The ABCs of DCs Distribution Center Management: A Best Practices Overview

whitePaper | November 14, 2022

The Industrial Internet of Things is shaking up the world of manufacturing and all of its supply chains. Thanks to IoT devices and the steady rollout of 5G connectivity, companies have an unprecedented look into the health of the shop floor, can monitor for shipping-disruptive weather conditions, and can plan maintenance to ensure the least amount of downtime. These sensors are an absolute revolution, but there’s a dark side to the sensors as well. Manufacturers must consider new cybersecurity concerns as each new IoT device represents a potential weak point in the company’s network. Each device presents a tempting target for hackers who are looking to break into the network, but focusing on the individual devices is the wrong answer to the problem. The solution should be a secure network using a zero-trust model.

whitePaper | September 1, 2022

A tale as old as industrialization itself. The former driven by producers, the latter by consumers. Every business is subject to the supply and demand paradigm, but manufacturing organizations in particular, since they determine the supply side of the equation. When we talk about “demand,” we are talking about the quantity of a specific good or service that consumers are willing and able to purchase during a given period of time. When we talk about “supply,” we are talking about the quantity of that specific good or service that is available to consumers.

whitePaper | May 12, 2022

The Covid-19 pandemic, plant shutdowns, delays at borders and transportation bottlenecks have all come together in a perfect storm to create an unprecedented level of disruption in global supply chains. Torpedoed delivery schedules and material shortages have become the norm rather than the exception. All these factors have highlighted the importance of effective supply chain management to keep global commerce moving. Importantly, they have also accelerated the widespread adoption of best practices that are integral to a sustainable supply chain.

whitePaper | September 12, 2022

The supply chains of many organizations are becoming increasingly complex. At the same time, potential business risks around supply chains are growing, due to increasing regulations regarding supply chain security, emerging cybersecurity risks, international sanctions, environmental and carbon concerns, product quality issues, climate-related weather events, increasing supply costs, and numerous other potential disruptors. Most organizations don’t fully understand their supply chain. Companies often underestimate the number of businesses, actors, and countries involved in different stages of producing their products. A security or production vulnerability in just one part of a given product’s chain could have a huge impact on an organization’s production, mission, or business if something were to interfere with the supply.

whitePaper | November 24, 2022

As brand owners, product developers or packaging designers for consumer goods, sustainability is becoming an essential dimension. It is also an opportunity for entrepreneurial innovation. Now available in most smartphones, NFC technology connects products to the digital world while enabling innovative sustainability initiatives. It uniquely allows batteryless, wireless communication using one single electronic component: the chip.

whitePaper | May 10, 2022

Supply chain sustainability can mean different things to different people. In general, however, it implies the shaping of a company’s investment, operational and procurement decisions to achieve positive environmental, social and governance outcomes and the reduction of harm. That can cover many issues from climate action to labour standards. Corporate action on sustainable supply chains has accelerated in recent years, and policy-maker attention is also deepening. This white paper charts major policy developments and gathers business views on what is needed.