Welcome to the inaugural issue of Supply Chain Directions, a bimonthly e-newsletter linking you to a short list of leading, timely and relevant white papers and articles in the areas of Supply Chain Strategy,
Transportation Planning, and
Inventory Planning.

Chainalytics White Paper: Analytical Outsourcing Adapts Supply Chains To Constant Change
Applying supply chain optimization can save a firm millions of dollars a year by improving decisions such as the optimal selection of facility locations, inventory placement, and transportation modes. But shifts in cost structures, operations, and customer demand can disrupt even the best made plans.

Super-Charging Your Supply Chain
Companies use different options to fight the never-ending battle of optimizing their supply chains.
By Leslie Hansen Harps, Inbound Logistics

Weighing the Data
Supply-chain site location decisions today are driven by cost minimization, but distilling the volumes of data to arrive at the right decision is a task few companies can do on their own.
By Thomas A. Foster, Global Logistics & Supply Chain Strategies

Freight buyers elect industry-specific tools to buy online
It's no secret that putting a transportation spend online is different than putting a commodity spend online. With a complex matrix of freight lanes, modes, and countless different options for a mix of carriers and service levels, a company's transportation spend is typically more complicated than that of its commodity items and requires a more advanced set of e-sourcing tools to bring it online effectively.
By David Hannon, News and Transportation Editor, Purchasing Magazine

Transforming Density into Savings
As companies continue to focus on supply chain management to increase efficiencies and drive down costs, they are examining every link in the supply chain -- from manufacturing to logistics and transportation. But after carefully scrutinizing your supply chain and identifying strengths, one question remains: how do you turn those strengths into a means to achieve your goals?
By George Grossardt, vice president, Alliance Services, Schneider Logistics

Cracking back at the bullwhip
If your company still struggles to maintain the right amount-and the right mix-of inventories even after installing a new enterprise resources planning (ERP) or supply chain management system, you might be suffering from the "bullwhip effect."
By Alex Anderson, contributing editor

Technology to the rescue
New tools help companies turn inventory from a problem child to a competitive advantage
By Peter Strozniak, Frontline Solutions