Supply Chain Integration & Technology

Energy efficiency and conservation are hot topics in all links of the supply chain. One article in this issue talks about how to save energy in a distribution center. We also read recently about how Toyota installed new systems in its paint booths that cut energy use by one-quarter and will pay for themselves in less than two years. Steps can be as simple as training employees to turn off lights in unoccupied areas, as complex as energy management systems with hundred of sensors that control an entire facility's energy use, and as far ranging as controlling fleet operations to minimize fuel. What steps is your company taking to reduce energy bills throughout the supply chain?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Supply Chain Integration & Technology, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Supply Chain Integration & Technology today.

Benchmarking your company's performance against your competitors provides a great beginning in the quest for improvement. But many organizations run into trouble almost from the get-go. A key issue is not being clear about why you're making the effort, and how to interpret the results. For example, you may take longer to fill an order than the competition, but you need to look more deeply at underlying reasons—are your orders more complex, are you more accurate? Does your company make effective use of benchmarking exercises?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Supply Chain Integration & Technology, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Supply Chain Integration & Technology today.

Efforts to green the supply chain are reportedly very costly, which may explain why so few companies are embracing the challenge. In addition, there are issues of dealing with a diverse set of suppliers scattered across the globe, with sometimes conflicting goals. Yet getting all the elements to work together towards the common goal of sustainability can be good for the bottom line, a company's image, and the planet. Is your operation striving to be green? What challenges have you faced?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Supply Chain Integration & Technology, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Supply Chain Integration & Technology today.

A growing number of companies are outsourcing increasing portions of their value-adding activities, managing their supply chains as if they were general contractors. As a result direct labor costs are dropping and purchased components are becoming a bigger percentage of manufacturing costs. Is this happening in your operations? How does this trend affect the way that you manage your supply chain?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Supply Chain Integration & Technology, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Supply Chain Integration & Technology today.

Young and old, it seems like almost everyone is in on the social networking craze these days. That's the overall term for things like Facebook and Twitter. Protests in Iran, contacts among friends, and marketing activities by companies large and small all make use of these nearly ubiquitous means of sharing information and opinion. When corporations get involved, issues arise of how to manage all the communications that are generated. Does your company use Twitter? Are there issues of data sensitivity? Is the IT department taking an active role?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Supply Chain Management, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Supply Chain Management today.