It's an often overlooked area of the supply chain, with a woeful record of success. Josefin Aspegren, marketing director with Optilon, talks about the challenge of assessing the efficacy of trade-promotion programs.

In July 2009, Airbus became the first commercial aircraft manufacturer to announce plans to employ permanent radio frequency identification tags on parts for its A350 XWB aircraft. Approximately 3,000 serialized, replaceable, repairable parts with a limited lifespan were covered. To date, the company has received and successfully tested its RFID tagged parts as the first A350 XWB aircraft make their way through the production process. Now, Airbus is the first aircraft manufacturer to expand the permanent tagging of selected parts across its entire fleet.

Larry Lapide, research affiliate at MIT's Center for Transportation and Logistics, employs a maritime metaphor to dramatize the pressing need for companies to implement an effective sales and operations planning (S&OP) process.

Aldata has developed the Aldata Omni-Shopper Suite, an integrated set of software applications aimed at retailers and manufacturers of fast-moving consumer goods.

Inventory optimization might seem like an old concept, but many companies fail to apply it properly, especially in the area of multi-echelon inventory management. Karin Bursa, vice president of marketing with Logility, details IO's key benefits and challenges.

JustEnough Software, a vendor of demand-management applications for retailers, distributors and brand owners, has launched its new Promotion Management tool.

Canadian luxury leather goods retailer Danier Leather is piloting a radio frequency identification system at three of its Toronto-area stores, intended to ensure that products are replenished on the sales floor as they are sold to customers, as well as reduce the number of labor hours related to counting inventory.

Intermec Inc. has created the CK3 Next Generation Series of rugged mobile computers.

DB Schenker has opened a logistics academy in China to train local employees.

Epicor Software Corp. has developed several new products, two of them for the automotive aftermarket.