Chicago Adds Another Intermodal Rail Facility

The trend to build massive intermodal rail facilities in the nation's interior to whisk away containers from congested ports get them closer (quicker and cheaper) to major consumer markets is continuing with the addition of a new 2,000-acre park southwest of Chicago.

BNSF Railway will provide rail service to the new $1.6 billion RidgePort Logistics Center. The Fort Worth, Texas-based railroad will begin construction of a rail route to the site this summer and considers the property a prime location for a truck-to-train yard similar to the railroad's intermodal freight yard in Elwood, about 10 miles north of Wilmington.

"The location is what drew our attention and the railroad's attention," said an executive with the developer. "The intermodal market is expanding. Based on predictions of where intermodal freight volume is going, it's going to double in the next 15 years."

In addition to the RidgePort intermodal park, Oak Brook, Ill.-based CenterPoint Properties Trust also unveiled plans for a rail yard and 5 million square feet of warehouse space in Crete in eastern Will County.

Top Firms Using Technology to Reduce Landed Cost

Global trade solutions provider Management Dynamics says new research from the Aberdeen Group, entitled "Global Trade Management Strategies: Surviving Growing Complexities in 2007," reveals the importance of technology in reducing landed costs.” Aberdeen surveyed more than 200 enterprises for the study, according to which:

• Companies that currently have import or export compliance automation are 1.4 times more likely to have reported increased customs clearance speed over the past 2 years
• Companies that currently use a global supply chain visibility platform are twice as likely to have reduced total landed costs, lead times and lead time variability from international locations over the past 2 years

The Aberdeen research analyst who authored the study noted that, “Technology plays a critical role in providing the much-needed visibility into international orders and shipments and facilitating the management of all aspects of global trade. Based on this study’s findings, Best in Class companies have used a variety of technology enablers to support GTM (Global Trade Management)." She added that, "These enablers have helped to better plan, execute, and track transactions while keeping global supply chain risks at bay.”

To read more, click here.

World Trade, NASSTRAC, AST&L, ISM and NITL present the seventh of 12 webinars in the 2007 Supply Chain Management University series:

Lean Six Sigma Logistics

Date and Time: July 25th, 2007 at 1:00 pm ET

Professor: Thomas J. Goldsby, Ph.D.

University: University of Kentucky

Sponsor: C.H. Robinson 

Course Objectives:

      Logistics, Lean, and Six Sigma form a natural union.  Logistics is about managing inventory.  Leanis about speed, flow, and the elimination of waste.  Six Sigma  is about understanding and reducing variation.  Therefore, Lean Six Sigma Logistics embodies the elimination of wastes through disciplined efforts to understand and reduce variation, while increasing speed and flow in the supply chain. 

      This session illustrates how Logistics Flow, Capability, and Discipline can form the essence of a successful logistics strategy that yields robust processes – processes that delight customers at the lowest possible costs.

Missed a previous event? No Problem! The First 6 Webinars are Now Available On-Demand!  

Visit the archive section and choose from previously held events by leading U.S. Supply Chain Management Universities, at http://supplychainwebinar.worldtrademag.com.