Companies are finally beginning to take advantage of labor-management systems in their distribution centers. Lou Cerny, vice president of Sedlak Consultants, describes the rate of adoption, and advises on why, when and how to implement LMS in your own operation.

Westfalia Technologies Inc., a provider of logistics applications for manufacturers, warehouses and distribution centers, has launched the Savanna.NET Warehouse Execution System.

Evan Danner, president of TZA, explains why it's essential for companies today to employ sophisticated labor-planning and optimization systems on the plant floor and in the warehouse.

Cognex Corp., a vendor of machine-vision technology, has developed a new system for reading 2D matrix and Direct Part Mark (DPM) barcodes.

InkaFarma has an ambitious plan to nearly double the number of stores it operates in Peru, with an emphasis on opening up new locations in some of the country's remotest areas. To make that happen, the company needed both a new, automated distribution center and a warehouse-management system with which to run it.

Innovation of the Year: Disruptive technology products must get to market faster than ever, and a product innovation center at Flextronics reconfigures the supply chain to do just that. Runner-up: Sears Holdings Corp. Finalists: Intel, Fast Logistics, Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council