millennia. Modern logistics makes it easier to enjoy around the globe.

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The Top 7 Trucking Trends in 2017 | Leading the Industry

GlobalTranz

Change is one of the most constant things to beware of when planning for your business, career, or future investments. It’s already clear that 2017 is in no way an exception to this rule. With 3.5 million truckers on the road as we speak, the changes this industry is seeing has a significant effect on nearly every aspect of the American economy and way of life.

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How To Set Up Innovation So That It Aligns With And Enables Corporate Strategy

Speaker: Paul Heller

Most innovation work proceeds independently from company strategy. As a result, the products that arrive in the market are not well aligned with the company’s goals. This challenge is particularly significant in organizations with transformation-oriented strategies, where innovation must directly support growth, scalability, and strategic pivots. In this session, we will discuss why innovation in large companies is so often not aligned with the company’s strategy and what innovation leaders, pro

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Shipping Large Items:  Five DOs And DON’Ts Of Heavy Goods Fulfillment

Amware Logistics and Fulfillment

The Grinch didn’t realize it at the time, but when he uttered the famous words “It came without packages, boxes or bags,” he was summing up the heavy goods industry’s most notable supply chain challenge – economically shipping large items. The online buying revolution is not limited to items that neatly fit inside a parcel delivery box. Even the most “industrial” of businesses are shifting their marketing and fulfillment operations to cater to the online buyer.

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Burning incense at a new altar – a year of ‘Logistics In War’

Logistics in War

By David Beaumont. Thank you for your patronage of Logistics In War and the interest given to the works of authors who have invested personal time and effort to write about a subject of profound importance to military readiness and operational performance. The engagement achieved across a wide variety of logistics issues, told from the perspective of a range of military experiences in different militaries and contexts, has been an incredibly positive sign.

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Driving transformation in the postal industry: Look at both culture and technology

AIMMS

Declining letter volumes and parcel competition are serious challenges faced by postal companies. Having a competitive supply chain is key to thrive, and survive, in this environment. How can postal companies make headway with digital transformation? The answer lies on changing culture as much as it does on rethinking technology. Change should start with culture and organizational alignment.