Apple is rumored to have a $799 MacBook Air in the works and you can thank the company’s supply chain clout should that price come to pass. In the end, Apple’s pricing has everything to do with its supply chain. MacBook Air rides with solid-state storage and Apple has those supplies locked up. After all, ...

    

Technology makes the difference for the logistics sector, which demands efficiency and needs an edge to overcome the manpower crunch. The technology necessary to provide this edge is not cheap, and requires time and money to implement. One firm, which decided to take the initiative to be outstanding from the competition, is Mr Koh’s Addicon. ...

    

Finding competent staff, low margins and cash flow issues lead the key challenges for Australian business, according to the Private Business Barometer released by Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) today. Interestingly, with 64 percent of those surveyed expecting the carbon tax to impact on their businesses, 42 percent of those believe it will come through increased transport ...

    

Already representing over 70 percent of the global air cargo market, Cargo 2000’s quality management system has been strengthened further by Damco’s decision to join the group. Cargo 2000 now has over 80 members representing the airline, freight forwarding, ground handling, road transport, IT and airport sectors, all working to improve the quality of air ...

    

Kuehne and Nagel have introduced a wireless chip that stays active during flight, allowing monitoring of shipment temperatures – a capability particularly attractive to the pharmaceutical industry. This is thanks to a technology that does not disturb flight systems, thereby permitting it to be used during flights. K+N have been testing this device for more ...

    

LOGISTICS has clearly emerged as the dominant driver of industrial property markets in Australia, with increasing fuel costs being one of the drivers that is influencing the decision on where to site warehouses, according to a new report. Industrial property is also increasingly characterised by the trend towards fewer but larger central distribution centres, supported ...

    

The most popular search result when you google “Supply Chain dictionary” on the internet is the LSCMS website. Readers will be pleased to know that more than 5,000 terms and definitions are available FREE, off the Logistics & Supply Chain Management Society website at – www.lscms.org This resource took a number of years to compile ...

    

A Qantas flight between Sydney and Adelaide on April the 13th used a 50-50 mix of conventional fuel and refined cooking oil. The biofuel costs far more than conventional fuel, partly due to its importation from the United States but Qantas says it is absorbing the one-off cost because it is keen to highlight the need ...

    

In a country already plagued with high costs, trucking operators will pay almost 7 cent more for diesel from July 1, 2014 under the Federal Government’s carbon tax package. Unveiling the reform recently, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that the trucking industry would be exempt for two years when the tax begins on July 1, ...

    

Swiss forwarding giant Panalpina has admitted that the sector has earned its reputation for anti-competitive behaviour, but argues that the image is outdated, according to London’s Financial Times. Panalpina, the 4th largest forwarder in the world after DHL, K&N and Schenker, together with 13 others were recently fined EUR169 million (US$225 million) by the European ...

    

Apple is rumored to have a $799 MacBook Air in the works and you can thank the company’s supply chain clout should that price come to pass. In the end, Apple’s pricing has everything to do with its supply chain. MacBook Air rides with solid-state storage and Apple has those supplies locked up. After all, ...

    

Technology makes the difference for the logistics sector, which demands efficiency and needs an edge to overcome the manpower crunch. The technology necessary to provide this edge is not cheap, and requires time and money to implement. One firm, which decided to take the initiative to be outstanding from the competition, is Mr Koh’s Addicon. ...

    

Finding competent staff, low margins and cash flow issues lead the key challenges for Australian business, according to the Private Business Barometer released by Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) today. Interestingly, with 64 percent of those surveyed expecting the carbon tax to impact on their businesses, 42 percent of those believe it will come through increased transport ...

    

Already representing over 70 percent of the global air cargo market, Cargo 2000’s quality management system has been strengthened further by Damco’s decision to join the group. Cargo 2000 now has over 80 members representing the airline, freight forwarding, ground handling, road transport, IT and airport sectors, all working to improve the quality of air ...

    

Kuehne and Nagel have introduced a wireless chip that stays active during flight, allowing monitoring of shipment temperatures – a capability particularly attractive to the pharmaceutical industry. This is thanks to a technology that does not disturb flight systems, thereby permitting it to be used during flights. K+N have been testing this device for more ...

