Manufacturing & Logistics IT
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Critical Issues...

Logistics and supplychain management critical issues
SMEs in the manufacturing sector not addressing staff health issues, GE Capital research shows
July 12, 2010
New research from GE Capital highlights that the vast majority (87%) of businesses in the manufacturing sector do nothing to encourage staff to eat healthily or facilitate and support their exercise efforts.
The Manufacturing Institute warns UK manufacturing not to talk itself into an early grave
June 14, 2010
The past twenty years has seen the information technology and professional services industries as the “be all and end all” of great British business.
Special report – Software as a Service
June 10, 2010
Following on from our Cloud computing report in the March edition, Manufacturing & Logistics IT spoke with a number of leading industry spokespeople about Software as a Service; a software deployment model that is stimulating accelerating interest within the business-to-business software solutions space.
Cloud vendors still 'missing a big trick', research shows
June 09, 2010
Cloud computing vendors are missing a big trick when it comes to targeting small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), according to the results of a survey conducted by ICM.
Exports drive UK manufacturing improvement, but pricing pressures remain – CBI
May 31, 2010
Foreign demand for UK manufactured goods has strengthened further, with export order books above par for the first time in over two years, although overall demand is still lagging, the CBI has commented.
UK PMI highest since September 1994. Growth of new exports hits record peak
May 24, 2010
Underpinning the latest rise in output was the sharpest growth in total new business since January 2004 and a series record increase in new export orders.
On-Demand Software - SaaS White Paper from QAD
Leadership White Paper for Global Manufacturing
SaaS is the next step in the evolution of software development. In a very short time, on-demand has evolved as a viable model for deploying and managing mission-critical applications...

Download this fascinating white paper.....
Global Logistics Industry left with acquisition ‘hangover’
May 14, 2010
Annual results of 20 of the world’s largest publicly listed freight transport and logistics companies.
Over 95 per cent of organisations expect to maintain or grow their use of SaaS through 2010
May 10, 2010
More than 95 per cent of organisations expect to maintain or grow their use of software as a service (SaaS), according to a survey by Gartner, Inc.
Manufacturing recovery remains fragile, warns Begbies Traynor
May 10, 2010
The recovery in the manufacturing sector remains fragile, according to the latest Red Flag update, which shows that the companies in the sectors experiencing ‘significant’ or ‘critical’ financial problems rose 12% in the first quarter of 2010.
Small businesses see election as platform for change but feel threatened by uncertainty
May 06, 2010
Business owners see today’s election as an opportunity to change Britain’s enterprise culture for the better, with one in five intending to vote for the party they hope will manage the economy most effectively.
Are You Prepared for the Worst?
by Hal Feuchtwanger -MD global logistics i2
Natural disasters, customer bankruptcies, product recalls... there are dozens of unexpected events that can wreak havoc on your global supply chain. Are you prepared to react swiftly to these contingencies?

Managing Supply Chain Disruption with Continuous Design.......
Is there light at the end of the tunnel?
April 21, 2010
Cathy Humphreys explains why effective management of inventory is essential when coming out of a recession and the most common pitfalls to be aware of.
50 per cent of employees admit to losing documents on the company network
April 15, 2010
A lack of clear guidelines on document retention causes over half of office workers to save documents on the system, never to be found again.
Part 3: Breaking through the Cloud - What barriers to greater deployment remain?
April 14, 2010 - by Ed Holden, editor
In this special report Ed Holden interviewed 13 leading vendors to ask them what they consider to be many of the current key talking points within this fascinating technology space.

Part 2: Breaking through the Cloud - Key selling points
April 07, 2010 - by Ed Holden, editor MLIT
In this special report Ed Holden interviewed 13 leading vendors to ask them what they consider to be many of the current key talking points within this fascinating technology space.
Part 1: Breaking through the Cloud...
by Ed Holden, editor MLIT
In this special report Ed Holden interviewed 13 leading vendors to ask them what they consider to be many of the current key talking points within this fascinating technology space.

Supply Chain Security must be put on the agenda of every Boardroom meeting
April 07, 2010
Many of the managers given responsibility for the risk management and supply chain security have been given very little training or resources, according to leading supply chain security expert.
‘Kill’ Applications Cause the Most Pain for Organisations
March 31, 2010
Half of organisations stated that IT applications that cause the most pain for the least gain are 'kill category' applications such as old systems where the code is no longer maintained/supported according to a poll by 360°IT
Idhammar Whitepaper – Implementing OEE Systems
March 23, 2010
This whitepaper is intended for organisations that are considering the implementation of an Overall Equipment Efficiency System.
RedPrairie to be acquired by New Mountain Capital
March 15, 2010
Leading private equity firm sees opportunities to continue company’s growth trajectory
Economic conditions drive companies to take a fresh look at their customs operations
March 04, 2010
During the current economic climate it is the ideal time for companies to review their operations with a view to reducing costs and an important part of this for an importer will be the landed cost of goods, including supply chain and related expenses.
China Supply Chain Perspective: A New Decade, a New Challenge
Steve Smith, Senior VP, EMEA, Manhattan Associates
China’s challenge for the next ten years lies with the country’s commercial sector. To keep pace with the growing economy and the improving conditions in export markets, private investment in modern technologies will be essential.

