The situation was simple and understood by all local parties: Shipment must be re-sent, cargo was stolen. While this was apparently a common occurrence in that particular country, the nonchalant attitude toward serious cargo theft raised my eyebrows.

Manufacturers today face increasingly complex challenges, from economic instability to compliance pressures and heightened global competition.

What should we call those behind-the-scenes entities that manufacture a wide range of electronics products on behalf of brands?

On January 25, the year of the Pig ends and the year of the Rat begins. The official celebration runs from January 25-30, and during that time tens of millions of workers will travel to celebrate with their families.

With each passing year, the use of technology in manufacturing continues to grow, and blue-collar job requirements become more sophisticated, further widening the skills gap.

The seafood industry is plagued by poor management, malpractices and the inability to track product from origin to consumption.

As consumers become more eco-conscious, they push brands to adopt more sustainable practices. Many have responded by increasing their reliance on returnable industrial packaging.

IBM is bringing artificial intelligence and blockchain technology to bear on supply-chain management — with a twist.

Earlier this year, the University of California sued Amazon, Walmart, Target and other major retailers for alleged infringement of four university patents related to “filament” LED light bulbs.