Shippers have navigated the first half of 2018 in a market of tight freight capacity -- low truck supply and high demand due to factors like the driver shortage.

We checked in with LeanCor Transportation Manager Steven Prince to review current market conditions and hear the transportation team's take on what to expect going forward.

Worksite observation, or "going to the gemba" in lean terms, is a supply chain leader's powerful tool for continuous improvement. If supply chain leaders don’t "go see" and gather facts, they may have a misinterpretation of what is really happening in the workplace. This can lead to subjective decision making and ineffective improvement efforts. 

LeanCor's supply chain consultants often find that material presentation is one of the last things companies think of when setting up a work cell or assembly line. Material presentation is a critical part of Plan For Every Part (PFEP) that should minimize excessive movement while maximizing productivity.

Here are some differences between traditional and lean presentation methods:

Order picking is the process of pulling inventory in the warehouse to fill a customer order. "Given the centrality of the order fulfillment function, order picking and replenishment operations often represent more than 50% of total DC labor costs. As a result, if a shipper can speed-up its order picking operations it can increase volume and reduce distribution costs as a percent of sales" (Supply Chain Digest).

Inbound and outbound warehouses are the bridges that drive flow in the supply chain. But designing one is a complicated process with building, financial, and storage factors. Here are four lists of criteria to consider when undergoing a warehouse design:

Lean and six sigma are industry-recognized philosophies for business improvement.  When applied to supply chain, they can drive impactful results. While six sigma is highly process-focused, supply chain is focused on the entire value stream, from process to process. This can present challenges in applying six sigma in a supply chain environment.  Lean six sigma combines both lean and six sigma methodologies together, in order to eliminate waste and improve upon processes. This can be done through reducing waste caused by transportation, inventory, motion, waiting, overproduction and over-processing, as well as minimizing defects in manufactured products.

The “Amazon effect,” is demanding more out of supply chains everywhere. This new white paper breaks down that effect, implications for business leaders across all industries, and things to consider before following suit.

"From trans-oceanic freight to truck driver shortages, from deteriorating domestic infrastructure to last mile headaches, the furniture industry faces supply chain bottlenecks that create a disconnect between manufacturer and retailer abilities and consumer expectations." - Furniture Today Magazine