Zetes, the specialist in supply chain execution solutions and part of the Panasonic Group, has invested in Robotize, a Danish robotics company known for its cutting-edge Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) to reach a stake of 50%, alongside its founding shareholders.

ACI Group has shone a spotlight on the importance of supply chain digitalisation in response to a Business Continuity Institute (BCI) report which found that almost 80% of organisations have experienced supply chain disruptions over the past year.

Three quarters of manufacturing workers in the UK (73%) are unconcerned about their jobs being automated in the future, according to a study undertaken by YouGov and commissioned by global technology company SafetyCulture.

In June 2024, manufacturing accounted for 8.8% of the UK’s total economic output and employed 2.6 million people – representing 7.0% of the workforce.

Confidence in the sector is rising, with a 1.2% output increase in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous quarter, its highest level since 2022.

Based on its recent analysis of the global manufacturing execution system (MES) market for pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and cell & gene therapies, Frost & Sullivan recognises Werum IT Solutions with the 2019 Global MES for Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, and Cell & Gene Therapies Customer Value Leadership Award.

Murata ID Solutions reports that it has helped life science giant Bayer’s Italian division, Bayer S.p.A., leverage radio frequency identification (RFID) tracking in the first large-scale application of the technology in the pharmaceutical supply chain.

The new subsidiary of Körber’s Business Area Pharma in Dublin enjoys growing demand for its integrated solutions for pharmaceutical and biotech production in the UK and Ireland.

Covid-19 is straining supply chains around the world, most notably those of pharmaceutical companies. Scarcity of raw materials upstream and overheated demand downstream cause disruptions. Control over their supply chain is a major challenge for all pharma companies today.

Domino Printing Sciences (Domino) has launched the new U510 – a state-of-the-art UV laser coder for permanent codes on white and coloured plastics, including high- and low-density polyethylene (HDPE and LDPE) pharmaceutical bottles. 

ACG, supplier of fully integrated manufacturing solutions to the global pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industry, has announced its engineering business - dedicated to aftermarkets service - is working with its manufacturing customers to increase the life cycle of their machines.

Cost reduction is a focus for many at the moment and understandably so. Multinational pharmaceutical company, Glenmark, is just one of those businesses looking at how it can optimise its costs globally.

A UK-backed biotech company has achieved a pioneering biocomputer breakthrough which is accelerating the development and manufacture of cheaper drugs and vaccines.

Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group (Marshall ADG) will deploy AT&T’s secure IoT capabilities into its overall connected container service model for its end customers, including its recently won global managed container service contract with the Dutch Army.

Some creative Government accountancy may have found Flybe calmer skies; but its narrow escape highlights the precarious state of UK aviation, says the international courier expert ParcelHero. It is warning that with Heathrow's expansion plan seemingly in an eternal holding pattern, UK PLC is missing out on up to £14 billion a year in lost trade.

The global impact of the COVID pandemic has been dramatically felt by the global aerospace sector, which almost overnight suffered a catastrophic collapse in demand, which resulted in an 80 percent decline in air traffic and over 60 percent of the global airline fleet grounded. The impact on the airlines and its key component supply chain has been immediate and is expected to remain in place for some time.

Manufacturers in the rail, marine, defence and household good sectors can now benefit from more than 25 years of automotive and aerospace quality excellence as G&P is undergoing a proactive diversification drive across adjacent sectors.

Established in 1862 as an engineering file manufacturer trading from premises in Redditch, the Monks & Crane Industrial Group distributes products such as cutting tools, oils and lubrication, PPE products, fasteners, machine tools and office supplies as well as soldering and welding goods to its extensive customer base operating within a wide variety of industries including aerospace and engineering. 

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division, which supplies smart manufacturing technologies to giants from Volkswagen to Boeing, has unveiled HxGN Robotic Automation, pioneering robotic programming and control software that enables non-specialist quality professionals to program industrial robots to perform fully automated quality inspection.

By Edward Banks, freelance writer.

