We create avenues for the industry to gain more insights into emerging trends, industry-specific problems of national importance, and global best practices in logistics & supply chain management. We enable the industry to cut down transaction costs, increase efficiency, and enhance profitability. We are committed to sensitizing the industry about macro-level issues and helping find solutions to them.
News highlights from the world of supply chain and logistics that appeared in media over the last one month
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| Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEiTY), Shri S. Krishnan, said that the Centre might come out with a larger scheme to promote electronics component manufacturing, reported the Hindu Business Line. Delivering the 10th G Ramachandran Endowment Lecture, organised by the Madras School of Economics and South India Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Chennai, Shri Krishnan said, "There will be a large components promotion scheme by the Centre to bring in electronics component manufacturing. The objective is to identify five top items, including PCBs (printed circuit boards), and encourage much more of such manufacturing in the country. It is important from a resilient and continued competitiveness perspective to get it done," the paper reported. To underscore his point, Shri Krishnan shared the example of India’s success in attracting assembly and packaging units for mobile phones, where it achieved an 18-20 per cent value addition. |
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| DD News shared highlights on its YouTube channel of CII’s conference titled "Resilient Export Logistics for Trade and Connectivity", organised on April 24 in New Delhi. At the conference, Shri Anant Swarup, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, said, “My take is that resilience in supply chains would require a 360-degree approach. First, it would require resilient supply chains. Second, it has to be through interconnectivity [with] infrastructure development. Third, it has to be through productivity enhancement."The conference and speakers from the government and industry spoke of the necessity of an efficient logistics network for enhanced trade, as reported by the news channel. |
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| Taiwan is keen to collaborate with India and help it become a leader in the semiconductor space, said Jason Ho, Chairman, Taiwan’s Chamber of Commerce in India and the Chairman of Taiwanese mobility solutions company TAISYS Technologies Co. In an interview with Business Standard, he stated that Taiwan has enough capacity to supply India with semiconductors as it possesses the required designing capabilities and market demand. Manufacturing semiconductors, which are used in electric and hybrid cars, drones, and communication devices, is a complicated process that requires significant investment. He said that since Taiwan is already one of the major global chip manufacturers, working with India in this area could benefit both countries. "We need more investment between countries, and a free trade agreement can also push that," Mr. Ho told the paper. In related news, TAISYS Technologies was reportedly planning a USD 100 million investment in its Indian arm to drive chip design initiatives for the automotive industry. |
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| In an engaging episode of the Hindu BusinessLine's State of the Economy podcast, R Sathyanarayanan, Sundram Fasteners Associate Professor of Marketing at IFMR Graduate School of Business, Krea University spoke about the role that logistics plays in efficient conduct of elections across India's diverse landscape involving the movement of administrative officials and office material. The professor traced the historical evolution of the role of logistics in elections from the times of the Chola dynasty to the present-day voting process conducted through Electronic Voter Machines (EVMs), ensuring accessibility and accountability even in the remotest polling station. |
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| French electronics major Schneider Electric has appointed Anshum Jain as the Vice President of the Global Supply Chain in India. Anshum has been appointed to lead the efforts to improve the performance of the company's global supply chain division in India while also developing supply chain capabilities in the country. According to the news, he will play a crucial role in a supply chain council that aims to establish a strong supply chain ecosystem to achieve the growth objectives of both domestic and international markets. An alumnus of NIT Nagpur, Anshum obtained his Master’s in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and a Master’s in Business Administration from Wayne State University. |
INTERNATIONAL