Designer IT Brands – So Last Year
March 02, 2010
As the country emerges from recession it would appear that the willingness to pay over the odds to so-called ‘designer brands’ for IT services is a thing of the past as firms turn to mid-tier suppliers for value and service.
One small step for man, one giant leap for staff morale
February 22, 2010
A few subtle changes make all the difference, says business consultant. Sales are falling, communication is lacking and motivation is at a seasonal low. In other words, it’s February.
Supply chain futures: the mastery of complexity
February 16, 2010
An academic perspective on the evolving supply chain models best suited to compete in an unpredictable world.
By Philip Greening.
Industrialisation of Hacking Will Dominate The Next Decade
February 15, 2010
Imperva delineates five key security trends UK Organisations will face during the next ten years
70 per cent of companies using Cloud-based services plan to move additional applications to the Cloud in the next 12 months
February 11, 2010
Mimecast has announced the results of its Cloud Computing Adoption Survey, which examined the perception and adoption of cloud computing solutions among 565 respondents responsible for managing their organisation’s IT operations and budget.
SAP CEO Léo Apotheker’s Contract Will Not Be Extended Based on Mutual Agreement
February 08, 2010
SAP AG announced today that the SAP Supervisory Board has reached a mutual agreement with CEO Léo Apotheker not to extend his contract as a member of the SAP Executive Board.
“Has the BIG FREEZE cost your business BIG BUCKS?”
February 01, 2010
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has estimated that the recent bad weather, widespread commuter disruption and school closures, has cost the UK business economy at least £600 million a day and that a business continuity plan could be your answer to such severe weather disruption.
JDA Software Completes Acquisition of i2 Technologies
January 29, 2010
strengthening market position with more than 6,000 global customers offering unparalleled supply chain optimization solutions spanning from materials to the consumer.
Help for Haiti
January 25, 2010
Deutsche Post DHL to deploy disaster response team to Haiti to provide emergency logistics support.
Dynamic Pricing for Logistics Service Providers
January 21, 2010
The concept of Dynamic pricing is still in the nascent stage for the Logistics Service Provider (LSP) industry. This article examines the relevancy and fitment of the concept to the LSP’s.
Knowledge is power
January 11, 2010
Manufacturing & Logistics IT spoke with Rajesh Krishnamurthy, Vice President, global head – SAP Practice, Infosys Technologies, about Infosys’s regime of constantly refining and reinvigorating its own knowledge pool in order to ensure it is best equipped to address the manifold business and operational needs of its worldwide customer base.
Employee absenteeism because of bad weather could cost £230 million
January 05, 2010
The Forum of Private Business (FPB) is warning that the cost of a single day of employee absenteeism because of the freezing winter conditions could be at least £230 million.
Buyer beware:
December 15, 2009
top ten tips for IT maintenance companies investing in vehicle tracking
'LEAN' YEAR IN PROSPECT FOR LOGISTICS MANAGERS
December 11, 2009
Logistics consultancy, Davies & Robson is encouraging logistics managers to adopt lean techniques in order to mitigate risk and manage cost in the extended supply chain.
UK manufacturers’ confidence on the increase, finds KPMG survey
December 03, 2009
UK manufacturers are expecting business activity to rise over the coming year making them the most optimistic group across Europe.
Exclusive Transport & Logistics Sector research proves reducing costs is still core for businesses
November 26, 2009
Exclusive new research has confirmed that Transport and Logistics Service Providers have had to implement cost saving measures and make operational efficiencies in response to the economic climate.
Logistics industry fit to fight flu pandemic
November 16, 2009
A recent survey from The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK (CILT) has shown that in 2009, 68% of major logistics and supply chain operations have specific plans in place for dealing with the possibility of a flu pandemic as part of their overall disaster recovery strategy.
Synchronizing Supply Chain Applications with Continuous Change
November 04, 2009
The value of an efficient supply chain and its use as a competitive lever can only come when it is in continuous alignment with changing business conditions and market trends.
Legal ruling means manufacturers can still retire staff at 65 - for now
November 02, 2009
A law firm is urging manufacturing firms to pay close attention to retirement age law after the High Court ruled that the current default retirement age of 65 is lawful
5 golden rules to get the very best apprentices in logistics & transport businesses
October 27, 2009
A training expert believes logistics businesses & transport businesses need to pick apprentices very carefully and give them long-term mentoring to get the most out of them.
Ticking all the right boxes
October 21, 2009
MLIT Special Report – Carpetright
Manufacturing & Logistics IT spoke with Carpetright about the company’s unrelenting expansion strategy and continuing retail success despite the challenging marketplace.
Critical Strategies for Building an Agile, Responsive Supply Chain to Drive One Synchronized View of Demand
October 21, 2009
By David Johnston, senior vice president supply chain, JDA Software
Social Marketing & Supply Chain Management: The Next Consumer Data Challenge and Opportunity
October 14, 2009
by Guy Courtin and Gurdip Singh
Social marketing tools and Web 2.0 technologies now permeate our everyday lives
Mobile Workforce Can Beat the Fuel Duty Rise with Tracking Technology
October 08, 2009
Rising fuel costs for the mobile workforce can be off-set with the latest vehicle tracking says V-SOL
Manufacturers should look behind traceability for the real benefits
October 15, 2009 - By James Hannay, Senior VP for
There is a need for greater awareness within the industry of the benefits that wider traceability across the supply chain can bring.
