Eliminating supply chain risk is the primary driver for sustainability initiatives and industry collaboration is the biggest opportunity according to a recent report published by Ethical Corporation titled "Sustainable Supply Chain Trends 2015." The report features insight from 415 CSR and supply chain professionals primarily based in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.

French heating systems component manufacturer Temiq added near field communication RFID technology to its de-sludging equipment for use in boilers, in order to enable its customers to better track the conditions of the equipment they use.

Reshoring is delivering wide-ranging benefits for an increasing number of U.S. manufacturers, who see it as a way to maintain (or regain) global competitiveness. According to the Reshoring Initiative, in 2003 about 140,000 jobs were lost to offshoring. In 2014, for the first time in two decades, the U.S. realized a net gain of 10,000 reshored jobs.

Tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold, also known as 3TG, are essential for manufacturing in a number industries, including electronics, jewelry, industrial manufacturing, automotive and aerospace.

With so many channels to juggle, merchandisers today are finding it difficult to manage multiple pockets of inventory, and satisfy customers regardless of how they order product. Burton White, vice president of industry supply chains with Chainalytics, shares some tips on how this goal can be met.