Are companies really shifting their manufacturing operations out of China and back to the West? The answer isn't a simple one, says Akhil Oltikar, vice president of supply chain solutions at Riverwood Solutions. He looks at the many issues that global manufacturers take into account when deciding where to site their operations.

Brad Van De Sompele, president at Frontier Electric Supply in Bensenville, Ill., is one long-time member of the National Association of electrical Distributors who's not afraid of Amazon's advances into the electrical industry.

High-tech companies expect robust growth in their industry, and they're preparing for it by weighing a broader range of factors when building their manufacturing supply chain networks, according to the fifth annual UPS Change in the (Supply) Chain (CITC) survey.

Consumers often balk at the prospect of trading in old versions of equipment, while vendors do their best to encourage the move. Steve Brown, global product lifecycle manager with Hewlett-Packard Co., offers tips on how to manage trade-programs for old and out-of-warranty products.

Lean is a never-ending process, says Mike Buseman, chief global logistics and operations officer with Avnet Inc. He explains how the company operates in a state of continuous improvement.

As director of sales and operations planning with Radisys Corp., Lisa Aleman has multiple responsibilities for managing the company's supply chain. She underscores the importance of having oversight of both supply and demand.