Among the ways technology is evolving to bring greater productivity to the DC is in providing ergonomic features to forklifts and other equipment, says Bill Pfleger, president of Yale Distribution.

Mergers and acquisitions are common in the business world, but each move brings its own set of challenges. As a company buys key competitors or suppliers, it is often left with the task of consolidating very different warehouse management systems.

The Offshore Group of Tucson, Arizona, has entered into a long-term relationship for the provision of outsourced manufacturing support, or "shelter," services in Mexico with UK-based manufacturer, J.J. Churchill Ltd. The British firm, a precision machinist for aerospace OEMs, will install production capacity in The Offshore Group's Roca Fuerte Industrial Park in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. The term of the contract between the two parties is for 10 years.

Plans for a new distribution center near Philadelphia will allow Dollar General to more effectively replenish its rapidly expanding store base.

Top-level executives from more than a dozen major U.S. companies joined with government officials to launch a nationwide public-private sector initiative to advance employment of people with disabilities. The companies and officials plan to work together to achieve common goals, including to identify and resolve employment barriers facing people with disabilities, share experience and best practices, raise visibility around the effort and awareness of the significant benefits, and expand participation.

Costly coding requirements have limited adoption of voice technology, but that is changing, says Steve Gerrard, vice president, marketing and strategy, Voxware. The technology is truly adaptive now, which is a key buying criterion.

SDV, a global leader in supply chain, is about to complete a "green" four-story, ramp-up warehouse that is in compliance with the highest environmental standards, the company says.

Mojix Inc. has made generally available a new version of its STAR 300 System, offering real-time tracking capabilities for supply chains.

One Network Enterprises has introduced ONE Parcel Management, as part of the vendor's ONE Intelligent Logistics suite of software applications.