U.S. manufacturers are lagging their European counterparts in the adoption of creative approaches to supply-chain finance. But three companies are demonstrating the varied ways in which that tool can be effectively deployed.
Phillip D. Yeager never gave serious thought to walking away from the family business. He’s part of the third generation to work at Hub Group, Inc., the Chicago area-based transportation management company with current revenues of nearly $4bn.
We have fantastically accurate information available quickly about all sorts of things in the supply chain — but these nodes of data-gathering are like narrowly-focused spotlights on an otherwise dark stage.
Suppliers existing on already thin margins are fearful of being beaten down on price by powerful buyers. So why would they embrace reserve auctions, which end up awarding contracts to the cheapest bidder?