The Warehouse Safety Audit: 5 Common Fire Risks You’re Probably Missing
The article outlines five often‑overlooked fire hazards that jeopardize warehouse safety, from misclassifying stored commodities to neglecting system inspections. It explains how each error—blocked flue spaces, excessive rack heights, poor housekeeping, and missed maintenance—undermines sprinkler performance and can trigger multi‑million‑dollar losses. Best‑practice recommendations include regular commodity reviews, engineered flue‑space controls, documented rack limits, disciplined housekeeping programs, and strict inspection schedules. The author, a fire‑protection engineer, stresses that fire safety must be embedded in facility culture, not treated as a checklist item.
Tariffs Causing Companies to Rethink Logistics Networks
Tariff volatility in 2025 prompted U.S. importers to front‑load shipments, with 85.6% of surveyed cargo owners moving cargo ahead of duty hikes. While 52.3% avoided higher tariffs, the strategy raised storage costs and strained working capital for over 40% of...
Imports Down in February
U.S. containerized imports slipped 6.5% year‑over‑year in February 2026, totaling 2,093,422 TEUs, though still 17% above pre‑pandemic 2019 levels. The February Logistics Managers Index hit its strongest point in roughly a year, reflecting tighter capacity, higher utilization and rising freight...
Supply Chain Cost to Rise 2.3%-4% Above Inflation
Kearney’s Supply Chain Navigator predicts global supply‑chain expenses will climb 2.3%‑4% above inflation through 2026. The rise is driven by a suite of structural forces, notably a roughly 30% increase in average tariff rates across major economies and a more...
The Future of Warehousing and Distribution: Five Critical Shifts to Watch
This year’s warehouse playbook pivots on five shifts: humanoid robots move from pilot projects to limited‑production tasks, reverse‑logistics becomes a core function, route optimization must happen in hours rather than weeks, load factor rises as the primary sustainability KPI, and...
Supply Chain Scenarios to Consider Due to War in Iran
The war in Iran has triggered a cascade of interlocking supply‑chain shocks, from maritime rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope to soaring war‑risk insurance premiums and heightened cyber‑attack risk. BSI Consulting outlines two recovery paths: a swift cease‑fire that...
Podcast: The Future of Procurement: Embracing Automation, Integration and AI
The podcast highlights a shift toward connected procurement, where the entire source‑to‑pay cycle is unified into a data‑driven workflow. Accenture experts note that manual, siloed processes leave firms vulnerable to supply‑chain shocks, while real‑time visibility boosts agility and resilience. A...
Bridging the Warehouse Labor Gap: Untapped Talent and Smarter Strategies
U.S. warehouses have doubled their workforce to 1.8 million but face a projected 6 million labor shortfall by 2032. Companies are turning to underutilized talent pools—people with disabilities, workers without prior warehouse experience, and flexible‑hour employees—to close the gap. Studies show disabled...
How to Optimize Warehouse Storage Design for Maximum Efficiency
Optimizing warehouse storage design hinges on maximizing vertical space, selecting the right layout, and integrating advanced material‑handling technologies. Extending rack heights, adding mezzanines, and complying with NFPA 13 clearance rules can double usable floor area. Choosing a U‑shaped or I‑shaped floor...
Large Warehouse Deals Back as Big-Box Leasing Rebounds
Cushman & Wakefield reports a 32% year‑over‑year jump in large‑format warehouse deals, with 113 million sq ft of net absorption accounting for 64% of all industrial space taken. Third‑party logistics providers and manufacturers drive two‑thirds of this activity, while build‑to‑suit projects rise 11% and...