Strengthening your supply chain in a downturn
September 28, 2009
By Phillip Kerle, CEO, Demica.
In tough economic times and during periods of industrial slowdown, cash-flow is king and for the UK manufacturing sector, cash management certainly remains a top priority.
Accounting the cost of recession
September 24, 2009
Crossing the chasm or staring into the abyss? Unfortunately for accountancy and ERP software resellers, the onset of a global recession makes the latter a likely possibility.
Agility is the watchword
September 17, 2009
Manufacturing & Logistics IT senior editor Ed Holden spoke with Dave O'Reilly, sales director at Voxware, about new developments in the Voice-directed solution space.
Fighting the black market with RFID
September 08, 2009
By Kim Loughead
Last month, it was predicted that the global trade in counterfeit goods, including medicines, is set to rise to nearly $1 trillion in 2009. In the UK alone, an estimated 8 million counterfeit drugs found their way to NHS patients in 2008. As a result, counterfeiting is still high on the agenda for pharmaceutical companies.
Supply chains hold the future for everyone
September 01, 2009
Alan Braithwaite andMartin Christopher, LCP Consulting
As the economic conditions get harder, there will be just one mantra for CEOs and their Boards: “manage for cash”.
Letter to the Editor
August 20, 2009
The time for debate is over and the IT choice is clear.
Why do 62% of all IT projects miss their deadline?
August 18, 2009
. This worrying statistic was accompanied by the revelation that 49% of projects go over budget and 41% fail to deliver the benefits that were expected.
Smartphone capability tracker
August 11, 2009
By Tim Renowden, analyst at Ovum
What’s hot and what’s not
Podcast - Beyond Traditional Lean
July 27, 2009
Podcast series
Unlocking the Value of Your Value Network.
By Tata Consultancy Services and AMR Research.
SMEs get smart to beat the recession
July 22, 2009
A significant easing in the pace of decline in the UK’s manufacturing and service sectors has not been enough to lift the economy out of recession, leaving thousands of the country’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in a fierce battle to survive.
Manufacturers view mobility as key to converting downtime into productive time
July 16, 2009
The study found manufacturers with mobility applications saved a daily average of 42 minutes per employee.
Jail risk for logistics & transport managers
July 07, 2009
New statistics have revealed that almost one in three road crashes involve people who are using their vehicle for work.
The Motorola Enterprise Mobility Barometer
July 02, 2009
Motorola study shows over seven in ten manufacturers view mobility as key to converting downtime into productive time.
K3 helps manufacturers go green
June 22, 2009
A leading UK ERP specialist is helping manufacturers become more eco-friendly while saving money.
What IT Customers Can Learn from Charles Darwin
June 15, 2009
Customers tend to view IT systems as a cost rather than an investment according to Sami Saoudi operations director of software developer MMCC consultants.
TGI announces new corporate blog: ERP Insights
June 09, 2009
Site visitors are encouraged to submit questions and responses to blog topics through the TGI website to initiate open and informative discussion.
'The rebound has already begun'
June 01, 2009
Frost & Sullivan Chairman
"We've seen the economy bottom out in early May with indicators all around us that the recovery has started, confidence is driving an upswing in all market sectors".
Confidence starting to return to logistics market
May 28, 2009
The latest results of Ti’s Global Logistics Business Confidence Index have shown a significant return of optimism to the market.
Win in a flat world
May 19, 2009
Now is the time to take a fresh look at how best to classify inventory in the world of e-commerce.
Keeping one step ahead of demand
May 14, 2009
Manufacturing & Logistics IT spoke with Martin Nurser of Tata Consultancy services (TCS), and Timothy Hughes, business development director, supply chain planning, Oracle, about their respective organisations’ partnership.
Outsourcing might be the answer – but what’s the question?
By Dr Richard Williams BSc, MSc, FLS
There are many reasons why organisations decide to outsource, and more often than not it’s a question of cost. However, there can be other drivers.
Survey reveals 37% of workers would hand-over company secrets for £1m
May 01, 2009
Especially now that employee loyalty is at an all time low, with a third of workers saying they felt a lot less loyal towards their employers than they did a year ago.
Government urged to increase scrutiny of banks lending to small businesses
April 24, 2009
Business owners struggling to access finance from major lenders are sceptical about support from the Government, despite its commitment to scrutinise the behaviour of banks via its Small Business Lending Monitoring Panel.
No respite for small businesses in the 2009 Budget
April 24, 2009
The Forum of Private Business (FPB) is concerned that the 2009 Budget has failed to address the main issues threatening the UK’s struggling small businesses.
Manufacturing workers needed down under
April 09, 2009
With the UK manufacturing industry on its knees emigration experts are advising workers to look down under, where their skills are still in demand.
Recession will drive radical changes in supply chains
April 03, 2009
As companies put a top priority on cutting their supply chain costs, LCP Consulting says that their actions should focus on ‘five maxims’ so they ride the downturn and prosper in the recovery…
5 anti stress tips for logistics & transport workers as 44% admit more pressure
April 02, 2009
People working in logistics & transport are being offered a series of tips to help them reduce the amount of stress they face at work during the recession.
