Artificial Intelligence: fight it or embrace it?
Good morning! As we observe National Missing Persons Day, it is important to reflect on the importance of effective communication and collaboration in all aspects of our lives, including our supply chain operations. Just as families and communities come together to search for missing loved ones, the success of a supply chain depends on the seamless flow of information and resources between all parties involved.
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) can enable people to get more done than previous generations of workers in several ways - including automation of repetitive tasks, increased efficiency, and improved decision-making. AI can also operate 24/7, providing support and services even when human workers are not available, enabling people to get more done around the clock.
Some are concerned that the wave of new AI on the market could be a detriment to humanity, but others are arguing that it is the tool of the century.
Check out today’s featured article from Supply Chain Management Review to read about the ongoing AI launches that are transforming the supply chain and other industries, across the board. Should human workers be concerned? Or is this just the beginning of the most productive working generation yet? ☕️
Featured Article:
The more things change, the more they stay the same | Supply Chain Management Review
“Just as with other technologies, AI will enable people to get more done than previous generations of workers. “
Driver Issues & Health 🚛
To address driver shortage, companies should refocus on driver health
Improving truck driver health is a critical component in addressing the truck driver shortage and reducing turnover rates in the trucking industry. By addressing the health and wellness needs of their drivers, trucking companies can improve driver satisfaction, performance, and compliance with regulations, while also controlling healthcare costs and enhancing their reputation as an employer of choice.
By addressing the health and wellness needs of their drivers, trucking companies can create a positive and supportive work environment that attracts and retains drivers, reducing turnover rates and mitigating the truck driver shortage. Healthy truck drivers are more likely to be productive, alert, and safe on the road, leading to improved performance and reduced accidents. By promoting healthy behaviors and preventative care, trucking companies can reduce the long-term costs associated with treating health problems and chronic conditions, helping to control healthcare costs for both the company and the driver.
Additionally, truck drivers are subject to strict regulations regarding hours of service and medical certification, and addressing driver health can help trucking companies ensure compliance with these regulations and avoid penalties and fines. Notably, by prioritizing driver health and wellness, trucking companies can improve their reputation as an employer of choice, attracting new drivers and retaining existing ones.
Leadership & Company Culture 🎉
Supply chain leaders should consider offering “grace” to foster a better work environment
Offering grace is a key leadership quality that can have a significant impact on the success of a supply chain. By building trust, encouraging innovation, improving morale, reducing stress, and building resilience, supply chain leaders can create a positive and productive work environment that drives success and growth in their organizations.
Supply chain leaders can offer grace to their companies in order to become better leaders because it has several benefits, including:
Building trust: By offering grace and forgiveness, supply chain leaders can build trust with their employees, suppliers, and customers, which is critical to creating a positive and productive work environment.
Encouraging innovation: When leaders offer grace, they create a culture of experimentation and risk-taking, where employees and suppliers are more likely to propose new ideas and take risks, which can lead to innovation and improvement in the supply chain.
Improving morale: By offering grace and forgiveness, leaders can improve morale and increase job satisfaction among their employees and suppliers, which can lead to higher engagement and productivity.
Reducing stress: A culture of grace can reduce stress and tension in the workplace, allowing employees and suppliers to focus on their work and contribute their best to the company.
Building resilience: By offering grace, leaders can help build resilience in their organizations, allowing employees and suppliers to recover from setbacks and challenges more quickly and effectively.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
Spongebob Squarepants Ngapa GIF By The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run via GIPHY
🌬️ Asia’s offshore wind farms are facing major challenges. A shortage of ships to transfer the massive wind turbines to their locations from shore to sea has been a pitfall of the continent’s green energy project. The blades of the turbines are getting longer and require bigger vessels to move them, causing more of a backup as the number of ships capable of this shrink substantially. Offshore wind turbine installation is a complex and multi-step process that requires careful planning, coordination, and specialized equipment and expertise. Companies involved in offshore wind energy must have a deep understanding of the installation process to ensure the successful and efficient deployment of these structures.
🚛 Cross-border freight transportation involves layers of complexities. Different countries have different regulations regarding cross-border trade, including customs, duties, taxes, and tariffs, which can be challenging to navigate and comply with. Cross-border transportation requires coordination between multiple carriers and modes of transportation and can be impacted by customs inspections, border wait times, and other logistical challenges. Additionally, cross-border transportation can be impacted by security concerns, including theft, fraud, and terrorism, requiring logistics providers and carriers to take additional security measures to ensure the safety of their shipments.
