International trade supports millions of American jobs and is essential to the U.S. economy, the National Retail Federation says in a report that provides a state-by-state breakdown of the benefits of trade. According to NRF, trade supports nearly seven million retail jobs and benefits American businesses, families and workers.
In 2014, losses in Europe, the Middle East and Africa as a result of cargo theft totaled $80m, according to the Transported Asset Protection Association. TAPA reported an average of three major cargo crimes occurred each day in 2014, targeting high-value, easy-to-steal goods in the supply chain, with an average loss of $221,000 each day.
In the manufacturing environment of today, robotics are now playing a significant role, taking on jobs beyond assembly and helping to drive efficiency, consistency, and productivity across the supply chain.
Rising healthcare costs, competitive industry pressures, and concerns over stable power supplies in the face of recent severe natural disasters have generated a new and concentrated focus on the ways in which healthcare facilities procure, use and manage energy, according to a report from Navigant Research. These forces are driving governments and organizations to adopt new technologies to monitor and control energy use in in healthcare facilities. Global healthcare facility energy management system revenue is expected to grow from $948.8m annually in 2015 to $2.2bn in 2024.
If the past 12 months saw a dramatic increase in data breach activity, then the year ahead promises to bring an entirely new set of concerns - and a shift in how companies are responding to the cyber threat.
Every start-up faces the moment when growth demands a more complex organization. But how does a company stay agile, innovative and non-bureaucratic while making that transition? Alex Pierroutsakos, vice president of supply chain and analytics with Stellium, Inc., offers some advice.
China is one of the fastest-growing markets, and small business owners shouldn't be intimidated by perceived complexity around regulations or not being able to connect with a new culture and customer base. By thoughtfully making small changes to business and marketing methods as well as taking advantage of the myriad resources available, entrepreneurs can easily navigate these international waters.