DHL employees across Ireland unite to raise €100k for children with Autism
March 23, 2009
Employees unite in their continued efforts to increase awareness of autism.
Apprenticeships 'will help bridge skills gap'.
March 17, 2009
The Apprentice star is fronting a government supported scheme looking to increase the number of apprentices and bridge skills gaps within industry.
The difference between theory and practice is achieving competitive advantage
March 17, 2009
The Saudi Arabian Supply Chain Intelligence Report (SCIR) 2008, has revealed a disconnect between theory and practise when it comes to supply chain management
Experts warn manufacturing industry could face skill’s shortage
A survey of the industry has predicted that there will be 140,000 manufacturing job losses this year. According to recruitment experts at Warrington based Antal International, these losses could lead to a serious skill’s gap when the recession ends.
SME late payment problems rife in distribution sector
March 16, 2009
Late payments to small and medium sized enterprises spiral out of control across Great Britain, reaching an all time high of almost £26 billion
IT ‘at heart of next industrial revolution’
March 12, 2009
In 10 years’ time we will be able to put an entire year’s worth of our waking experience-in digital quality-on a laptop. By 2039 that could extend to a record of our entire lives.
Green still in fashion despite recession
March 05, 2009
Despite some of the toughest trading conditions in over a generation, UK manufacturers look set to continue their green investments.
Trend to ignore safety in recession could see logistics managers jailed
March 02, 2009
An alarming trend of companies apparently ignoring health and safety in an attempt to save costs during the recession could result in logistics managers facing jail.
Manhattan Warehouse Management system - VIDEO
YourTechTV.com
Donaldson takes control of European distribution with Manhattan Associates
Study finds adoption of software solutions key for improving IT energy efficiency
February 18, 2009
The CA commissioned study found that organisations are considering, and have budgeted for, software solutions to improve the efficiency of their IT infrastructure and to solve the environmental challenges posed by the rapidly increasing use of computing resources in large corporations.
Food & beverage industries go wireless
February 06, 2009
By Khadambari Shanbagaraman, Frost & Sullivan
An increasing population and growing consumer demand for packaged foods has forced food and beverages industry to look at new technologies
Will social networking drive customer service?
February 02, 2009
By Ian Jacobs
Although Salesforce.com has been the poster child for successful on-demand software vendors, the company has the long-term vision to see that, in order to continue its stellar growth pace, it needs to expand into new areas.
IT in a cold climate
January 20, 2009
By Dr Richard Williams BSc, MSc, FLS
Whenever they hear the word “recession”, the first thing most organisations do is adopt a siege mentality, stop all expenditure deemed “non-essential” and hunker down for a long winter. Budgets get cut, new initiatives are stopped in their tracks and everyone concentrates on keeping the lights on as cheaply as possible...
‘Recession proof’ WMS & inventory optimisation software
By David Smy, director, Smart Warehouse Systems (SWS)
In general, many companies and individuals are tightening their belts and survival is number one on the agenda. However, this does not mean that strategies will, or should be, abandoned; it is more a case of careful steering through unchartered waters.
Getting Supply Chain Management on the Board Room Agenda
January 14, 2009
VIDEO by Professor Richard Wilding
This video addresses the impact of supply chain management of shareholder value, the impact of good supply chain approaches in supporting growth and how supply chain events can result in a 20% reduction in share price.
A Green Supply Chain Strategy Today Will Spearhead Tomorrow’s Business Growth
By Jim Burleigh, CEO, SmartTurn
In our age of technology, here is a disconcerting thought: more than half of the warehouses in North America and Europe still rely on paper rather than an automated system. Essentially, companies lack inventory visibility, suffer operating inefficiencies and waste resources within the supply chain.
Bring IT to Account for its Actions
January 08, 2009
By Alan Smith, SVP UK & Ireland, UC4 Software.
Having said good-bye to the manual checks and balances that used to record and audit business transactions, auditors and compliance officers are demanding that IT be capable of accounting for all of its activities.
Zetes predicts more creative use of auto ID and focus on warehouse to shelf edge traceability for 2009
December 17, 2008
These trends provide food for thought for UK commercial organisations as the country enters the most challenging commercial climate of the past decade
Flexibility will be key to success during economic downturn
December 11, 2008
According to supply chain thought leaders at i2 Technologies, supply chains must offer more flexibility in 2009
Survey shows manufacturers reaping productivity rewards of investment in IT and lean
December 04, 2008
Britain’s manufacturers have been supporting their drive to secure new markets, raise innovation performance and increase productivity by investing in IT and lean solutions
The sting in the tail of the supply chain
November 26, 2008
By Mark Oppermann, VoiceSage
The final part of the supply chain has always been a costly and time-intensive process, which companies recognise as vital to the consumer experience
Uptake of SaaS EDI gains momentum as Companies realise Cost Savings
November 20, 2008
The marketplace for SaaS EDI, the e-procurement service that increases the Return On Investment from EDI, is expanding fast according to experts First B2B
Automatic Data Capture: what is the state of play, and what does the future hold?
