Today’s skilled workforce is facing retirement. At the same time, the skills required in the automated distribution center are changing rapidly. A skill set that might last a decade or longer not long ago, might be in place for a few years at most before new technologies and new order fulfillment strategies require a change. How will those factors affect distribution going forward? Thought leaders from the Supply Chain Execution and Technologies (SCE) Group at Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) discuss these big issues confronting industry today as well as the emerging solutions.

Shipping a product was once a cost of doing business. Today, it’s a strategic advantage. How else do you explain offers for same-day and overnight delivery, often for free? What’s more, retailers and manufacturers alike have relied on more frequent and smaller deliveries to reduce their investment in inventory. Will those remain viable distribution and order fulfillment strategies in light of rising fuel costs and the new attending being paid to carbon footprints? Or will new distribution models emerge? Thought leaders from the Supply Chain Execution and Technologies (SCE) Group at Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) discuss these big issues confronting industry today as well as the emerging solutions.