Sedex Global, a specialist in aiding companies in the development of responsible and ethical business practices within their supply chains, has partnered with the World Bank Institute to develop the Open Supply Chain Platform.

A £100m fund to help companies strengthen their domestic supply chains and bring manufacturing back to the UK has opened for bids.

Supply chains in engineering and manufacturing lag ten years behind other industries. So says research by Lisa Harrington of lharrington group, who argues that engineering and manufacturing businesses must re-evaluate their approach to supply chain management and respond to their industry's driving trends to remain competitive in today's volatile business environment.

Over the past several decades, processes to design and build cars, airplanes and products used in various other industries have typically followed a linear, sequential path. This process typically started with product research, ideation and concept development, followed by design and development, prototype and validation, leading to production, launch, operation and, eventually, product retirement.

As consumers continue to demand more from retailers, the grocery industry should adapt and provide targeted shopping experiences tailored to specific consumer needs and changing demographics, according to PwC’s report titled, Front of the Line: how grocers can get ahead for the future. Based on a survey of more than 1,000 shoppers, the report shares insights on changing consumer segments, what they'll want for the future and what can be done today to keep them happy tomorrow.