Logistics, Trade Administration and Supply Chain

Recently, a massive explosion took place at the Port of Beirut, Lebanon that caused the death of almost 200 people and more than 5000 people were injured. The port explosion had also rocked the entire City of Beirut to as far as 9 kilometers in distance. The explosion in the port had came from the port warehouse where about 2750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate were found to have been stored there since 2014, when a Russian vessel, MV Rhosus destined to Mozambique stopped at the port due to financial constraint of the vessel's owner which had resulted to a mutiny among the crews onboard. The vessel was then detained by the port authorities for operation violation, unpaid port fees and many complaints by the Russian and Ukrainian crews over their unpaid salaries and shortage of supplies. The sailing to its original destination was never resume since.  As the result, the cargos on the vessel, including that of the 2750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate which was considered a Dangerous Cargo (DG) ...

This article first appeared in the Business Times on 2 March 2020. Outbound freight rates are skyrocketing on the back of weeks-long labour shortage and disruptions to logistics links that continue to dog operations in China, although there is still international air and ocean capacity, albeit much reduced from before, according to industry players. This is set to catch on in airfreight sectors elsewhere too as the coronavirus spreads through Europe and potentially Latin America and the African subcontinent, warned Raymon Krishnan, president of The Logistics and Supply Chain Management Society. Reduced airfreight capacities have resulted in rates “going through the roof” with rates doubling or tripling for flights leaving China, said Dr Krishnan. “I also just heard that some are paying up to six times the regular rates.” The situation is also worsened by the cancellation of thousands of passenger flights to and from mainland China, resulting in the reduction in belly capacity for ca...

Key performance indicators (KPIs) provide an invaluable way to judge the efficacy of operations, determine opportunities for improvement, improve customer experiences , and better manage supply chain functions, including warehouse management.  Supply chain leaders that wish to remain proactive to risks of disruption and improve operations through 2020 and beyond need to understand the top warehouse KPIs and how they can mean the difference between success and failure. This blog is the first in a two-part series where Veridian, a supply chain technology implementation company, will share the top 19 warehouse KPIs that track performance in the following areas: 1. Internal Operations 2. Staffing 3. Suppliers 4. Customers Let’s cover the top 10 warehouse KPIs for supply chain leaders and warehouse managers to succeed in 2020. (1) Internal Operations—Shrinkage of Inventory: Inventory shrinkage refers to the amount of inventory listed in the accounting records, but such inventory...

With the millennial generation increasingly joining the workforce, industries are tailoring their businesses to the young, technology-driven generation. At least one area employer would like to present the logistics industry for millennials' consideration. “The demographics have been changing in the workforce, from the statistics I've seen,” said Jim Handoush, CEO of Network FOB, a third-party logistics firm . “By 2030, the majority of the workforce will be 18 to 30 years old. It's an entrepreneurial business, and millennials want to be entrepreneurs.” Somewhat abstractly, the way logistics companies operate can be appealing to younger generations, Handoush said. Logistics provides not only day-to-day variety but also variety throughout the day. Because there's the characterization that the younger generation needs instant gratification, logistics can be ideal. “While working in the operations environment, you're moving a shipment from A to B,” he said. “A lot of...

How do you solve a problem like Maria (or Mike) the millennial? There’s no need to elaborate here on the well-publicized complaints about employees from Generation Y, the term commonly used to refer to those born between 1984 and 1996. A quick explore on Google will uncover a treasure trove of generation-gap-inspired bellyaching. Generation Z (born after 1997), just beginning to enter the workforce, is now facing its own list of complaints. More worthy of discussion is what are the potential consequences of failing to solve the problems associated with hiring, training and retaining Gen Xers and Zers, and how we actually go about fixing those problems, especially in the logistics industry. Overall unemployment in the U.S. currently stands at 3.9 percent, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics typically records an even lower rate in the transportation and warehousing sector. Every day brings more news of the truck driver shortage, as well as short-handedness in the warehouse. Worse, ther...

INTRODUCTION Knowledge in shipping i.e. import and export process and documentations is an crucial part of the supply chain process. In import and export activities, there are various kind of documentations involved. During importations, you may require to adhere to various kinds of procedures such as import permit, product certifications, inspection report, pharmaceutical approvals whereas for export, you may require up to found kinds of contract like, sales agreement, contract of carriage, contract of finance and contract of cargo insurance. The shipper or importer is also required to comply to requirements of the consignee’s or exporters country. These requirements changes frequently and very often irregular documents creates confusion and resulting to delay of customs clearance and delivery of goods. Incoterms are the key rules of shipping in determining how costs and risks are allocated to the parties and can reduce conflict among traders, therefore minimise trade disputes an...

INTRODUCTION In wake of the September 11, 2001 terror attack on the US establishment, the Bureau of Customs & Border Protection (CBP) initiated a tighter security at US borders and cautioned the business community on the possible breaches in cargo security. It also prompted CBP to initiate a security program known as the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT). This joint initiative between the CBP and the business community worldwide will not only help to strengthen the supply chain security but it will also give visible benefits to those companies choosing to participate. In exchange for implementing improve security measures and communicating security requirements to their business partners, importers can expect to reduce inspection proceedings and achieve quicker of imported freight. COURSE OBJECTIVES The objective of this program is to provide awareness on the various proceedings outlined in C-TPAT to enhance security throughout the supply chain in a...