Results for: supply chain

According to the Federal Reserve, industrial production rose 0.4% in February and March 2024, following a 0.8% decline in January. However, the overall performance for the first quarter showed a decline at an annual rate of 1.8%. The manufacturing index from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) indicated expansion in March, but the average for the quarter remained below 50%. Despite late-quarter growth in new orders, the Industrial Products sector is expected to report a 1.6% decline in top-line revenue for Q1 due to weak demand earlier in the quarter. The sector continues to face challenges from high inflation, raw material availability, and labor and trucking shortages. While supply chain improvements have been noted, companies are implementing cost-control measures and pursuing pricing actions to mitigate these challenges. Earnings for the first quarter are projected to decline 3.8% year over year. Some major industrial stocks, including Caterpillar (CAT), W.W. Grainger (GWW), Dover Corporation (DOV), Ball Corporation (BALL), and Avery Dennison (AVY), are expected to release their earnings during the week and will significantly impact market sentiment.

Rhonda Dibachi, CEO of HeyScottie, emphasizes the need for pricing transparency in the U.S. manufacturing industry. She argues that digitization and eliminating FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) are crucial for innovation, competition, and economic growth. By embracing transparent pricing models, manufacturers can streamline processes, reduce uncertainty, and level the playing field.

GXO Logistics (NYSE: GXO) has renewed its long-standing partnership with Mars in France, extending their collaboration for another term. The partnership, which began 15 years ago, encompasses a comprehensive range of logistics services, including storage, distribution, returns, and value-added services for Mars’ snacking and food & nutrition brands. As part of the renewed agreement, GXO plans to implement innovative solutions on-site, such as an automated inventory system, and will increase rail utilization to three trains per week.

Federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan has appointed Vince Ready to chair a two-person Industrial Inquiry Commission to investigate labour relations at West Coast ports. The commission will aim to identify ways to ensure stability and prevent disruptions such as last year’s strike.

Continuing its robotics implementation, Walmart will deploy 19 fully autonomous FoxBot Class 1 electric forklifts at four distribution centers. The FoxBots are designed to alleviate manual labor requirements at loading docks and have processed over 3 million pallet pulls since their introduction in 2021.

Rumors about Apple’s plans to incorporate capacitive buttons into a future iPhone model continue to circulate. According to a recent supply chain report, the company has placed an order for a capacitive button system that may replace the physical buttons on the iPhone 16. The order includes a system-in-a-package module and additional Taptic Engine components to provide vibration feedback when the buttons are pressed. While the report suggests that Apple is moving towards capacitive buttons, it is essential to approach this information with skepticism as there have been no other corroborating reports.