Integrating AI into every facet of our lives
Good morning! To all the supply chain enthusiasts, welcome to your Thursday edition of our daily newsletter. We hope you're ready for another day of valuable insights and updates in the ever-evolving world of supply chain management. Let's dive in!
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Our world is ever-changing. Self-driving cars sitting in our garages at home have morphed into the development of self-driving big rigs on our freeways. Soon, self-driving strollers could be the latest trend. Yes, you heard that right. A new AI-driven stroller has been released for public consumption, on sale for a mere $3,300. What could be next for the integration of Artificial Intelligence?
Check out today’s featured article from USA Today to dive into the wacky world of the AI of the future. Evolving from self-driving sedans to self-driving strollers, how will the global populace react to the growing number of hands-free products entering the marketplace? What are the benefits and risks? ☕️
Featured Article:
Self-driving strollers and hands-free pickup trucks: What could possibly go wrong? | USA Today
“Do you want to be one of those luddites whose baby stroller requires the archaic act of pushing? Can you seriously handle the embarrassment of driving your pickup truck with both hands on the wheel?”
Warehousing & Company Culture 🎉
NY calls Amazon’s DC “steep” performance standards into question
Amazon and its fulfillment center operations are under fire as the state of New York aims to tear down “overly tough” productivity standards - similar to laws recently passed in California. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed the Warehouse Worker Protection Act into law - legislation that forces companies employing warehouse workers to provide written descriptions of set quotas for operations. Those quotas also must be able to be met without missing restroom and rest breaks.
With the speedy growth of next-day consumer package delivery, warehouse workers are growing increasingly strained in the workplace. Warehouse workers, like all workers, have a right to a safe and healthy work environment. Setting reasonable quotas can help ensure that the demands placed on warehouse workers do not become excessive and lead to burnout or other mental health issues. When workers are expected to perform at levels that are not sustainable, it can lead to increased stress and anxiety, which can negatively impact their physical and mental well-being. Furthermore, the high-paced and repetitive nature of the tasks associated with warehousing can exacerbate the problem if not managed properly. Therefore, it's important for employers to establish reasonable quotas to protect the mental health of their workers, and also for long-term productivity and reduce turnover rate.
American Politics & Regulations ⚖️
White House releases decarbonization plan for domestic and international transportation sector
The Biden Administration’s Departments of Energy, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency have joined forces to release a blueprint for the transportation sector. The move coincides with the government’s plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve net-zero emissions economy-wide, by 2050. These aggressive plans have raised some questions, but the landmark strategy is moving forward. The plan notes that intergovernmental collaboration is required when tackling carbonization issues in the maritime industry, which is international in nature.
The maritime industry is responsible for a significant portion of global carbon emissions, and as such, decarbonization efforts are crucial in order to address the ongoing climate crisis. The shipping sector is responsible for about 2-3% of global greenhouse gas emissions and those emissions are projected to increase by between 50-250% by 2050 without action.
Let’s Get Global 🌎
Oil GIF via GIPHY
🛢️ US crude oil production is expected to have record growth by 2024. The United States should make up the vast majority of non-OPEC oil growth as the country’s oil drillers work overtime. However, a surplus next year can cause other problems. The oil drilling industry in America is a major sector of the country's economy, responsible for the exploration, extraction, and production of crude oil and natural gas. Oil drilling in the United States takes place primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and onshore in states such as Texas, North Dakota, and Alaska. Drilling techniques used include traditional vertical drilling as well as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking.
💻 The global chip shortage just keeps on keeping on. The global economy has been recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to an increase in demand for a wide range of consumer and industrial goods that require semiconductors, such as smartphones, laptops, automobiles, and factory automation equipment. This high demand has put pressure on the semiconductor supply chain, leading to shortages of certain types of chips. Factories were also closed or had reduced capacity due to quarantine measures and social distancing requirements, which led to supply chain disruptions and delays in the production of chips. Semiconductor manufacturers are currently operating at full capacity, and it is difficult and time-consuming to increase production to meet the current level of demand. Building new manufacturing facilities or upgrading existing ones can take several years and requires significant investments.
🧚♀️ Are “fairytale” net-zero mandates only going to end in tears? Net-zero emissions mandates, which aim to achieve zero net greenhouse gas emissions, are increasingly being adopted by governments and companies around the world as a way to combat climate change. However, there are several potential pitfalls that need to be considered when implementing such mandates. High costs, technological constraints, potential negatives effects on the economy, uneven distribution, challenging metrics to measure emissions, limited international cooperation, and the questions behind carbon offsetting… there’s a reason for pros and cons lists!
iLevel With You 🏡
More topics for the average American household to consider…
🥊 Noncompete clauses in employment contracts are at risk of being axed, but why keep them? That’s the question being posed by Real Clear Markets contributor John Tamny, who tackles the headlining subject in a recent article. In the opinion piece, Tamny suggests that noncompete clauses in employment contracts can be detrimental to businesses in the long run for several reasons. They can limit the mobility and job opportunities for employees, which can make it difficult for businesses to attract and retain top talent. Noncompete clauses can also stifle innovation and competition within an industry, often being difficult to enforce and leading to legal disputes between businesses.
✈️ Domestic air travel was briefly paused by FAA after a system outage. Air travel has had a rough few weeks in the United States. The Federal Aviation Administration’s system that communicates with pilots suffered a short outage on Wednesday morning and forced a nationwide pause of departing planes. While the system was back up and running by 9 AM EST, flights continued to be delayed throughout the day. Airlines for America, an industry group that represents major U.S. carriers, noted that the outage does not seem to be the result of any foreign cyberattack. White House secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tweeted the notion as well - likely to calm any fears of cyber threats to the American aviation system.
📆 No post on Sundays! Famous words from Vernon Dursley are being taken to heart by FedEx Corp. The delivery courier giant is scaling back on Sunday deliveries as e-commerce demand continues to drop after the pandemic delivery boom. Beginning in mid-March, the company will be pulling the delivery service on the day of relaxation for more than 50% of the country. Sunday deliveries will continue to proceed as normal in “densely populated areas” where demand remains strong - think big cities and their close proximity suburbs.
GET SMART 🧠
Ramp up that brain power for these advanced topics…
🚙 CES shows off the latest trends with car tech. Artificial Intelligence and Electric Vehicles were, of course, all the rage at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this year. Automakers BMZ, Honda, Ram, and Volkswagen were all major displays on the floor - showcasing their latest models and concepts with the latest technology on the market. Consumers have a lot to look forward to!
💾 Getting digital: supply chains are evolving to meet the future of demand. Key strategies such as implementing automated systems, utilizing digital tools for inventory management, connecting suppliers and partners digitally, implementing IoT solutions, and blockchain technology will all assist supply chains to gain a better understanding.
♻️ ESG and procurement should go hand-in-hand. ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy requirements are increasingly being integrated into procurement practices in the supply chain. ESG strategies focus on promoting sustainable practices, ethical business behavior, and social responsibility in the operations of a company and its suppliers. In procurement, this often means evaluating and selecting suppliers based on their adherence to ESG principles. For example, a company may prioritize suppliers that have demonstrated a commitment to reducing their carbon footprint, treating workers fairly, or complying with anti-corruption regulations.
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.