As promised, we have brought back our quarterly newsletter, Supply Chain Directions. We hope you enjoy the November 2005 edition which features a short list of leading, timely and relevant articles in the areas of Supply Chain Design, Transportation Planning, and Inventory Planning.

Chainalytics Article: Embrace Master-Planned Transportation Procurement
The growing driver shortage, skyrocketing fuel prices, higher equipment costs, and HOS rules are keeping truckload capacity tight and driving shipping costs to a record high. To thrive in this hostile environment, shippers and carriers need to work together in a collaborative, master-planned procurement process that considers available opportunities across common and dedicated capacity.
By Gary Girotti, Vice President, Transportation Practice, Chainalytics LLC

Simulate the Supply Chain
Technology lets you simulate just about everything imaginable; a lack of simulation translates to a lack of preparedness
By By Demir Barlas, Line56

Rising energy costs put more burden on supply chain managers
Offshore sourcing doesn’t look quite as attractive any more thanks to high fuel costs.
By By LogisticsToday staff, LogisticsToday

Driving Up Costs
The Grocery Manufacturers Association's (GMA) fifth benchmark survey on logistics found that in the last three years transportation costs have increased 23 percent to an average of $1.69 per mile. Transportation now accounts for 62 percent of all logistics costs.
By John Karolefski, Food Logistics

The Analyst Corner: Fulfillment/Logistics
Freight capacity and transportation budget pressures continue to hound transportation managers. But savvy companies have discovered how to fight back.
By Beth Enslow

Customer Segmentation Strategies: When All Accounts Aren’t Equal
Companies are figuring out which of their customers are most and least profitable, and treating them accordingly. But most have yet to adopt a supply-chain perspective.
By Robert J. Bowman, Global Logistics & Supply Chain Strategies

Inventory Optimization Is a Delicate Balancing Act to Cut Costs Yet Keep Service Levels Up
Afraid to let safety stocks get too low, companies often get overwhelmed by their inventory. New ideas, processes and technologies in inventory management can solve that.
By Russell W. Goodman , Global Logistics & Supply Chain Strategies