It is impossible to calculate the number of pallets being used to move and store raw materials and products all over the world. On any given day, it is estimated that in the United States alone 1.8 billion to 1.9 billion pallets are in use, and over 500 million new ones are manufactured there every…
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The domestic manufacturing industry continued to expand in May as the nation’s leading production index increased 0.1 percent from the prior month. The Institute for Supply Management’s PMI reached 54.9 percent in May, marking the 96th consecutive month of industry growth. New orders, employment and inventories of raw materials also increased in May, indicating manufacturers…
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Packaging is important to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) because it is the first vehicle for communicating something about the brand to the end customer. It’s important to the customer too, since it keeps whatever is inside in good and working condition ready to enjoy. What the buyer may not understand (but OEMs should) is…
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2016 was another tough year for the franchised electronic components distribution industry in North America. The industry faced several challenges, including shrinking margins, currency fluctuation, and supplier consolidation, which had a significant impact on sales growth. Faced with these challenges, revenues for the top 50 North American franchised distributors fell by three percent, after growing…
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When I think of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the first image that comes to mind is Tony Stark’s “J.A.R.V.I.S” computer. J.A.R.V.I.S could answer any question thrown at it. History, math, computational problems… it was what we wished Siri would be when we pulled our new iPhone out of the box and engaged Siri for the first…
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Throughout my career, I’ve often gotten questions about the role of procurement. In fact, it happens pretty much whenever I meet new people and talk about my job. The answer that I want to respond with is, “Procurement helps companies strategically assess and manage external spend, and find new and innovative ways to partner with their…
DetailsAt the recent Electronic Distribution Show in Las Vegas, NV, global distributor TTI, Inc., announced the appointment of Don Akery to the position of President TTI Americas, effective September 2017, allowing for transition of his current responsibilities. Founder, and CEO, Paul Andrews commends Akery’s accomplishments with TTI; “Since joining TTI a mere four-plus years ago,…
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Today’s supply chain needs to be responsive to consumers’ ever-changing needs. This is where the Internet of Things (IoT) comes into play. Today’s consumers are demanding in terms of when, where, and how products and services are made available to them. So, the supply chain needs to be responsive and have the ability to seamlessly…
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Supply chain professionals are talking a lot about blockchain, and how it can be applied to address the increasingly global and complex nature of the supply chain. However, we are still in early days, with only about three in ten companies actively implementing the technology, recent research suggests. “Blockchain in supply chain and trade finance…
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