November 13, 2008
Manufacturing & Logistics IT spoke to some of the leading names from the analyst and standards community to gain a deeper insight into this fascinating, vibrant and highly beneficial technology space
Retrenchment of UK manufacturing continued in October.
November 07, 2008
Marked drop in cost inflation – CIPS/Markit UK Manufacturing PMI
Manufacturers ‘must do more to combat rising energy costs’
October 30, 2008
by Deloitte
UK manufacturers risk losing their competitiveness in world markets unless more can be done to counter rising energy costs, according to a new report
Credit crunch forces companies to drive efficiencies throughout supply chain
October 23, 2008
The logistics and transport sector has felt the brunt of the dramatically changing economic climate over the past few months
Economic gloom – senior executives in manufacturing sector call for long-term focus
October 17, 2008
A poll of 1,118 senior executives reveals that manufacturing sector managers and leaders are calling for calm in the face of the continued economic gloom.
Sustainability is driver of innovation rather than cost
October 09, 2008
Research by KPMG and CIES
Research released by KPMG International and CIES reveals that, far from regarding corporate responsibility as a cost, many leading retailers and manufacturers see sustainability as an important driver of innovation
CIPS/Markit UK Manufacturing PMI
October 02, 2008
Manufacturing output, new orders and employment all fell at survey record rates in September
'Green collar' skills gap to hit manufacturing sector
September 25, 2008
The rising demand for ‘green collar’ working in manufacturing will place pressure on the domestic skills market and leave businesses without the engineering and environmental expertise they require, according to new research from Royal Haskoning
Active RFID in China
September 18, 2008
By Dr. Peter Harrop, Chairman, IDTechEx
The US and China vie for the title of the world's largest RFID market, this year seeing them level pegging with $1.3 billion of business
VIDEO - An RFID Success Story
September 10, 2008
Peter Lai, who lead the project explains; "NGFE's main business driver throughout this project was to ensure 100 per cent accuracy in everything we ship to our customers."
UK downturn continues
September 04, 2008
A CIPS/Markit report
The ongoing downturn of the UK manufacturing sector continued in August
Very poor countries are on the wrong side of a growing logistical divide
August 28, 2008
A Conference Board report
The gap between developed and developing countries has been a global concern for decades, but skyrocketing oil prices and the general growth of world markets threaten to widen the gap
The ‘Lean’ challenge in demand-driven value chains
August 22, 2008
By Aamer Rehman and Kelly Thomas of i2
A 'USA Today' article entitled “Toyota’s Success Pleases Proponents of ‘Lean’” may have left some readers confused
Survey shows companies 'passing the buck' on green logistics
August 14, 2008
New research by Transport Intelligence and Kewill suggests that most companies seeking to make their logistics operations more environmentally friendly want someone else to cover the costs
How to prosper in uncertain times
August 08, 2008
Tony Price, acting CEO of Vistage International, gives his top tips
As the economy becomes increasingly volatile, how can managing directors, CEOs and owner-managers prosper in uncertain times?
Track & trace: Hologram leading the way to added value
July 31, 2008
There’s no doubt about the growing impact and utility that holograms are having in the battle against counterfeiting
Oracle study reveals the shape of tomorrow’s supply chain
July 25, 2008
Oracle has released a study, conducted by future trends consultancy The Future Laboratory, which highlights the vast transformation that sustainable business practices is unleashing on worldwide supply chains
Manufacturers’ orders holding up and prices still rising sharply due to high costs
July 17, 2008
A CBI Survey
While manufacturers saw a modest improvement in their order books in June, the rise in prices of manufactured goods will continue
Going green in the supply chain
July 09, 2008
By David Simchi-Levi,Ph.D. Professor of Engineering Systems, MIT
Going green is at the forefront of everyone’s mind and nowhere is this truer than in manufacturing and supply chains
Weak domestic demand and high cost inflation push manufacturing output lower
July 04, 2008
Latest data from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) and Markit.
How to avoid your SOA initiative becoming a big ‘So What?’
June 26, 2008
Celona Technologies’ Tony Sceales examines the hype, hope and reality
For the past few years service-oriented architectures have been promoted as the panacea of the IT world, but cracksm are already beginning to appear
Supercomputers for manufacturing – getting it right
June 20, 2008
by Julian Fielden, MD of OCF plc
Today, western manufacturing organisations are facing increasing pressure on many levels - the rising cost of oil, environmental concerns, soaring food prices and continual increases in global competition from Eastern Europe, India and China
The game plan
June 12, 2008
ERP remains a critically important component within any manufacturing or logistics organisation’s information armoury - but things are changing, and for the better!
