When it comes to supply chain challenges, whether it be shipment delays, customs congestions, increased premium freight costs, supply and demand variability, quality issues — a lot can and does go wrong. Recent volatility as a result of the pandemic and now the crisis in Ukraine has exacerbated supply chain disruptions and complexity, creating an ...

The concept of a “known unknown” has become the reality around today’s global supply chain disruptions, which are set to continue into 2022 and perhaps beyond. Covid-19 has had a massive impact, and now the Ukraine situation is causing further uncertainty. Both extremely difficult situations also point out just how critical our supply chains are. ...

Lean or agile, take your pick. It seems like it was always one or the other, but never both. Not anymore. The unpredictability of the Covid years changed the ways that manufacturers approach supply chain management. Where once the focus was on lean manufacturing, recent volatility has made demand impossible to predict, with existing supply chain ...

Remember dad’s stories about the good old days? Maybe you just finished complaining—then he’d recount how in his day, he and his friends had to walk to school, uphill both ways — in a snowstorm, of course. That’s right. Things used to be more difficult. No one, though, actually likes doing things the hard way. Besides, it’s much more impressive to ...

If you haven’t been living under a proverbial rock recently, you may have noticed the rapidly increasing pace at which unprecedented change is unfolding in our world today, change that has only hastened and intensified 2 years into a global pandemic. Society as we know it is being reshaped in lasting ways, and the manufacturing sector is no ...

Doug Lawson, ThinkIQ CEO speaks at the American Food Manufacturing Summit 2021 on "A Journey To Certain Safety: The Future Of Food Supply Chains". Everyone responsible for food & beverage supply chain or any manufacturing optimization should take the time to check out this presentation which can been seen here.

With the fourth industrial revolution (aka Smart Manufacturing or Industry4.0) well underway, it’s crucial for manufacturers want to stay efficient, competitive and in compliance with industry standards by upgrading to the smartest digital equipment. And a well-oiled shop floor is a critical component of an efficient, competitive and compliant ...

The coming of each new year traditionally brings with it hope for a fresh start, bold resolutions for improvement, and renewed optimism. In the case of 2022, it also brings what the Economist recently referred to as a predictable unpredictability, one that isn’t going away any time soon.

Concerned about profits, supply chains, the environment, or your organization’s public reputation? One surprising way to enhance all those areas is to consider your supply chain, particularly the inefficiencies. Waste not, want not, as the old adage goes, is a fine, pithy sentiment to be sure. The “waste not” part however has often proven to be a ...

The control tower. This term might call to mind visions of a literal, concrete structure reaching towards the sky - a hub where people man headsets and switchboards, managing the flow of information and executing decisive action to keep processes running smoothly. The successful operation of these control towers mean the difference between keeping ...