We hope you enjoy the October issue of Supply Chain Directions, our bi-monthly 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 Article: Benchmarking Transportation Services
Benchmarking transportation rates is difficult - the rate that a carrier offers to a shipper is a reflection of a myriad of factors, such as the overall relationship, liability and performance requirements, origin- and destination-specific characteristics, and the structure of accessorials. But head to head comparisons do not capture the real drivers of transportation rates. Applying a Model-Based Benchmarking approach can help firms benchmark transportation rates by normalizing the drivers that impact overall costs.
By Chris Caplice, PhD and Gary Girotti

The Return of the Regional Warehouse
Local DCs are back in favor, especially for consumer goods manufacturers. Here's why.
By John Paul Quinn, Logistics Management (registration required)

Optimize for the Moment
While facilities are the heart of a logistics network, choosing the best site requires a lot of brainwork.
By Perry Trunick, Logistics Today

Shifting Gears
Soft prices and a weak economy are driving shippers toward truckload.
Logistics Today

Moving Beyond Reverse Auctions
Using combinatorial optimization, DuPont finds further ways to save on transportation.
By Merrill Douglas, Inbound Logistics

Making the Most of Technology
Take advantage of today's fleet optimization tools.
By Amanda Loudin, Food Logistics

Is it Time to Jettison JIT?
Manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers have come to rely on Just In Time inventory management, or JIT, as a way to reduce costs and improve efficiency..Poorly-conceived JIT programs, however, can expose firms to costly disruptions in production and failures to meet customer demands.
By Mike Gorman and Ike Brannon, Inbound Logistics

Who sat on Pareto?
The 80/20 rule is changing into something closer to 60/40 in distribution centers.
By Jim Apple, Modern Materials Handling (registration required)

Optimize Pricing to Maximize Profits
Price management is costly, but well worth the investment
By Emily Kay, Frontline Solutions