The pitfalls of a short-sighted IT strategy
June 05, 2008
Martin Nurser, TATA Consultancy Services
Business Process Outsourcing can prove invaluable to manufacturers and logistics organisations looking to enhance business and operational efficiencies and to reduce wastage
Supply chain professionals call for Government to help meet industry’s green agenda
May 29, 2008
Infor has released the findings of its latest research, which reveal that supply chain professionals are calling upon the UK Government to help reduce the industry’s carbon footprint
Study reveals exploding 'Culture of Connectivity'
May 23, 2008
A new global IDC study sponsored by Nortel
Enterprises around the world are being forced into changing the way they do business faster than ever before or risk the opportunities of Hyperconnectivity passing them by
SaaS spreads within enterprise and SME manufacturing companies
May 16, 2008
Technology solutions delivered via SaaS have been around for some time now, however it’s only recently that their adoption has seen a marked increase throughout the manufacturing industry
From Russia with love
May 09, 2008
The specific challenges and opportunities facing automotive logisticians and manufacturers in the Russian marketplace will be debated in detail by some of the most important players in the industry at this year’s Automotive Logistics Russia conference
Winning the technology race
April 30, 2008
Thirty years ago, the role of IT systems within most businesses was very limited. Since then, though, this relationship has reversed. Today, many companies feel it is their business that is holding back their IT systems
For what IT’s worth
April 24, 2008
Stephen Kelly, CEO of Micro Focus, calls on businesses in the manufacturing sector to acknowledge the real value of software assets
Supply chains hold the key to survival
April 16, 2008
by Barloworld Optimus, Global Business Development Director, Fraser Ironside
Thousands of companies are caught up in the global economic downturn ‘like never before...’
Consumer research welcomes reverse logistics
April 10, 2008
Research conducted by Zetes
‘2 way ePOD’ would increase sales and customer satisfaction
Supply chain systems feel the 'green' effect
April 03, 2008
from PMP Research
The increasing globalisation of supply chain systems is causing mounting concern about their effect on the environment
Linking the chain
March 27, 2008
Manufacturing & Logistics IT spoke with some of the leading names in supply chain consultancy about the state of the art in supply chain and warehouse management solutions, and what the key drivers for change are among both the vendors and end users
Fair play
March 20, 2008
How state-of-the-art WMS and supply chain solution functionality is not only facilitating enhanced efficiency in the workplace but also greater fairness and understanding in the working environment
Manufacturing sector ‘ill equipped to deal with an economic downturn’
March 13, 2008
by The Society of Turnaround Professionals & GE Commercial Finance
New research indicates the top three sectors most likely to be hit by a deterioration in the economy are those operating in the retail, financial and manufacturing sectors
Bespoke software has entered a ‘brand’ new phase
March 06, 2008
Guy Milsom (pictured), MD of Pebble UK explains how manufacturers should be considering bespoke software systems to reflect their customers’ needs, processes and brand values
2008 set to be a challenging year for the logistics industry
February 26, 2008
Margins in the industry are already thin, but shippers can make moves now to improve their chance of future success
Unstoppable Momentum: Making real change with ERP
February 14, 2008
by Rod Horrocks BEng, MSc, CEng, FCMC – Director, Procertis Ltd
People underestimate both the power and the difficulty of change, especially when it comes to implementing systems which, by every rational measure, should result in improvements for all concerned
Why focusing on processes is the Holy Grail of business management
February 07, 2008
Organisations that migrate to a process-driven structure can expect to enjoy glittering prizes, says Terry Richardson, MD of Airwave Professional Services
Rethinking product development
January 31, 2008
Product development consultant Don Reinertsen is soon to return to the UK for two workshops, organised by Smallpeice Enterprise
Let’s talk about voice recognition systems
January 24, 2008
Duncan Smillie, managing director of Psion Teklogix (UK) describes how three diverse operations have brought significant efficiencies to their supply chains by implementing voice recognition systems
Three out of every four UK businesses wary of their email integrity
January 18, 2008
UK Businesses hope they will not be called before the court to share email evidence
RFID is Poised for Change
09 January 2008
Article by Dr Peter Harrop PhD
The prosperous RFID business is on track to grow from about $5 billion in 2007 today to over $25 billion in 2017
Lightening the Burden of Proof (of Delivery)
19 December 2007
by Bob Goodwin, director of Digital Vision
Automating key accounts receivable functions such as handling PoD notes helps to speed up cashflow, and makes a big impact on customer relations
Why there may be more to computing than Moore’s Law
14 December 2007
by Alan Woodward, Chief Technology Officer at the business and information technology consultancy Charteris plc.
Manufacturing in UK regains lost momentum
07 December 2007
November data from CIPS/NTC Economics indicated that the rate of expansion of UK manufacturing production recovered most of the momentum lost in the previous month.
Getting the edge
30 November 2007
by Matt Dunstan, Application Platform Group Manager, Microsoft
Maximise your talent: Research identifies key challenges for business
23 November 2007
The key challenges inherent in uncovering and managing talent within UK organisations have been identified in research published by the Chartered Management Institute and Ashridge Business School.
Unhappy customers can be good for your business
14 November 2007
Charter UK has announced that companies should be actively encouraging customers to complain
Manufacturing output eased to a nine-month low in October as new orders slowed
08 November 2007
Data from the latest CIPS/NTC survey of the UK manufacturing sector indicated that growth of the sector lost further momentum in October.
Active RFID and RTLS in manufacturing
02 November 2007
By Dr. Peter Harrop
The ultimate supply chain and the ideal control of parts, materials, work in progress and finished goods in manufacturing will be provided by Real Time Locating Systems, ultimately with sensing as well.
Manufacturers are more pessimistic after credit squeeze
25 October 2007
UK manufacturers have become more pessimistic about the business environment in the wake of the credit crunch, the latest quarterly CBI Industrial Trends survey has revealed.