    

LOGISTICS has clearly emerged as the dominant driver of industrial property markets in Australia, with increasing fuel costs being one of the drivers that is influencing the decision on where to site warehouses, according to a new report. Industrial property is also increasingly characterised by the trend towards fewer but larger central distribution centres, supported ...

    

The most popular search result when you google “Supply Chain dictionary” on the internet is the LSCMS website. Readers will be pleased to know that more than 5,000 terms and definitions are available FREE, off the Logistics & Supply Chain Management Society website at – www.lscms.org This resource took a number of years to compile ...

    

A Qantas flight between Sydney and Adelaide on April the 13th used a 50-50 mix of conventional fuel and refined cooking oil. The biofuel costs far more than conventional fuel, partly due to its importation from the United States but Qantas says it is absorbing the one-off cost because it is keen to highlight the need ...

    

In a country already plagued with high costs, trucking operators will pay almost 7 cent more for diesel from July 1, 2014 under the Federal Government’s carbon tax package. Unveiling the reform recently, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that the trucking industry would be exempt for two years when the tax begins on July 1, ...

    

Swiss forwarding giant Panalpina has admitted that the sector has earned its reputation for anti-competitive behaviour, but argues that the image is outdated, according to London’s Financial Times. Panalpina, the 4th largest forwarder in the world after DHL, K&N and Schenker, together with 13 others were recently fined EUR169 million (US$225 million) by the European ...

    

Kuehne and Nagel have introduced a wireless chip that stays active during flight, allowing monitoring of shipment temperatures – a capability particularly attractive to the pharmaceutical industry. This is thanks to a technology that does not disturb flight systems, thereby permitting it to be used during flights. K+N have been testing this device for more ...

    

LOGISTICS has clearly emerged as the dominant driver of industrial property markets in Australia, with increasing fuel costs being one of the drivers that is influencing the decision on where to site warehouses, according to a new report. Industrial property is also increasingly characterised by the trend towards fewer but larger central distribution centres, supported ...

    

The most popular search result when you google “Supply Chain dictionary” on the internet is the LSCMS website. Readers will be pleased to know that more than 5,000 terms and definitions are available FREE, off the Logistics & Supply Chain Management Society website at – www.lscms.org This resource took a number of years to compile ...

    

A Qantas flight between Sydney and Adelaide on April the 13th used a 50-50 mix of conventional fuel and refined cooking oil. The biofuel costs far more than conventional fuel, partly due to its importation from the United States but Qantas says it is absorbing the one-off cost because it is keen to highlight the need ...

    

In a country already plagued with high costs, trucking operators will pay almost 7 cent more for diesel from July 1, 2014 under the Federal Government’s carbon tax package. Unveiling the reform recently, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that the trucking industry would be exempt for two years when the tax begins on July 1, ...

    

Swiss forwarding giant Panalpina has admitted that the sector has earned its reputation for anti-competitive behaviour, but argues that the image is outdated, according to London’s Financial Times. Panalpina, the 4th largest forwarder in the world after DHL, K&N and Schenker, together with 13 others were recently fined EUR169 million (US$225 million) by the European ...

    

The ports of Singapore and Shanghai are again neck and neck for the world’s top container port title with the latest first quarter figures putting them each at 7.5 million TEU. Singapore had the title until 2010 when its container throughput was eclipsed by Shanghai’s. But in March alone, Singapore’s box volumes reached 2.6 million ...

    

Although rumours have been circulating over the future of US-based global forwarder BDP International, the company has moved quickly to deny it is up for sale. A news story had earlier appeared on Reuters quoting a source close to the company as saying it was looking for a buyer. However, the Philadelphia-headquartered company has issued ...

    

Apple and Microsoft have lodged a patent war against Google’s Motorola Mobility, resulting in the European Commission launching two antitrust investigations. Apple and Microsoft has accused the American telecommunications company of blocking product competition with the unfair use of its patents. Both tech giants alleged that Motorola is abusing its market position by filing lawsuits ...

    

The Logistics Society will this year once again be a supporting organisation of LogiChem Asia. LogiChem Asia is the only event specifically for those working in the chemical supply chain area. Featuring over 250 attendees, 70 speakers, 14 hours of roundtables and five streams, LogiChem Asia is the only event around able to give you ...

