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The M&W Logistics Group now has a new Facebook page.  This is a great place for you to find out more about the company, stay updated on company and logistics industry news, and to give your feedback.  Check it out, "Like" the page, and let us know what you want to see.  We are ready to use this page as an extension of our philosophy of listening to our customers.

What is a Smarter Supply Chain?

If you’ve paid much attention lately, the topic of “smart supply chains” is currently in vogue. But what is a smart supply chain, exactly? And are you trying to build one at your company? The idea of smart or intelligent supply chains has been around for some time – more on that in just a bit. However, part (but by no means all) of the recent reanimated discussion about smart supply chains has come from the efforts of IBM, which has made “smarter” supply chains one of its key marketing messages. In a report IBM released last year summarizing surveys and interviews with hundreds of senior supply chain executives (promoted in many venues since then, including SCDigest), IBM said that “To deal effectively with risk and meet your business objectives, we believe supply chains must become a lot smarter,” and called on Chief Supply Chain Officers to start building to that new vision right now. In conversations with supply chain executives, technology providers, and consultants, I would say the idea of building “smarter” supply chains is in fact gaining some traction. How did the IBM report define a smart supply chain? IBM said there are three important components. The supply chain of the future needs to be:  Instrumented: Supply chains will be supported by pervasive data collection networks that provide real-time visibility; pallets will “report if the wind up in the wrong place.”  Interconnected: We will have system-to-system integration up and down the supply chain, not only to trading partners but to machines and inventory (shop floor to top floor).  Intelligent: We will achieve better supply chain decision-making through advanced analytics and next generation optimization software. Read the rest of the article here http://www.scdigest.com/ASSETS/FirstThoughts/10-08-26-1.php?cid=3701.

What is Reverse Logistics?

Definition from Businessdictionary.com: Flow of surplus or unwanted materials, goods or equipment back to the firm, through its logistics chain for reuse, recycling or disposal.

The Reverse Logistics Association states in their "Tapping the Profit Potential of the Reverse Supply Chain" that "with competition rising and profit margins shrinking, companies are looking for new ways to maximize the revenue potential of the end-to-end value chain. By stepping back and readdressing post-sale supply chain activities, such as returns management, customer service and repair quality and processing time, you can increase a product’s lifecycle, enhance customer relationships, and ultimately, unleash the profit potential of your aftermarket programs."

If you would like to find out more information on how our reverse logistics service can fit into your supply chain, please visit our website and contact us.

Trucking should be back to normal Tuesday

Trucking officials said they may be hampered now by flooding concerns, but expect to be back at 100 percent capacity within days or — at least in one case — even by tomorrow.

“I think we’ll be back to normal very, very quickly,” said Scott McWilliams, CEO of Brentwood-based OHL, one of the world’s 50 largest third-party logistics and transportation companies.

McWilliams said between 50 and 60 percent of OHL’s Nashville-area employees could not report to work today as they watched after their homefronts.

OHL, which operates a number of distribution warehouses in the Nashville area, said several deliveries to those warehouses have been late, and have operated today at a reduced capacity shipping from those locations, none of which suffered flood damage, McWilliams said.

“Overall, I’m pretty encouraged by how everyone is reacting,” McWilliams said, citing employees that have stepped up to fill needed roles. OHL is helping the Red Cross warehouse relief supplies and is also assisting with distribution.

McWilliams said OHL — which overwhelmingly relies on trucking to serve its clients — will be at 100 percent capacity by Tuesday.

Nashville-based M&W Logistics Group should have its transportation side back to normal shortly, but warehousing operations may lag behind, according to Jason Pitt, M&W’s manager of warehousing.

“We had some drivers that did get out, so we’ll be back to normal from a transportation standpoint,” Pitt said.

Pitt and others at M&W started their Monday at 5 a.m., getting 20 semi-trucks and 30 trailers to higher ground from their location on Pumping Station Road, located on the south side of the Cumberland River. A warehouse on site has been enveloped by flood waters, though Pitt estimated the water may only be a foot high inside.

“The loss is probably not going to be as dramatic as you might think,” Pitt said. However, M&W is now in search of a food-grade storage warehouse to use on a temporary basis.

“That has set us behind a couple of days,” he said.

A delay on transportation could impact manufacturers outside of Nashville, considering the number of companies that rely on a just-in-time supply chain, said Dr. Paul Dittman, a lecturer in the Department of Marketing and Logistics at the UT Knoxville College of Business Administration.

