Intelligent distribution optimizes distribution decisions, at each stop of the cold chain, based on the remaining shelf life of each pallet. It creates uniform shelf-life pallets and shipments and is key to maximizing the shelf life of produce at each process step in the end-to-end supply chain. Implementing these approaches can cut losses in half for retailers and growers.
Content Types
These are not topical or industry-specific categories, but rather types of content.
Environmental Markets – Part Two
What are the costs and benefits of market-based environmental policies and how are they relevant to supply chain leaders? Public policy outcomes addressing ‘tragedy of the commons’ issues affect supply chain operations, and the decisions supply chain practitioners make. Here, we explore the pros and cons of market-based policies compared to other approaches to environmental policy.
The Brief – June 2023
Realizing Africa’s Potential, Market-Driven Environmental Policies, Intelligent Distribution of Produce Enabled by Pallet-level Temperature Monitoring
Realizing Africa’s Potential – Part Two
The tremendous untapped potential of Africa’s abundant resources is being decimated by autocratic regimes, corruption, and conflicts. A Russian defeat in Ukraine could help weaken Russia’s grip on Africa, diminishing the cycle of corruption and instability in Africa. Russia and its proxy, the Wagner Group, enrich themselves by propping up pernicious regimes. Profits from natural resources are thereby not reinvested in the countries’ infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
Realizing Africa’s Potential – Part One
Africa possesses vital natural and human resources that the rest of the world will desperately need this century. Sadly, these resources are being decimated by autocratic regimes, corruption, and conflicts. Profits from natural resources are pilfered by despots and their supporters, rather than being reinvested in African countries’ infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
Pallet-level Monitoring – Part One
Pallet-level monitoring enables a more intelligent approach to distribution—Intelligent distribution and FEFO inventory management (First Expired, First Out)—as well as providing the data needed to optimize end-to-end processes for maximum shelf life. Implementing these approaches can cut losses in half for retailers and growers.
Environmental Markets – Part One
Supply chain leaders are in a position to lobby for or influence public policies. What policy is in their best interest when dealing with ‘tragedy of the commons’ issues, such as pollution or resource depletion? Is it better to maintain business as usual/laissez-faire, support regulation, or advocate for market-based solutions? Here we explore the tradeoffs.
The Brief – May 2023
Pallet-level Monitoring – Maximizing Fresh Food Shelf-life, Environmental Markets – Solution for Tragedy of Commons Problems?, Realizing Africa’s Potential – Endemic Corruption and Conflict Frustrates Africa’s Tremendous Potential
Scenario Planning for Supply Chain Risk Management – Part Two
We examine how to weigh and prioritize multiple supply chain risk mitigation options and the use of monitoring and triggers to guide level-headed decision making during a crisis, using the risk of a China-Taiwan-US war as an example. We also look at various other examples of high-uncertainty risks where our framework could be usefully applied.
Carbon-Offset LNG: Africa’s Transitional Fuel
Carbon-Offset LNG provides a transition fuel to help the world meet carbon emissions reduction goals, especially in the near-term. Africa has a combination of substantial natural gas reserves and opportunities for legitimate large-scale carbon-offset projects, such as massive afforestation efforts across the entire Sahel.
Green Hydrogen’s Role in Enabling Zero-Emissions Transportation – Part One
Hydrogen is likely to play a key role as we transition to low/zero-emissions transport. While battery-powered vehicles dominate in cars and light trucks, it will be a different story for ocean-faring ships and possibly for long-haul trucks and trains, where the unique advantages of hydrogen-derived fuels are more important.