    

Although rumours have been circulating over the future of US-based global forwarder BDP International, the company has moved quickly to deny it is up for sale. A news story had earlier appeared on Reuters quoting a source close to the company as saying it was looking for a buyer. However, the Philadelphia-headquartered company has issued ...

    

Apple and Microsoft have lodged a patent war against Google’s Motorola Mobility, resulting in the European Commission launching two antitrust investigations. Apple and Microsoft has accused the American telecommunications company of blocking product competition with the unfair use of its patents. Both tech giants alleged that Motorola is abusing its market position by filing lawsuits ...

    

The Logistics Society will this year once again be a supporting organisation of LogiChem Asia. LogiChem Asia is the only event specifically for those working in the chemical supply chain area. Featuring over 250 attendees, 70 speakers, 14 hours of roundtables and five streams, LogiChem Asia is the only event around able to give you ...

    

South Africa’s Competition Commission has fined Singapore Airlines ZAR25.1 million along with South African Airways ZAR18.8 million (US$2.35 million) for price-fixing on routes between Johannesburg and Hong Kong. The fine settles another investigation into South African Airways, which was accused of collusion over domestic fares and international freight rates during the 2010 football World Cup, citing ...

    

Amazon.com, Inc. has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Kiva Systems, a developer of mobile-robotic solutions that automate eCommerce order fulfillment and warehouse operations. “Amazon has long used automation in its fulfillment centers, and Kiva’s technology is another way to improve productivity by bringing the products directly to employees to pick, pack ...

    

UPS has agreed to pay US$6.77 billion in cash to acquire TNT Express about one month after TNT Express shareholders rejected UPS’ earlier offer of $6.4 billion. The offer would create a per-share price of slightly less than $12.50. But the deal is subject to approval from European anti-trust regulators, reported Rosewell, Georgia’s Air Cargo ...

    

In a great marketing coup, TNT has launched in Hong Kong two 3.5-tonne electric delivery vehicles, making the company the first player in the territory’s express market to have electric vehicles in operation with “zero emission” as the most significant feature of the electric cars. “As a good corporate citizen, TNT is working together with customers, suppliers ...

    

Steep increases in freight rates and surcharges by shipping lines on key trade lanes are forcing Vietnamese exporters to suffer profit loss, reports VietNamNet Bridge news agency. As of March 1 container rates will increase by more than US$500 per TEU in freight for those containers to the Middle East, an increase of $400 more ...

    

Since February we have seen a number of carriers embarking on RRP’s (Rate Restoration Programmes) and GRI’s (General Rate Increases). The feedback from shippers have understandably been negative but the response from carriers have been that current rates, given increased bunker and operating costs is untenable to long term operations. What will happen next is hard ...

    

South Africa’s Competition Commission has fined Singapore Airlines ZAR25.1 million along with South African Airways ZAR18.8 million (US$2.35 million) for price-fixing on routes between Johannesburg and Hong Kong. The fine settles another investigation into South African Airways, which was accused of collusion over domestic fares and international freight rates during the 2010 football World Cup, citing ...

    

Amazon.com, Inc. has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Kiva Systems, a developer of mobile-robotic solutions that automate eCommerce order fulfillment and warehouse operations. “Amazon has long used automation in its fulfillment centers, and Kiva’s technology is another way to improve productivity by bringing the products directly to employees to pick, pack ...

    

UPS has agreed to pay US$6.77 billion in cash to acquire TNT Express about one month after TNT Express shareholders rejected UPS’ earlier offer of $6.4 billion. The offer would create a per-share price of slightly less than $12.50. But the deal is subject to approval from European anti-trust regulators, reported Rosewell, Georgia’s Air Cargo ...

    

In a great marketing coup, TNT has launched in Hong Kong two 3.5-tonne electric delivery vehicles, making the company the first player in the territory’s express market to have electric vehicles in operation with “zero emission” as the most significant feature of the electric cars. “As a good corporate citizen, TNT is working together with customers, suppliers ...

    

Steep increases in freight rates and surcharges by shipping lines on key trade lanes are forcing Vietnamese exporters to suffer profit loss, reports VietNamNet Bridge news agency. As of March 1 container rates will increase by more than US$500 per TEU in freight for those containers to the Middle East, an increase of $400 more ...