ERP systems must be more agile
18 October 2007
New survey shows ERP applications need to become more responsive to meet changing business requirements.
Supplier Relationship Management: Steps to Successful Supplier - Buyer Partnerships
03 October 2007
By Sara Ireton, Assistant Vice President. JPMorgan
The relationship between a supplier and buyer can be a complex one. Each party wants to maximize its time, resources, and cash investment; these may be competing priorities that can strain the relationship.
Fancy a boost from the taxman?
27 September 2007
It’s not often the taxman gives you money, but here’s a chance to give your company a competitive edge with a helping hand from HM Revenue & Customs.
Supply and demand
20 September 2007
Following on from our special 10th Anniversary Report on Manufacturing software in May’s edition of Manufacturing & Logistics IT, we now point the spotlight on some of industry’s key Supply Chain Management and Warehouse Management System vendors who consider some of the most striking developments within their market over the past decade …
China remains number one location for manufacturers
13 September 2007
Manufacturers are facing a number of pressures on their Chinese operations such as product safety concerns, rising labour costs, increased cost of raw materials and higher inflation.
How much of your WMS are you using?
30 August 2007
By Alex Mills, sales & marketing director, Chess Logistics Technology.
Warehouse Management Systems are reaching serious levels of complexity
Boom in RFID will be reflected in Europe's Leading Conference
23 August 2007
By Dr. Peter Harrop, IDTechEx
As the $5 billion RFID market moves strongly to over $25 billion in ten years, advances are on a broad front.
SME manufacturers see domestic demand grow at fastest rate for a decade – CBI
17 August 2007
Small and medium-sized manufacturers have reported the highest rate of growth in domestic orders since 1997, and continue to enjoy firm demand overall, according to the CBI's latest quarterly SME survey.
Rapid adoption of RFID in manufacturing and logistics sectors
09 August 2007
By Peter Harrop, IDTechEx
RFID is mainly a card business today and more is spent on RFID in China than in any other country.
Supply Chain Collaboration essential for eco-friendly logistics operations-SCALA Consulting Annual Logistics Debate
02 August 2007
More environmental logistics strategies and operations will come - but this will be as a result of consumer pressure and will require collaboration between supply chain partners and a culture of trust.
‘M’ SP
19 July 2007
by Alan Davis, Senior Vice-President, Kaseya UK
The market for Managed Service Providers is growing, but how many of their potential clients really know what a MSP does, and what to expect from them?
Poor contingency planning puts supplier relationships under threat
12 July 2007
Automotive suppliers that don’t conduct proper contingency planning in their logistics chain will come under increasing scrutiny by their OEM customers
The ‘next evolution’ in mobile computing in supply chain execution
06 July 2007
by Dick Sorenson, Director, RFID Products, LXE
The globalisation of markets and supply chains puts mounting pressures on warehousing and distribution operations.
The View From 10,000 Feet: How High-Tech Can Learn From Aerospace & Defence
28 June 2007
By Gavin Hartland, Director of Marketing & Alliances EMEA, Servigistics
We all spend our days immersed in our own industry, looking for ways of improving the way we do things from within.
Mind the Gap: Minimise the risk of failure for your investment in mobile technology
21 June 2007
By Julie Purves, Managing Director of B2M Solutions
Moving to mobile technology will always be a big investment for any organisation.
Complacency ‘rife in IT projects’
14 June 2007
A survey just out by HP and the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has found that many European IT workers are not being held responsible for delivering projects late.
Show IT who's boss
07 June 2007
By Rod Horrocks of Procertis and Ken Gorf of West Trax.
The Shocking Cost of Holding Stock
25 May 2007
Evidence shows us that even today, it is commonly accepted that the cost of holding stock to a business is between 4 and 10% (on top of the stock’s value). However, research has shown that the real figure is nearer 40%
Taking control of global logistics
17 May 2007
By Dominic Regan of Oracle Transportation Management
Manufacturers aware; emerging markets still a risky business?
10 May 2007
Manufacturers with operations in the emerging markets are failing to properly assess the risks posed to their business, says Sir Digby Jones, Senior Adviser to Deloitte.
Business transformation now an integral part of management, say 86% of European senior executives
03 May 2007
In a survey of enterprise level companies* released by Capgemini Consulting in partnership with the Economist Intelligence Unit, Western European businesses have launched on average seven major transformation programmes in the past three years.
Distribution and the wider supply chain
26 April 2007
By Richard House, Managing Director, FuturMaster
With tighter deadlines, higher freight costs and increased demand unpredictability, how can manufacturers and distributors ensure their extended supply chain network is best geared to improving delivery, stock and production efficiencies while enhancing customer service?
Increasing globalisation puts pressure on supply chain systems
19 April 2007
The trend for companies to source globally is having a major impact on the design and performance of supply chain systems, according to the latest survey of this market from PMP Research
S&T Survey: Clients rate quality of service higher than price
10 April 2007
Quality, efficiency and a smooth working relationship determine client satisfaction
Broadband providers must diversify to sustain SME spend, says Analysys
05 April 2007
Broadband providers must look to broadband managed services to sustain small and medium-sized enterprise spend in Western Europe according to a new report
Supply chain performance ‘hampered by partner competencies’
26 March 2007
PRTM reveals the findings from its annual European Supply Chain Trends Survey
The benefits of RFID technology
22 March 2007
By Rob McGregor, RFID project manager at Toshiba TEC
RFID has been in existence for many decades but it is only now that RFID is being increasingly used in many different applications
Local SMEs Risk Losing Major Customers in 2007
13 March 2007
By Mike Osborne, Managing Director, ICM Business Continuity Services
Following the launch of BS25999, the first British Standard for business continuity management, local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) must act swiftly to put business continuity arrangements in place, or risk losing their biggest customers in 2007.
