The word "thing" has its roots from the Viking days of yore. In Iceland, the Althing was founded in 930 AD at Thingvellir--the "assembly fields"--the ...
Am I wrong to be disgusted over the blatant irresponsibility of some of the largest retailers and apparel brands in the world as well as the governments, and factory owners in the countries sought for the lowest possible manufacturing costs?
In the wake of another deadly disaster at a major hub of garment manufacturing in Bangladesh -- this time, the collapse of a building that took the li...
You are standing in front of the ready meals counter looking at an array of Lasagnes, Bolognese's and meat pies. Does it really matter if there is a l...
The system is poised for change. Now is the time for all of us to show companies that it is in their interests to lead. No brand is too big not to listen to its customers, and if enough of us urge the "Big 10" to do what is right, they will have no choice but to listen.
Are you planning to wear a team jersey? Commemorative and other team apparel could include cotton harvested by forced labor or sewn in factories by forced labor. Did you buy a new flat-screen television for your Super Bowl party?
The world's supply chain forms the backbone of our global economy, security and health, and the risks it faces are many. What to do? We cannot plan for precisely how or when, but we can plan for the fact that disruptions will strike.
Japan was like a rich man with a lot of savings, but it has spent too much over the last 20 years. The United States is still a reserve currency country, but its deficits pose a threat as the national debt becomes a serious issue for its economy.
Achieving Walmart's stated goal of an "environmentally and socially responsible supply chain" entails phasing out Walmart itself and bringing an end to its inherently unaccountable and unsustainable system of production and distribution.
The Internet serves as a 3-D hub or platform between multiple information sources and recipients. But why haven't we developed any such 3-D systems in U. S. supply chains, with strong operational feedback modules like Toyota's?
The solution starts with acknowledging domestic manufacturing needs to be the backbone of any sustainable recovery. Experts will say the U.S. doesn't "do" manufacturing anymore. Our economy is all about service, finance, software, and entertainment.
The scene around my Connecticut home is not pretty, with downed trees and power lines everywhere. It's a serious time, and a time for some serious questions. Why did this happen?
We can't give these companies a free pass just because their stuff is cute, or trust that they have our best interests at heart because they're catering to our little bundles of joy.
Incentives matter and cultures shift over time. Hard-won operational changes like modifying performance reviews may not be sexy, but the results can be profound. And when it's the world's largest retailer changing its buying criteria, the ripples will likely be felt around the world.
President Obama has underscored that the prevention of slavery is the responsibility of government and the private sector and consumers. As a result, he reframed the issue into one not of us and them but us - period. We, the collective we, are the solution to human trafficking.
WASHINGTON -- Representatives from the world's largest private employer and other Fortune 500 companies joined worker advocates, trade groups and gove...
How far should a company go to ensure its suppliers are appropriately managing social and environmental conditions?
Dyncorp's new Supply Chain organization, stood up last year, has introduced several tools that are updated regularly to evaluate subcontractors on an ongoing basis.
Each relationship is an intangible asset of the business. As any accountant will tell you, assets can either appreciate or depreciate or hold their value.
WASHINGTON -- A top administration official on Monday signaled that the focus of homeland security in 2012 would shift in emphasis to business and the...
Mitch Daniels, the former Bush budget director who is now Indiana's governor, made the Republicans' reply to President Obama's State of the Union addr...
Smarter Commerce from IBM optimizes supply chain efficiency and business process integration, helping to boost revenue, build loyalty, and keep busine...
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Every night, hundreds of workers get on buses and are dropped off here at the UPS Worldport. They spend a few hours putting package...
Sweeney Todd is a case study in vertical integration. Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett join forces in a common venture. Specifically, he kills some of his customers and then she bakes them into meat pies. After you're done gagging, consider what this does to their supply chain.
The distended relationship between farms and individuals is the fundamental problem in the food system we've inherited. Supply chains and the corporate cultures that house them keep information isolated.