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| The Wall Street Journal reported that suppliers in North America are reconfiguring supply chains for direct-to-consumer sales, emphasising retail-like logistics. Apparel giants like Levi Strauss and Skechers are investing heavily in revamped supply chains to enhance customer proximity and operational efficiency. Analysts highlight the shift toward retail-oriented logistics and the need for reinventing supply chains to support direct sales. Supplier strategies include mastering difficult operations like home delivery and taking on the broader business of stocking more of their brick-and-mortar stores. “You’ve got to have a supply chain that looks more like a retail supply chain than a distribution one,” WSJ quoted a Gartner analyst Tom Enright. “There’s a bit of a reinvention of the supply chain,” he added. The re-invented supply chain would mean designing a different supply chain that entails picking, packing and shipping through warehouses and formulating shipping and returns policies tuned to consumer sales. |
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| According to a company press release, Kuehne+Nagel has expanded spare parts logistics for BMW, highlighting its role in supply chain management and global distribution for the automotive logistics industry. Kuehne+Nagel's Wallersdorf, Germany unit manages a 170,000m² spare parts fulfilment and delivery centre that supplies to BMW markets worldwide. Its Dingolfing and Bruckberg sites manage the logistical handling and dispatch of BMW spare parts worldwide. Kuehne+Nagel now supports the BMW Group's spare parts logistics with around 1,700 employees at various locations globally. "We are pleased to take over the extended tasks in spare parts logistics for the BMW Group," said Tobias Jerschke, National Manager Kuehne+Nagel Germany, in the press statement. |
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| The US Navy has partnered with Electra.aero Inc., the American hybrid-electric aircraft manufacturer, to explore using electric short takeoff and landing aircraft (eSTOL) for logistics in a challenging environment. Per the contract awarded under the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) guidelines, the project will have Navy stakeholders identify contested logistics use cases and conduct a design study to understand the uses of hybrid-electric aircraft for unique capability requirements. Contested logistics is a fast-growing area of study that deals with moving military supplies and people in regions that are challenging to access or support. |
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| DC Velocity reported that the global drone logistics and transportation market is witnessing significant growth, driven by technological advancements and demand for efficient delivery solutions. Drones are increasingly used globally for logistics and transportation as they offer swift delivery times, cost-effectiveness, and accessibility to remote areas. As a result, the global drone logistics market is experiencing exponential growth due to advancements in drone technology, supportive regulatory frameworks, and rising investments by key industry players. The demand for drone logistics has increased due to the need for efficient last-mile delivery solutions, especially in urban areas with congested roads. Some niche segments that are seeing a growing demand within the sector include the freight segment, which constitutes about 77 per cent of the market, and short-distance deliveries, among others. |
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| The Iowa, U.S-based Life Sciences news website published excerpts from a market report about The cell and gene therapy supply chain and logistics market, stating that it is expected to grow, fueled by technological innovations and increasing demand for personalised treatments. The report pegged the global “Cell and Gene Therapy Supply Chain/Logistics Market” at $1.35 Bn in 2023 and stated it could reach $3.17 Bn by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 11.41 per cent. Cell and Gene Therapies (CGT) offer long-term patient maintenance or cure, but biopharma companies face complex supply chain challenges. CGT logistics require a patient-centric approach and emerging technologies like automation, digitisation, and artificial intelligence. The feature stated that key factors influencing the CGT supply chain include increasing demand, clinical studies, and advances in real-time management. |
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| An IOT World article outlined how digital transformation and IoT reshape supply chain and logistics into a more sustainable, customer-centric, and resilient sector.The article discussed last-mile delivery (LMD), directly impacting customer satisfaction and operational effectiveness. Real-time tracking, automated collection sites, drones, and autonomous vehicles are among the innovations addressed as game-changers in this industry. Real-world case studies provide evidence for the transformative power of digital tools in redefining logistics and supply chain operations. It emphasised that embracing digital transformation is not an option but a necessity for survival and competitiveness in today’s fast-paced world. Digitalisation directed businesses toward a future that makes the most of digital technology, ensuring sustainability, effectiveness, and customer-centricity in supply chain and logistics management. |
We will connect again next month, with a comprehensive dossier of news, trends and events from the industry.
| Courtesy: Newsletter content developed by Mr. Aanand Pandey | ||