Employers everywhere seem to struggle with the concept of employee engagement. In a recent Gallup Poll, it was determined that only 25 percent of manufacturing employees can be described as engaged. Engagement means different things to different folks; however, in simplest terms, it can be summarized as an effort to provide an environment where everyone contributes toward the success of the organization and feels good about doing so. Only 25 percent of manufacturing employees can be described as “engaged” in the workplace. Through a discussion with Kerwin Everson, VP, Supply Chain Solutions at RMG Networks, this eBook will explore the employee engagement dilemma many companies are facing, how they are attempting to address this problem today and solutions proposed by RMG Networks to improve employee engagement, increase retention and foster a culture of performance.
Read More →Siemens AX4 logistics platform keeps business on track
As a provider of integrated logistics services in the railway industry, DB Cargo Logistics is responsible for managing the complete transport chain of its customers. To meet the highest customer expectations, DB Cargo Logistics wanted to implement a SCM solution that enables seamless, end-to-end monitoring of rail transports involving various rail carriers. As a leading provider of innovative sorting products, technology, and solutions, Siemens Postal, Parcel & Airport Logistics (SPPAL) proved its AX4 cloud-based logistics platform to keep DB Cargo on track. Siemens AX4 logistics platform brought many layers and levels of operation together for DB Cargo Logistics, including: Mapping train, railcar and container structures Defining schedules rail freightservices Import of real-time tracking data from all logisticspartners Tracking information for their entire rail network The company-wide integration resulted in improved routes for many prominent automotive customers, and more reliable processes and smooth workflows with lower management. Additionally, AX4 is offered as a cloud solution, so there is no need for on-site installation. The Siemens AX4 platform has become a critical tool for the retention of DB Cargo Logistics customers, and a way to help DB Cargo successfully boost daily efficiency, quality, and performance. To find out how you can manage your complete supply and delivery chain with one click, visit http://www.axit.de/en/digitalization for more information.
Read More →Leadership Spotlight: Randy Kesterson, SVP, Operations & Supply Chain, Cobham
We are thrilled to have Randy Kesterson join us at the American Supply Chain Summit, on April 9-10 in Dallas, TX. He will be delivering a plenary session on “How to Change an Organization: Addressing Failures and the Key to Lead Real Change,” in which he will explore why most supply chain transformations fail and what you can do about it, using examples from both failures and successes in his own career.
Read More →Managing the Talent Pipeline: A New Approach to Closing the Skills Gap
America’s education and workforce systems are failing to keep pace with the economy and the new skill sets it requires. The ‘skills gap’ is the disconnect between what skills employers need and what prospective employees are prepared to do. We have people without jobs and jobs that can’t find the right people U.S. employers are increasingly reporting problems finding qualified workers. A poll of 500 American executives by staffing solutions company Adecco found that 92 percent of executives believe there is a serious gap in workforce skills, and nearly 50 percent are struggling to fill jobs. In manufacturing alone, more than 75 percent of manufacturers report a moderate-to-severe shortage of skilled workers, according to a recent study by Accenture and the Manufacturing Institute.
Read More →4 Essential Ingredients that Go Into Successful IoT Asset Tracking and Workflow Optimization Solutions
Do any of the following statements describe your situation? I don’t have a way to efficiently orchestrate our complex workflows of materials, tools, and people I can’t track the location or condition of my assets, or prevent them from getting lost or stolen I have no idea how to leverage our partner relationships and tie into their inventory systems I don’t have a good way of keeping my operational costs in check Many enterprises have implemented IoT solutions simply for technology’s sake and, after the novelty wore off, operators were left with yet one more system to learn, maintain, and pay off. Many of these solutions added unnecessary operational complexity that forced enterprises to shift focus from their core competencies. Choose an IoT tracking and workflow optimization solution that incorporates the following 4 essential ingredients: Robust and battle-tested tech; True cross-boundary asset and workflow management; Industry-centricity engineered into the solution; A goal-driven approach. Read more, via Cloudleaf: http://bit.ly/2p8xDDi
Read More →QReview Supply Chain Industry Predictions for 2018
Stay ahead of trends in the supply chain industry by reading the latest edition of QReview, a supply chain industry publication created by Transportation Impact. This issue features the 2018 Qforecast, their predictions for the year ahead. Articles include: Partner Spotlight: Industrial Fleet Management – Industrial Fleet Management helps companies that operate their own fleets save money in ways they didn’t know were possible LTL Looking Strong in 2018 – Read about the potential changes shippers can expect to see in the coming year. The Customer Wants it NOW – There’s a revolution rumbling into gear in last mile logistics. Here’s a look at how this crucial segment could change in 2018. The Full (Truckload) Story – The truckload industry is seeing strong demand and is finally in a position of strength with shippers again. But will other industry headwinds prevent rates from continuing to rise? UPS and FedEx GRIs – Things have changed. The announced GRIs from FedEx and UPS mean shippers should reevaluate their routing guides. Click through below to read QReview.
Read More →Supplier Quality Management: SQM’s Rightful Role in Your Enterprise
While there are many ways to define quality, the most important definition of quality is from the customer’s perspective – perceived quality – as this impacts brand loyalty, revenue, market share, and margins. When customers directly engage with a product, they consciously and subconsciously compare it to previous experiences with similar and dissimilar products. Indirect experiences also influence perceived quality, such as by brand image and social media.
Read More →E-commerce Puts Increased Pressure on CPG Supply Chains
A new report authored by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and commissioned by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) shows that online shopping, new digital technologies, and increasing channel fragmentation are intensifying the pressures on US consumer packaged goods (CPG) supply chains. The report, How CPG Supply Chains are Preparing for Seismic Change, is based on the findings of an in-depth benchmarking study of more than 30 leading CPG companies.
Read More →Managing an Inter-generational Workforce
At the American Manufacturing Summit, Dirk Hilgenberg, VP, Assembly at BMW, shared this chart showing changes in the composition of the civilian labor force from 2004 to 2024. As you can see, the population of workers age 25-34 will remain relatively stable, there will be a decline in those aged 45-54, but as some people live and work longer, there will actually be an increase of those aged 65 and older in the workforce. The result, Hilgenberg says, is that by 2024, we will have three generations of workers on the shop floor with completely different value sets, interests, and abilities. This represents a huge challenge for leadership, team dynamics, and incentives.
Read More →4 Types of Supply Chain Risk and How to Address Them
As a Corporate Sourcing & Logistics Executive at NBCUniversal, Mark Pierson is responsible for the strategic sourcing of suppliers and the implementation and management of contracts and processes to ensure that NBCUniversal uses efficient and effective logistics and compliance procedures in all of their global operations. These include home entertainment, television and theatrical production and distribution, NBC News, Sports, Olympics, and theme park divisions. Evidently, NBCUniversal has a tremendously complicated supply chain and one that sources from manufacturing, retail, food services, and more. Risk is inherent in any business, but in a global company with such varied business units, the number of risks to plan for are limitless. Pierson scans the news each morning and uses the VUCA method to classify types of risk and what response they warrant. This method asks two questions: How much do you know about the situation? How well can you predict the results of your actions? When Pierson came to the American Supply Chain Summit last year, he shared some of his experience and the supply chain and logistical risks he was facing that week alone in his talk on “Seeing the Big Picture: Gaining Visibility Across your Supply Chain”.
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