In the fast-paced world of supply chain management, the recent surge in automation within warehousing stands as a testament to the industry's adaptability and innovation. A groundbreaking study reveals that over 60% of warehousing leaders globally view automation as essential for reducing errors and meeting service-level agreements, while 68% see it as a solution to labour shortages.

Chargel is participating in GITEX AFRICA 2024, set to take place from 29 to May 31 May in Marrakech. Building on the success of its previous showcase, Chargel returns to GITEX AFRICA for the second year in a row, offering an exclusive opportunity to engage with industry leaders, investors, and potential clients.

Rhenus Warehousing Solutions UK was crowned the winner in the Infrastructure category at the UKWA Annual Lunch & Awards in London.

Automechanika Shanghai will celebrate two decades of serving the automotive service industry. The show’s influence reaches all corners of China and extends out to the global market, making it a must-attend event for information exchange, marketing, trade and education.

The Lumenia Consulting ERP HEADtoHEAD event returns to the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dublin Airport on 1-2 October. The unique format of the event brings together the leading ERP vendors, who must follow a script during their presentations, allowing ERP buyers to compare solutions like for like. 

Logistics UK’s Digital Transformation in Logistics conference is returning for its second year, as part of the programme for Birmingham Tech Week – the UK’s largest regional tech festival and conference. The event at The Studio in Birmingham on Tuesday 22 October is a “must attend” for logistics professionals wishing to use innovation and digitalisation to enhance efficiency....

Advancing rapidly in both capability and application, intelligent manufacturing technologies have become increasingly important enablers of China’s ongoing industrial transformation.

Zebra Technologies Corporation, the digital solution provider, will demonstrate end-to-end AI machine vision solutions at VISION 2024 from 8-10 October in Stuttgart, Germany.   

The Global Logistics Forum (GLF) hosted by the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services, is set to gather a powerhouse lineup of industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers in Riyadh from October 12-14, 2024, at the King Abdullah Financial District.

DHS's new Supply Chain Resilience Center will aim to marshal stakeholders to help avoid the type of shortages and bottlenecks that roiled the country during COVID-19.

The post New DHS supply chain center aims to head off future crises first appeared on Federal News Network.

Alexandria Phounsavath, director of DHS S&T’s Data Analytics Technology Center, is exploring new approaches to solving some of the biggest challenges in data.

The post DHS S&T working on data solutions for cybersecurity, privacy, AI first appeared on Federal News Network.

PPDS, the exclusive global provider of Philips professional displays, has announced that Telelogos software has been approved as the very first remote device management solution for the new Philips Tableaux range of Advanced Colour ePaper displays.

Utimaco has released new consumer research that has found a low level of trust around Internet of Things (IoT) devices. This has highlighted the need for more education from industry into how smart devices are secured with the latest digital security solutions.

By Anthony Jefferson, freelance writer.

Rugged devices play a significant role in performing regular operations in the industries like high-tech, manufacturing, shipping, mining, construction, real estate, logistics, supply chain and transportation.

By Terri Knowles, freelance writer.

In the internet age, it’s sometimes easy to forget that customer service sometimes requires an old-school approach. Your clients have a problem, you make a work order, and your field team goes there to resolve it. While this process sounds simple, it could become a proper logistical nightmare, a nightmare that simple mobile apps could solve. With that in mind and without further ado, here’s how mobile apps can help revolutionize service management.

Microlise Group, the global provider of innovative technology solutions, has announced the adoption of its software by Creed Foodservice, the UK provider of high-quality food & beverage products to the catering industry. 

LineView Solutions, a global provider of  manufacturing optimisation solutions, has appointmented John McFadyen as Chief Revenue and Innovation Officer and Scott Figura as Managing Director of the Americas in a strategic move to drive ambitious global growth across the business.

An AI image generator tool has predicted what the future of food labelling might look like for consumers and manufacturers. This follows news that the appetite towards a more-carbon-friendly future appears to be turning amongst UK consumers after a recent YouGov survey found more than half of all young adults think they would eat a more carbon-friendly diet should carbon footprint labelling be introduced in the UK.

