By expanding the responsibilities of its 3PL and assigning it the role of lead logistics provider, Diebold quickly gains supply chain efficiency and global competitiveness.

With an economy that is clearly headed south, forecasting and demand planning will require new thinking, processes and technologies to keep supply chains running smoothly and efficiently.

Using on-demand collaborative tools, BAE Systems Submarine Solutions manages the inbound flow of commodity materials for the Royal Navy's newest class of submarines.

Cutting down and then replacing trees, building temporary bridges over rail lines and aluminum roads through farmland-these are just some of the logistics challenges that Quinn Chemical faced when it built a new plant in Germany.

As the construction industry and other project-centric businesses increasingly adopt state-of-the-art enterprise applications, they are transforming their supply chains to provide more visibility, less risk, lower total cost and stronger supplier relationships.

Dabbling in outsourcing may save a few dollars in the short term, but to make transformational improvements to a supply chain, companies need to make a long-term commitment to weaving outsourcing into the fabric of the business.