Every six years, the U.S. West Coast ports negotiate and renew their labor contract with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). In 2002, a dispute caused major delays and port shutdowns. Again in 2014, protracted labor negotiations caused slowdowns and shutdowns throughout the West Coast. Read the full article…
In the life science and pharmaceutical area, an inefficient supply chain can cause serious problems including dangerous product degradation and late deliveries of life-saving medications. Third-party logistics (3PL) providers specialize in streamlining their customers’ supply chains by merging logistics expertise with state-of-the-art innovations. Read the full article…
Third-party logistics (3PL) providers specialize in maximizing their customers’ supply chain processes. In recent years, 3PLs have innovated their practices to extend the pharmaceutical supply chain for special projects, such as packaging and kitting. Vendor-managed inventory (VMI) is a natural evolution of these extended services. Read the full article…
The Internet revolutionized how people form and foster relationships. For years, companies have sought to translate this unprecedented customer connectivity into business success. Today, online and mobile commerce gives consumers the satisfaction of a quick and effortless shopping experience. In turn, this has transformed how companies manage their supply chains, since inventory availability and shipping times severely influence customer purchase decisions. Read the full article…
Third-party logistics (3PL) providers are brought in to handle the intimate details of their customers’ supply chains. The 2013 17th Annual Third-Party Logistics Study reported that 65 percent of its survey respondents use 3PL providers rather than insource their shipping needs. This represents a significant increase from prior years, which the study attributed to more companies recognizing the cost-savings that 3PLs offer. Read the full article…