"It could have a ripple effect," Dittmann said.

As McWilliams indicated, any disruptions will likely be short-lived, Dittmann said, especially compared to the blizzards he endured while working in the logistics industry in Chicago.

"My guess is this is not going to be that big of a thing," he said.

Though McWilliams and Pitt said they have few tie-ins with barge and rail lines, Dittmann said the popularity of both has increased in conjunction with the higher costs of trucking transportation. Area barge traffic, Dittmann said, could be disrupted for a week or more.

Calls to spokespeople for both Ingram Barge Co. and the rail company CSX have not been returned thus far.

You can reach Eric Snyder at esnyder@bizjournals.com or 615-846-4254.


Read more: Trucking should be back to normal Tuesday - Nashville Business Journal

The M&W Logistics Group, Inc. Honors its Drivers’ Excellence

Nashville, TN -- The M&W Logistics Group, Inc., a third-party logistics provider, is honored to announce that its transportation division, M&W Transportation, awarded 69 drivers with special safety awards at their 2010 M&W Company Safety Awards.

M&W is especially pleased to announce that Mike Burke and Donnie Keith were recognized for their 15 years of safe driving for M&W. In addition to his 15 years of safety, Mike Burke was also honored with a 2 million mile watch for his service to M&W and safe, accident free driving for 2 million miles. Burke was given the award and 2 million mile watch by Safety Director, Wayne Dorris (Both photographed in attachment, Mike Burke is on left receiving award from Safety Director, Wayne Dorris).

Wayne Dorris, Safety Director at The M&W Logistics Group states that “M&W Transportation continuously puts focus on safe driving which aids in the high level of service that The M&W Logistics Group, Inc. offers overall. M&W puts a lot of time in the training and safety development meetings we offer; but the company yields great return when year after year, we can award such a high number of drivers with safety awards. We are always proud of our drivers and their accomplishments.

ARC: Economic indicators remain positive

The results of ARC's latest economic indicators survey show that companies are still optimistic about the 2010 economy.

Sean Murphy -- Supply Chain Management Review, 2/2/2010

The latest data from a survey by ARC Advisory Group confirms what other analysts and economists are predicting: Things are getting better, but 2009 was a hard year, and the recovery will be slow and incremental.

The survey, ARC's Economic Indicators Survey, an ongoing monthly analysis of current economic trends, shows that key economic indicators are on the rise, particularly in manufacturing.

"There's future business on the way," ARC's Allen Avery told SCMR.

Some industries, such as automation services, will be in a good position to capitalize on the coming growth.

"They've weathered the recession very well," he said.

Past reports from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) mirror these results. ISM's PMI, the index it uses to monitor the manufacturing sector, has steadily crept upward through most of 2009, finally passing 50 percent, the marker that indicates growth.

But there's a long way to go. ISM has predicted that employment will still lag far behind other indices in the sector, and Avery agreed. The current ARC survey data, he said, shows that employment will still remain a major issue, and potentially hold back growth in 2010.

Another possible problem, Avery said, could be carbon legislation. Despite the lack of progress at the recent international gathering in Copenhagen, Avery said there is the potential for environmental legislation in the U.S. this year, which will play a part in the recovery.

Despite possible roadblocks, Avery said the overall outlook is good. Respondents to the most recent survey are cautious, but they have a positive outlook for 2010, he said.

"They're optimistic, but I think it's a guarded optimism," he said.

You can read the report, and participate in the survey, by clicking here.

To view article please click here.

Vote The M&W Logistics Group for Inbound Logistics' Top 3PL!!

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“Each year, in its July issue, Inbound Logistics publishes the most definitive resource on third-party logistics and the outsourced logistics market. If you are already a subscriber, you know that we ask our readers which third-party logistics companies provide excellent service, and publish the results. If you are not yet a subscriber, you can get a list of this year's Excellence Survey winners, as well as the Top 100 third-party companies in the world, by checking the box below.

We're now conducting next year's 3PL Excellence Survey. The results will be presented in the July 2010 3PL issue. Give us your input and we'll express our appreciation by entering you in a drawing for a free 18-carat gold Parker pen, which includes a coupon for free engraving.”

For more information on M&W's food grade warehousing or Memphis TN Logistics services , please click on the appropriate links!