Technology

Public E-marketplaces Lose Momentum, So Vendors Focus on Private Networks

May 1, 2001

Company operated vertical exchanges that take a one-to-many approach are stealing the spotlight from the many-to-many e-marketplaces which proliferated last year. It is these private exchanges that will handle the bulk of B2B internet commerce in coming years, analysts say.

Clarity Brought to Window Maker's Supply Chain

May 1, 2001

Kurt C. Hoffman

Unreliable advance planning in the building trades, multiple manufacturing sites and the fragile nature of its products were just some of the logistics challenges faced by Pella Corp. It needed a total set of logistics solutions throughout its widespread enterprise.

Hershey Kisses Its Supply-chain Inefficiency Good-bye

April 1, 2001

Kurt C. Hoffman

Rapid growth, acquisition of a company with different distribution characteristics and a troubled ERP implementation created supply-chain problems for Hershey Foods in the late 1990s. A new strategy that focused on fulfillment speed and agility helped turn things around.

Optimization Engine Powers Ford's Supply Chain

February 1, 2001

Kurt C. Hoffman

One of the world's most complex automotive supply chains has been tamed with an optimization tool that links thousands of suppliers and service providers with the component requirements of Ford plants all over the globe.

Just What Is a 4PL Anyway?

August 1, 2000

Kurt C. Hoffman

Consultants and 3PLs differ on whether the trademarked term is a distinction without a difference, but they agree that there is a real need for a "supermanager" to run a company's logistics, knowledge base and IT systems.

Webvan: Rewriting The Rules On 'Last Mile' Delivery

August 1, 2000

Jean V. Murphy

Webvan Corp., with the help of its technology partners, has broken the code on guaranteed, self-scheduled home delivery. Here's how it gets the goods delivered within a promised 30-minute window and where it plans to take that achievement.

Ericsson Frees Capital By Restructuring Supply Chain

June 1, 2000

Kurt C. Hoffman

The consumer products division of Ericsson, the Swedish telecommunications giant, found additional dollars to invest in its capital-intensive business by outsourcing inbound logistics and shifting responsibility for inventory management to vendors.

With Critical Parts, Delivery is Counted In Hours, Not Days

June 1, 2000

Kurt C. Hoffman

Service parts providers may offer central warehousing, repairs or merely quick delivery, but OEMs are finding their networks essential to their continued operations.

At Cisco Systems, The Internet Is Both Business And Business Model

May 1, 2000

The market leader in networking hardware creates a single enterprise of channel partners, connected by the internet, with stunning results.

B2B Commerce Flocks to Electronic Trading Exchanges

March 1, 2000

Electronic trading exchanges, providing real-time access to critical data via the internet, may be the key to achieving true supply-chain integration.

Technology

The latest news, analysis and trends regarding technology solutions and their impact on supply chain management. New technologies in forecasting and demand planning, supply chain visibility, big data analytics, the internet of things (IoT), cloud and software as a service (SaaS), enterprise resource planning (ERP) and transportation management systems (TMS) and WMS are transforming the way companies do business - and allowing them to stay ahead of the competition in their industries. As these solutions continue to evolve, businesses are discovering new ways to increase efficiency and cut costs. Learn how companies around the world are improving operations through their strategic use of supply chain technology solutions.