The Science of Shipping
09 March 2007
Mailstream technology company Pitney Bowes has conducted the most extensive report yet into take-up and usage of intelligent shipping solutions.
Measurement: the ‘magic arrow’ in your quiver of management skills
22 February 2007
Measuring business activity properly, which means ensuring an intimate link between the measurements and your overall strategic objectives, is a powerful competitive weapon. JEROME LONG explains why.
Taking the 'high-end' view for balancing demand and supply
21 February 2007
By embracing Sales & Operations Planning manufacturers are better able to take a 'high-end' view of all critical data and thus determine the very best route for balancing demand and supply, argues Richard House, managing director, FuturMaster.
RFID – one bit at a time!
20 February 2007
Migration from today's bar code infrastructure to a financially advantageous RFID future.
The case for going mobile
by Stuart Scott, Senior Director, International Marketing, Intermec Technologies
Modern wireless technologies can offer transportation and logistics companies benefits far beyond any previously available. Rugged handheld computers, wireless and automated data collection technologies bring useable information to the field and make capturing and collecting information more efficient then ever.
The ERP Implementation Trinity: How to deliver on the promise
01 February 2007
Written by Rod Horrocks, Business Development Director – Procertis Ltd
How did ERP become one of the most tarnished silver bullets of business change – and what can we do to unlock its potential?
The future’s not bright unless it's ‘green’
26 January 2007
CILT anniversary report considers the next 80 years in logistics and transport
The benefits of working with local companies
17 January 2007
Mark Griffiths, Managing Director of Codify (pictured) recommends that companies considering outsourcing should look for value for money rather than the lowest possible price.
MRO Spend Control: The next step on the road to manufacturing efficiency?
11 January 2007
Terry Wilcox, Commercial Director at Proactis, the Spend Control Company, explains how manufacturers can take their IT investment to the next level in order to achieve greater efficiencies in an increasingly competitive market.
The route to optimised planning for the global supply chain
10 January 2007
By Richard House, managing director, FuturMaster
Customers are requiring manufacturers to supply goods at ever cheaper rates, while also insisting they accurately fulfil shorter delivery times.
Critical components: What you need to know about product traceability
13 December 2006
Food and beverage companies face intense competition and extremely tight margins in the manufacture and distribution of their products...article by Marcus Bennett (pictured right) and Hugh Murphy (pictured left), 3M Supply Chain Solutions
Getting better visibility into the pharmaceutical pipeline via voice directed work
Pharmaceutical companies are embracing these challenges by turning to Voice-Directed Distribution in their distribution centres (DC) as a core component of their supply chain management.
A pharmaceutical co-op with a competitive edge
27 November 2006
Sophisticated and flexible software is key to Itriafarma, an Italian pharmaceutical cooperative, which takes pride in being a technology leader in its industry.
A silver bullet—how to effectively integrate mobile data capture solutions with SAP
20 November 2006
PEAK Technologies’ Werner Hinze presents three very different options on how best to integrate mobile data solutions with SAP—but what’s the best way to eliminate errors within the supply chain?
Improve your WMS for a healthier supply chain
15 November 2006
Alex Mills, Chess Logistics, presents suggestions to boost WMS performance to support improved supply chain performance in the healthcare and pharmaceutical markets.
A healthy supply chain helps the medicine go down
06 November 2006
In early 2001, Healthcare Logistics started work on the creation of a purpose-built warehouse for the UK pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. In parallel, the company also launched a search for a warehouse management system that could automate the facility.
Do you have the right prescription for global demand planning visibility?
30 October 2006
Karin Bursa, vice-president, marketing, Logility inc., describes how a demand planning solution can assist pharmaceutical companies to improve operational performance and streamline complex supply chain networks.
Why healthy pharma manufacturing needs full integration
23 October 2006
Tony Brooks, Exel Computer Systems, looks at why pharmaceutical manufacturers need to get to grips with integrating their systems for improving business processes and overcoming data issues.
Deploying voice in cold and frozen food logistics
13 October 2006
Voice technology replaces paper-based picking at cold-storage logistics specialist Primafrost. The solution has boosted productivity by more than 20 per cent and the quality of work has improved significantly.
Preactor provides nourishing planning and scheduling solution for Hitchen Foods
02 October 2006
In order to continually improve its performance as a leading food supplier, and in order to enhance further the company’s mantra of quality, freshness and speed, Hitchen Foods decided to source a state-of-the-art advanced planning and scheduling software solution.
Integrated solution provides the recipe for success
27 September 2006
Heinz Belgium realised that its legacy system was unable to keep up with the company’s rapidly shifting needs and explosive growth once it was acquired by the Heinz Group. The company was looking for an integrated software solution to fit all its business needs...

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