How well is your logistics spend area organized? Recently, logistics spend management has been moving toward a more centralized approach than has been taken in the past. If spend management is handled under a global logistics purchasing organization, redundancies are less-likely, and cost-saving opportunities are more likely to be identified. This article from Purchasing Magazine dives [...]
To follow up on yesterday’s post about managing your third-party logistics provider, here’s an article from Supply & Demand Chain Executive that brings up some good points on the type of relationship you should have with your 3PL: Why You Don’t Want an Obedient 3PL. Collaboration is key for these type of relationships. Shippers should [...]
Manufacturers use third-party logistics providers (3PLs) to manage some or all of their supply chain functions. It is important for manufacturers to monitor what their 3PLs are doing, since those logistics providers generally have direct contact with both the final product and the customer base, and if either of those are handled carelessly, problems could [...]
Here’s another feature article on Perry Ellis, who has been referenced in earlier posts. Prior to implementing a solution from Management Dynamics, Perry Ellis was manually auditing their freight bills, and significant over-charges were slipping through the cracks. According to their VP of Corporate Logistics: The company has been able to identify and resolve about [...]
In today’s economy, corporations have been making an effort to cut costs in any way that they can. IT spending has apparently intercepted a large portion of these cuts. According to the 2009 Software Survey, done by Logistics Management, 41% of respondents reported scrutinizing every cent of a potential investment before committing, and 34% said [...]
Finally, some good news for container lines. The seasonal rise in cargo volumes is expected to raise transportation rates, according to Logistics Management. For shippers, this is both good and bad news. Although they will most likely face higher prices, the risk of shipping goods will be lowered as shipping companies become more stable, and [...]
With the economic downturn, it is no secret that the transportation industry has been hit hard. This in turn presents a risky environment for the shippers whose businesses depend on those suffering transportation providers. The Journal of Commerce recently ran a story highlighting the risks that importers and exporters face when selecting a carrier. While [...]