🇸🇦 Saudi Aramco invests in ammonia-powered transportation. The company specializing in the new fuel tech, Brooklyn-based Amogy, is one of the leaders in ammonia-based alternative fuels. Co-founder and CEO Seonghoon Woo spoke highly of the company’s proprietary technology and praised its efforts toward clean shipping. Saudi Aramco, its newest investor, is the state-owned oil company of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world. Saudi Aramco is a major global player in the energy industry and has a significant impact on the world's economy and energy supply.
iLevel With You 🏡
More topics for the average American household to consider…
💸 The Federal Reserve raised the interest rates by a quarter point this week. What does this mean for you? Well, the good news is that it's a rate increase that’s slightly smaller than the previous rate hikes, but it also brings the rate to its highest level in fifteen years. Fears of a recession have not yet been swayed, and inflation cannot be stifled so easily. But the Fed remains strong-willed that an eventually cooled economy will begin to normalize the situation. However, if you’re planning on buying a home, a car, or a large appliance… you’re likely to feel the burn on this one - again.
👨👩👧👦 The White House to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act. President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton will unite at an event this week to spotlight the famous piece of legislation that guaranteed qualified American workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid time off. This time off could be a result of the birth or adoption of a child, the care of a close family member with a serious health condition, or the employee's own serious health condition. The FMLA also requires that health benefits be maintained during the leave.
😓 Small business burdens may trigger permanent regulatory reform. When small businesses are significantly impacted by burdensome regulations, they may organize and advocate for change. If their advocacy efforts are successful in attracting public and political support, it can lead to regulatory reform. The reform may take the form of modifying existing regulations or creating new ones that are more manageable for small businesses. However, the process of permanent regulatory reform can be slow and difficult, as it often involves navigating complex bureaucratic processes and overcoming political and economic hurdles.
🌀 Appliance manufacturer Whirlpool referenced supply chain issues for production hit. Reporting a 5% decline in production volumes in Q4, Whirlpool cited a specific “one-off” supplier disruption that affected production over the quarter. CFO Jim Peters did not give specifics on what the disruption was caused by but added that those details were confidential and that the company was in ongoing discussions regarding the issues.
😋 Curious about how the Skittles supply chain operates? Everything Supply Chain is sharing the details along with a helpful Youtube video for visual purposes. Customers of the famous candy should care about the process due to understanding the quality of the product, ensuring that the product is safe to eat, as well as ethical considerations. Understanding the supply chain for Skittles can give customers insight into the ethical and environmental practices of the company and the suppliers involved in making and distributing the product.
Get Smart 🧠
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
🇺🇸 Methods of travel for US Presidents have evolved significantly over time. In the early days of the United States, Presidents traveled primarily by horse-drawn carriage or on horseback. As transportation technology has advanced, so have the modes of travel used by US Presidents. The purpose of the change in methods of travel was to allow Presidents to move more efficiently and to reach more places, both domestically and internationally, in order to conduct official business and represent the country.
💪 Strengthen your customer base with a warehouse management system. A supply chain company can cultivate a better customer base using WMS (Warehouse Management System) add-on technology by improving the accuracy and speed of order fulfillment and enhancing customer communication. By providing customers with real-time access to inventory and order information, the company can increase transparency and build trust with customers. WMS add-ons can automate manual processes, such as order tracking, invoicing, and shipping, freeing up time and resources to focus on customer needs.
🚛 Should intermodal delivery incorporate autonomous vehicles? In the use of drones in intermodal transit, companies should consider cost, as both AVs and drones have different costs associated with development, deployment, and maintenance. Companies should consider the total cost of ownership, including the initial investment and ongoing operational expenses. Companies should also consider the current and future regulatory landscape and how it may impact the deployment of these technologies.
🔎 What is the line between data and fact within the supply chain? In the supply chain, data can be both a fact and a representation of reality. Data can provide objective and accurate information about various aspects of the supply chain, such as inventory levels, shipping times, and product specifications. This type of data can be used to make informed decisions and optimize supply chain processes. However, it is important to note that data is only as good as the quality and accuracy of the data inputs. Inaccurate or incomplete data can lead to incorrect conclusions and poor decision-making.
🛍️ Retailers should focus on a better return policy. A smooth and convenient returns process can greatly improve customer satisfaction and loyalty. Customers appreciate retailers who make the returns process easy and hassle-free, and are more likely to return to these retailers in the future. Differentiating the returns process can give retailers a competitive advantage over other retailers who may have less streamlined or less customer-friendly returns policies. An efficient returns process can reduce the costs associated with handling and processing returns, such as restocking, shipping, and handling fees.
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for November 28, 2024, from iLevel Logistics Inc.