Supply Chain in 2025: Navigating Geopolitical Shifts and Building Resilience
BLOG Supply Chain in 2025: Navigating Geopolitical Shifts and Building Resilience Published Dec 2024 Table of Contents Subscribe to receive latest resources on supply chain design As 2025 approaches, global supply chains face a transformative period. Geopolitical shifts, including Donald Trump’s re-election, ongoing conflicts like the war in Ukraine, and economic realignments, are reshaping the […]
How Network Design is Revolutionizing Micro-Fulfillment Centers for Urban Supply Chains
BLOG How Network Design is Revolutionizing Micro-Fulfillment Centers for Urban Supply Chains Published Dec 2024 Table of Contents Subscribe to receive latest resources on supply chain design As cities grow denser and consumer expectations soar, urban supply chains face a critical challenge: how to deliver faster, cheaper, and more reliably in complex, high-demand environments. Traditional […]
Intelligent storage planning for a food and beverage manufacturer and retailer
Intelligent storage planning for a food and beverage manufacturer and retailer Problem: A leading US-based e-commerce gift manufacturer and retailer, with a revenue of ~$3 billion and a complex distribution network of 3 manufacturing facilities, 7 fulfilment centers, faced a significant challenge during peak seasons. The company shipped 10 million parcels annually across the US. […]
Best practices in supply chain network optimization
BLOG Best practices in supply chain network optimization Published Nov 2024 Table of Contents Subscribe to receive latest resources on supply chain design A company’s supply chain is a crucial factor in its success, influencing everything from product delivery speed to risk management. Optimizing the supply chain isn’t just about reducing costs anymore; it’s about […]
First Mile vs. Middle Mile vs. Last Mile: What Are the Differences in These Costs?
In supply chain management, transportation costs can be broken down into three distinct segments: First Mile, Middle Mile, and Last Mile. Understanding these segments and their associated costs is critical for businesses that want to optimize their logistics operations and reduce transportation expenses. Each of these stages involves different logistics activities, distances, and complexities, and they contribute differently to the overall cost structure. Let’s dive into the key differences between the costs associated with these segments, using an example of a food and gift e-commerce retailer that manufactures and ships its products across the U.S.
Warehouse Optimization: The Key to Efficiency and Profitability in the E-commerce Age
The demands on warehouses have never been higher. The growth of e-commerce, increasing consumer expectations for rapid delivery, and the rising costs of labor and real estate mean that warehouse operations must be finely tuned for efficiency and productivity.
From Far to Near: How Reshoring and Nearshoring are Redefining Manufacturing
For years, companies outsourced their manufacturing to far-off places like China and Vietnam to cut costs. But things have shifted. Events like the pandemic, trade wars, and rising shipping costs have forced businesses to rethink how and where they make their products. Two solutions that have become popular are reshoring (bringing production back home) and nearshoring (moving it closer but not all the way).
Designing for Sustainability: Optimizing Supply Chains for Cost and Carbon
As the effects of climate change become more evident and societal commitments to sustainability become essential, businesses are increasingly challenged to balance economic objectives with environmental goals. One of the most critical areas where this balance can be achieved is in supply chain management.
Supply Chain Risk Measurement Using Supply Chain Network Design
Supply chains today face a variety of risks, be it natural disasters, geopolitical tensions, cyber threats, or even fast changing demand patterns. Managing these risks isn’t just about keeping things running smoothly — It’s about ensuring that businesses can adapt and thrive in the long term. One of the most effective ways to measure and manage these risks is through
Supply Chain Network Design (SCND)
.
Square root law: The math behind why inventory centralization reduces safety stock
The Square Root Law is a mathematical principle used in supply chain management to explain how inventory centralization reduces safety stock.