Global Supply Chains Adapt to Overcome Disruptions

Global Supply Chains Adapt to Overcome Disruptions

This article delves into the career paths of supply chain managers, revealing the challenges they face, the transformations they are undergoing, and the professional fulfillment they derive. Through research on supply chain professionals, the article analyzes the shift of supply chain roles from functional experts to change agents. It emphasizes the increasing importance that companies place on the strategic value of supply chains and explores how to navigate change, achieve career development, and meet organizational goals. The research highlights the evolving landscape of supply chain management and its impact on career trajectories.

01/27/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Global Supply Chains Face Labor Shortages Rising Freight Costs

Global Supply Chains Face Labor Shortages Rising Freight Costs

A report by ASCM and KPMG reveals that labor shortages and high freight costs are the primary pressures on the US supply chain. While geopolitical events have some impact, these two factors account for the majority of supply chain strain. The report highlights the tight labor market, rising logistics costs, and reliance on overseas supply. It advises businesses to take measures to address these challenges. The findings underscore the urgent need for companies to adapt to the evolving landscape and build more resilient and efficient supply chains to mitigate the impact of these persistent pressures.

01/28/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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US Manufacturing Adapts to Challenges with Innovation Push

US Manufacturing Adapts to Challenges with Innovation Push

US manufacturing, despite growth expectations, faces challenges like weak domestic demand, rising healthcare costs, and a shortage of skilled workers. While companies are actively investing in technologies like IoT and 3D printing, the absence of Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) hinders digital transformation. This analysis identifies these issues and proposes strategies to overcome them and seize opportunities. Recommendations include increasing technology investment, addressing the digital gap with MES implementation, strengthening workforce development, controlling costs, and proactively expanding into new markets. These actions are crucial for sustained growth and competitiveness in the evolving manufacturing landscape.

01/29/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Supply Chains Tackle Talent Shortage with Diversity Strategies

Supply Chains Tackle Talent Shortage with Diversity Strategies

Lack of diversity in the supply chain limits innovation and market expansion. This paper analyzes the risks of lacking diversity and proposes diversity recruiting strategies, including expanding recruitment channels, optimizing the hiring process, and providing career development support. It showcases the successful experience of Kent State University's Supplier Diversity Program as an example. Companies should actively embrace diversity to build more competitive supply chain teams. By fostering a diverse workforce, organizations can unlock new perspectives, improve problem-solving, and better connect with a wider range of customers and suppliers.

01/29/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Global Supply Chains Focus on Resilience Amid Rising Risks

Global Supply Chains Focus on Resilience Amid Rising Risks

The report reveals frequent supply chain disruptions, yet nearly half of businesses fail to analyze the root causes, lacking deep visibility. IT disruptions are a major threat, and cybersecurity risks are significant. Building a resilient supply chain requires improved visibility, enhanced risk assessment, optimized supplier management, strengthened contingency plans, and investment in talent development. Going beyond Tier 1 suppliers is crucial to create a more robust network. Companies need to proactively identify vulnerabilities and implement strategies to mitigate potential disruptions, ensuring business continuity and minimizing the impact of unforeseen events.

01/29/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Firms Upgrade CRM Systems to Boost Supply Chain Efficiency

Firms Upgrade CRM Systems to Boost Supply Chain Efficiency

This report explores how CRM system upgrades can empower supply chain management and enhance multi-tier visibility. It analyzes the crucial role of CRM in supply chain operations, identifies challenges in current integrations, and proposes strategies such as building a unified data platform, adopting standardized interfaces, and optimizing business processes. The report emphasizes the importance of leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to help companies build a more efficient and agile supply chain. The goal is to provide insights for businesses looking to improve their supply chain performance through CRM integration.

01/29/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Retail Logistics Strain Under Holiday Demand Higher Costs

Retail Logistics Strain Under Holiday Demand Higher Costs

The year-end holiday season sees a surge in logistics demand, with UPS and USPS raising parcel delivery volume forecasts. To manage peak season operational pressures, logistics companies like UPS and FedEx are implementing measures such as hiring seasonal employees and levying surcharges. Last-mile delivery remains the biggest challenge. Industry trends point towards collaboration and innovation to balance price and service quality, addressing future challenges. This includes exploring alternative delivery methods and optimizing routes to improve efficiency and customer satisfaction during periods of high demand and increased costs.

01/29/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Transportation and Logistics Sector Sees Rising Salaries Amid Tech Talent Demand

Transportation and Logistics Sector Sees Rising Salaries Amid Tech Talent Demand

Compensation for transportation technology talent leads the science and technology industry, driven by technological innovation and talent scarcity. Specific areas like autonomous driving engineers are highly sought after, with San Francisco leading in compensation, but emerging cities are rising. Rising salaries will reshape the talent structure and skill needs of the supply chain. Companies should build talent ecosystems, and governments should strengthen talent development and introduction to jointly usher in a golden age for transportation technology talent. This requires proactive strategies to attract, retain, and develop skilled professionals.

01/29/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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SAP Stratasys Partner to Advance 3D Printing in Manufacturing

SAP Stratasys Partner to Advance 3D Printing in Manufacturing

SAP and Stratasys are collaborating to establish a 3D co-innovation lab network, aiming to advance additive manufacturing technologies within supply chains. By providing experimentation platforms, they accelerate design cycles, digital file transfer, and alleviate inventory pressure, reshaping the manufacturing landscape. Companies like UPS are already exploring 3D printing for logistics applications. This initiative paves the way for personalized customization and distributed manufacturing, ushering in a new era of intelligent manufacturing. The collaboration seeks to unlock the full potential of 3D printing for streamlined and efficient supply chain operations.

01/29/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Firms Shift Focus from Lean Costs to Supply Chain Resilience

Firms Shift Focus from Lean Costs to Supply Chain Resilience

This paper emphasizes the importance of reliability over cost-effectiveness in supply chain management, highlighting the various transportation risks involved. By employing strategies such as comprehensive risk assessment, adapting to seasonal changes, establishing business interruption procedures, and evaluating supplier financial stability, companies can build more resilient supply chains. This allows them to withstand disruptions and ensure business continuity. The Gap fire incident serves as a case study, underscoring the critical role of risk management in the supply chain. Building resilience is key to mitigating potential losses and maintaining operational stability.

01/29/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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