    

Since February we have seen a number of carriers embarking on RRP’s (Rate Restoration Programmes) and GRI’s (General Rate Increases). The feedback from shippers have understandably been negative but the response from carriers have been that current rates, given increased bunker and operating costs is untenable to long term operations. What will happen next is hard ...

    

In what seems to be a trend in large organisations nowadays, Dell has jumped on the bandwagon and set up its Dell Supply Chain Management Institute in Xiamen, China with the claim to improve the country’s supply chain management practices. The school will work with Tianjin University and Antai College of Economics & Management of ...

    

Not surprisingly, Air New Zealand has trumped Australia’s own national airline in a survey of customer satisfaction across the ditch. It was named the International Airline of the Year in the inaugural Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Awards in Australia last week. Roy Morgan surveyed nearly 4000 people who’d used an international airline in the previous ...

    

QANTAS has been fined $US40,000 ($37,00) by the US Department of Transportation for violating deceptive price advertising rules. The airline fell foul of US laws and departmental rules after it displayed advertisements last year on numerous websites without providing information on extra taxes and fees. The department said that even those consumers who clicked on ...

    

Perhaps taking a leaf out of Qantas’s book, India’s Kingfisher Airlines’ management has threatened to shut down the carrier at a meeting with pilots. Ceo Sanjay Aggarwal, upbeat about refinancing a few days ago, responded to a pilots’ threat – to stop flying flights if they are not paid their owed salaries – by threatening ...

    

Hong Kong Airlines is facing harsh criticism after an internal memo describing its recent delivery of live dolphin cargo from Japan to Vietnam was leaked. The dolphins are believed to be from the Japanese town of Taiji, depicted in the Oscar winning documentary “The Cove”. More than 2,800 people have since signed the online petition ...

    

Singapore’s manufacturing output faced an 8.8% fall in January, a drop more severe than what economists had initially predicted. The decline in manufacturing output, taken from the Economic Development Board, was steeper than the median 0.7% fall expected by 11 economists in a Dow Jones Newswires poll, Wall Street Journal reported. The fall in January ...

    

Qantas denies claims by the Transport Workers Union it has failed to meet Fair Work Australia requirements after announcing it’s shedding 500 jobs. On Friday the TWU said Qantas had failed to meet Fair Work Australia requirements in shedding 500 jobs and should be prosecuted with the full force of the law. Qantas on Thursday ...

    

To boost domestic manufacturing capacity of rare earth, China has made plans to develop new rare earth-based materials from 2011 to 2015. In a statement by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the government aims to make full use of its rare earth resources to create new materials from rare earth and boost output ...

    

Maersk Line is testing algae-based biofuels to see if they are successful as a means of cutting emissions from a vessel. The testing will be on a shipping route from northern Europe to India. The Maersk Kalmar container ship will be making a 6,500 nautical mile, month-long voyage, and will be testing different blends of ...

    

Commncing Monday 20th February, the Logistics & Supply Chain Management Society will be featured on Channel News Asia’s, Invest In Me show that airs at 8.30 p.m. Singapore time with repeat telecasts being shown throughout the week. Episodes can also be downloaded from the Channel News Asia website. In this programme, the Society shows its support ...

    

In line with what most MLO’s are doing, Singapore Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) has announced that its container shipping arm, APL, will begin phasing out its US fleet of container chassis during the first half of 2012. The carrier is expected to complete the disposal of the fleet by 2014, a statement said. Chassis are ...

    

Amazon is opening a 1 million-square-foot fulfillment center in Middletown, Delaware, which is the e-commerce giant’s second facility in the state. Amazon says that the new center will create 850 full-time jobs, and will cost $90 million.Amazon’s fulfillment centers enables the company and third-party merchants to store inventory and fulfill orders. The Middletown center joins ...

    

Reports out of Europe are stating that Netherlands-based TNT NV, a provider of mail and courier services and the fourth largest global parcel operator, rejected an offer by UPS for TNT’s express business. Bloomberg reported that the unsolicited bid was for $6.43 billion ($4.89 billion euros), which is 42 percent above TNT’s stock price. The report said ...

    

VietJet Aviation Joint-Stock Co., the budget carrier that began flights in Vietnam last month, may double its fleet to six planes by the end of the year as it lures passengers from bus trips taking as long as 40 hours. The carrier’s 122-seat Airbus SAS A320s are 90 percent full on its first route, Ho ...