Indian Govt. to Decide This Week on Whether to Join U.S. Container Security Initiative

A decision by the Indian government over whether to join U.S. Customs' Container Security Inititative (CSI) is expected to by made this week.

Under the program, U.S. Customs officials would be able to inspect U.S.-bound containers at Indian ports as a security measure against terrorists. In exchange, Indian shipments would generally move quicker through the supply chain.

Likewise, the Container Security Initiative offers participating countries, on a reciprocal basis, the opportunity to send customs officers to major U.S. ports to target ocean-going, containerized cargo to be exported to their territories.

Massive Indian Freight Corridor to Get Japanese Funding

Japan will partly finance India's $90 billion plan to build ports, airports, roads and set up new industrial centers along the 921-mile New Delhi-Mumbai freight corridor.

The Indian government will also use a portion of the funds to improve utilities and keep its factories competitive.

The first phase of the project is likely to be completed by 2012, in line with the dedicated rail freight corridor, said Indian Trade Minister Kamal Nath. The project will involve upgrading six airports and setting up two ports, one each in the western states of Gujarat and Maharashtra.

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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.”

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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.