Mercadona, the grocery retailer in Spain and Portugal, partnered with Cimcorp, a pioneer in robotic handling solutions, to implement an automated intralogistics system at its distribution center in San Isidro, Spain. Cimcorp’s robots have helped Mercadona to achieve record lead times in its supply chain, thereby increasing shelf life for its products and ensuring freshness for its customers.

LGCF, the French wine exporting company, relies on Körber’s Warehouse Management System, Warehouse Control System, voice and gamification solutions to accelerate the performance at 14 logistics sites.

Ireland’s food retail and wholesale company, Musgrave, went operational at the end of last year with an integrated warehouse solution from Vanderlande, which includes the ADAPTO shuttle-based automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS). The solution has been installed in Musgrave’s facility in west Dublin to support the company’s future growth ambitions and the need to manage labour scarcity issues.

Cimcorp is a provider of intralogistics solutions, simplifying material flows and improving customers’ profitability by offering innovative and efficient solutions for automation.

LineView Solutions, provider of manufacturing optimisation solutions, has unlocked £5.4M in capacity increase at Britvic’s factory in Rugby, UK through Line Balancing Optimisation (LBO). LineView worked with the leading British beverage manufacturer to execute a comprehensive LBO training project over a two-week period.

Aramex UK has urged pharmaceutical companies exporting products overseas to be mindful about shipping to warmer climates.

Simply Lunch, a producer of ‘food-to-go’, is using Podfather logistics software to support its sustainable business strategy. The family run business produces around 25 million products a year and makes more than 175,000 deliveries to organisations ranging from independent coffee shops to multi-national catering companies.

Descartes Systems Group has announced that Solar Coca-Cola, the second largest manufacturer and distributor of Coca-Cola in Brazil, is using Descartes’ route execution and fleet performance management solution.....

NFFE says skipped-over job duties that wildland firefighters perform for the Forest Service could mean they’re missing out on thousands of dollars a year.

The post Wildland firefighters at the Forest Service work beyond their job duties. Their union says that’s a big problem first appeared on Federal News Network.

State Department officials notified the American Foreign Service Association about the possible lapse of funds in July.

The post Feds working overseas face 22% pay cut, if Congress doesn’t reauthorize necessary funds first appeared on Federal News Network.

The continuing resolution reauthorizes funds to avoid a 22% pay cut for 11,000 federal employees who spend most of their time overseas.

The post Congress passes stopgap bill to avoid government shutdown, 22% pay cut for feds overseas first appeared on Federal News Network.

The 2025 COLA of 2.5% will be added to retirement benefits beginning in January. But FERS retirees will receive a 2% “diet” COLA.

The post 2025 COLA will be 2.5%, but some federal retirees get a smaller percentage first appeared on Federal News Network.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy is suddenly confronting a new threat to his power. Angry hard-right conservatives have brought the House chamber to a halt, reviving their displeasure over the debt ceiling deal struck with President Joe Biden. McCarthy brushed off the disruption as healthy political debate — not too different from the 15-vote spectacle it took in January for him to finally convince his colleagues to elect him as speaker. But it's a foreshadowing of the next budget fight as Congress tries to fund the government at the levels agreed to, or risk a federal shutdown in fall.

The post GOP conservatives shutter House to protest McCarthy-Biden debt deal, setting up next budget brawl first appeared on Federal News Network.

The U.S. military is considering putting armed personnel on commercial ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, in what would be an unheard of action aimed at stopping Iran from seizing and harassing civilian vessels. That's what five American officials told The Associated Press on Thursday. If implemented, it would be an extraordinary step by the Pentagon as it grapples with a renewed effort by Iran to harass and seize ships traveling in the strait, through which 20% of all the world’s crude oil passes. Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the AP about the U.S. proposal.

The post US military may put armed troops on commercial ships in Strait of Hormuz to stop Iran seizures first appeared on Federal News Network.