May 2, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Just when I thought I’d heard and seen everything, I learned something new.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been talking to commercial aerospace and defense contractors like Boeing, Airbus and Lockheed Martin about how they’re applying RFID technologies, especially in their maintenance, repair and overhaul operations.

At Modern, we write often about RFID in the retail supply chain or in automotive assembly lines. But some of the most innovative ...Read More

April 29, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

What’s the most critical issue facing the materials handling industry today?

By my way of thinking, it’s not $100+ per gallon oil. No, I think it’s the changing demographics of the country’s workforce. Many industries are talking about the worker shortage they’re going to face over the next few years. The financial planning industry, for instance, estimates it’ll be short 50,000 planners in the coming years to deal with the needs of retiring baby boomers; the accounting industry is predicting similar shortages in its profession.

Talk to people in our industry and the impact is already being felt. At NA 200...Read More

April 24, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

RFID in the retail space has been quiet for the last few years. But since Sam’s Club announced its plans for RFID, there is renewed energy and interest among suppliers who will have to meet the new requirements.

There are at least two key differences this time around, compared to the Wal-Mart RFID requirement of a few year’s ago, says Bill Bulzoni, Zebra Technologies director of Global Business Development.

First, Sam’s Club’s plans include a move to item-level tagging in relatively short order. “Wal-Mart wanted to tag at the case and pallet level, so suppliers could make that ...Read More

April 22, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Almost everywhere you turn, the economic news is grim. But when the going gets tough, the best companies often look for ways to improve their operations to save money today, and position themselves to take market share when things rebound.

With that in mind, I asked three supply chain analysts for the kinds of projects they think can deliver an ROI and competitive advantage in a tough economy: Steve Banker, service director, supply chain management for ARC Advisory Group; Greg Aimi, director of supply chain research, for AMR Research; and Ian Hobkirk, senior analyst, supply chain execution, Aberdeen Group.

Look at the ROI

April 17, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

How many engineers does it take to design a better unit load?

Eight.

That’s how many students are currently earning degrees in a systems-based approach to unit load design at Virginia Tech’s Center for Unit Load Design.

“It’s not many,” says Marshall White, Ph.D., a professor emeritus and former director of the center who created the program. “But it’s a start.”

When they ...Read More