2010 - Page 5 of 64 - Modern Distribution Management

2010

Commentary: Repaving the Last Mile … Profitably

The term “last mile” comes from telephone, cable and data communications industries to describe the final critical link in service delivery.

It’s been used by every industry where the toughest problems are in service or product delivery to individual customers – connecting each individual node to the larger network tends to be the most difficult and expensive part of the process. Wow, perfect analogy for distribution!

Essentially, this “last-mile problem” has defined the value creation …

Commentary: Repaving the Last Mile … Profitably Read More »

MDM Executive Briefing Summary: A Roadblock to Business Plan Success

While the specifics in different forecasts are all over the board, the general consensus is that 2011 will be a challenging year. The latest Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI economic forecast puts U.S. GDP growth for 2011 at 2.8 percent, and expectations are that there will be little to no growth in new construction during the year.

“We’re looking ahead to 2011 being kind of a difficult year for a lot of companies,” says Brent Grover, managing partner of Evergreen Consulting, LLC. Job growth is not occurring, particularly in wholesale distribution, and companies are still putting off capital expenditures.

In his conversation with MDM Publisher Tom Gale for the latest episode of MDM’s Executive Briefing Webcast (available free to subscribers at www.mdm.com/executivebriefing), Grover provided an overview …

MDM Executive Briefing Summary: A Roadblock to Business Plan Success Read More »

U.S. Market Analysis: Cutting Tools – High Speed Steel/Carbide 2009

Cutting Tools – High Speed Steel (HSS) and Carbide represented a market in 2009 of $xxx billion, according to estimates by Industrial Market Information.

These charts show the top ten industries, by SIC code, consuming these products; and the 2009 end-user consumption of these groups sorted by the nine government market regions.

U.S. Market Analysis: Cutting Tools – High Speed Steel/Carbide 2009 Read More »

Grainger Leverages Global Network

Facilities maintenance distributor W.W. Grainger, Chicago, IL, with more than $6.2 billion in sales last year, held its annual analyst meeting this month. This article provides an overview of the key talking points during the meeting, including Grainger’s strategic focus locally and globally, its supply chain improvements and its approach to product expansion.

Details in this article were taken from Grainger’s annual analyst meeting webcast, available at grainger.com.

Leveraging its global infrastructure, both in supply chain improvements and by transferring best practices across borders, was a constant theme in Grainger’s executive presentations at its annual analyst meeting this month.

In fact, President and CEO Jim Ryan said that Grainger is increasingly thinking of itself as a global supplier. As much as 25 percent of the business is with large companies that are expanding or have expanded internationally. “If you are a supplier …

Grainger Leverages Global Network Read More »

Download this Issue in pdf Now: Nov. 25, 2010

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Download this Issue in pdf Now: Nov. 25, 2010 Read More »

silver gears moving

Transmission/Motion Control Industry Continues Expansion in 3Q

Power transmission/motion control manufacturers expanded at a higher rate than distributors.

Transmission/Motion Control Industry Continues Expansion in 3Q Read More »

Grainger: Focus on Productivity Spells Opportunity for Distributors

Customers are ‘scouring their businesses’ for cost savings, Grainger CEO Jim Ryan says.

Grainger: Focus on Productivity Spells Opportunity for Distributors Read More »

Executive Briefing: November 2010

In this 30-minute episode of Executive Briefing:

David Manthey, CFA, senior analyst at R.W. Baird & Company, speaks with Associate Editor Jenel Stelton-Holtmeier about the results from the third-quarter survey on industrial distribution.

Brent Grover of Evergreen Consulting, and MDM Publisher Tom Gale discuss business planning, including:

  • The importance of creating, linking and executing a business plan
  • The reality about the recession’s ‘end’
  • Changes to the M&A landscape
  • The impact of changing demographics on the distribution industry

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Executive Briefing: November 2010 Read More »

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