Mismanaged waste causes hundreds of thousands of the world’s poorest people to die each year, according to a recent article in The Guardian. Many of these deaths are easily preventable, particularly those that stem from the dangers of discarded plastic.

“In the first three months of 2019, employees got so much more work done that they smashed productivity forecasts,” writes Alexia Fernández Campbell for Vox Media. “That’s great for businesses (they earn more money) and for the economy (GDP grows faster). The problem is that companies aren’t rewarding their employees for the extra hard work.”

African Swine Fever (ASF) has been responsible for the deaths of countless domestic pigs.

Most of us cringe when vendors show up at our front steps. We crack open the door begrudgingly or even pretend we aren’t home. However, those of us in the United States are eagerly awaiting the sound of the doorbell these days. It’s that wonderful time of year when door-to-door salespeople become welcome guests: Girl Scout cookie season.

As supply chains become longer, more dependent and extraordinarily complex, cybercriminals are finding alarmingly innovative ways to attack them — and these strikes often trickle down to business partners, processes, information technology (IT) and equipment. Taylor Armerding writes in a recent Forbes article that attackers are increasingly aiming to leverage the relationships among supply chain stakeholders in order to breach every facet of the primary victim’s network.

Last night, several ASCM board members, key women team members and I joined 130 remarkable women, who were recognized at the annual Women in Manufacturing STEP Ahead Awards gala. The 100 honorees and 30 emerging leaders embody excellence from the factory floor to the C-suite and — perhaps most importantly — are committed to mentoring and supporting the next generation of female talent.

For those of us in the field, it’s no surprise that supply chain encourages innovation and generates high-paying, rewarding jobs. Thanks to a new joint research project by the Copenhagen Business School, Harvard Business School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the value of the supply chain economy is now evident to people of all backgrounds and disciplines.

The majority of people credit diversity and inclusion (D&I) programs with boosting both innovation and employee retention at their companies, according to an executive survey by global consulting firm Korn Ferry. Nevertheless, 59 percent of respondents say they still experience unconscious bias, which is defined as forming social stereotypes about certain groups outside of our conscious awareness.

There are approximately 190 million women working in supply chains around the world today. According to workers’ rights alliance the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), the reality for countless women is excessive hours, often spent in dangerous working conditions, and wages that are insufficient to make ends meet.

Increasingly, teenagers are choosing not to get a driver’s license at all. Likewise, more adults today are opting to forgo a car. Instead, they are living and working in big cities, enjoying the convenience and time savings of Uber, and electing to do their part to reduce planet-warming emissions. Even most automotive industry executives believe that a full 50 percent of current U.S. car owners will lose interest by 2025.

Today marks the beginning of International Women’s History Month, a global celebration of the social, economic and political achievements of women, as well as a call to advance gender equality worldwide.

Although only 19 percent of U.S. adults have engaged in a sharing-economy transaction, PwC research reveals that 83 percent of survey respondents believe these services make life more convenient and efficient, 76 percent say they are better for the environment, and 43 percent admit that owning things can feel like a burden.

Although the second-most popular Valentine’s Day confection was missing from store shelves this season, the conversation was kept alive — largely thanks to agile competitors who saw a market need and filled the emotional void with comparable offerings.

New regulations from the world’s fastest growing economy have undermined retailers’ business models and obstructed their sales in India’s burgeoning e-commerce sector.

When we talk about extreme weather statistics such as these, they are typically followed by warnings of disastrous sea levels, catastrophic Arctic ice decline, and life-threatening floods or hurricanes. “Not enough water to make Coke” and “sweltering Disney theme parks” do seem to pale in comparison. However, a recent Bloomberg article suggests that climate change will have a business impact that is devastating in its own way.

For months now, our dedicated board of directors, enthusiastic volunteers across the globe and talented staff have been working toward an exciting business transformation. I couldn’t be more excited to share with you that, as of January 22, we have officially become the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM).

Last year, the World Economic Forum vetted 1,000 manufacturers, eventually selecting the “lighthouses.” These advanced factories weather the storm with quick-thinking teams, the fastest shop-floor innovation and effective maximization of fourth-industrial-revolution technologies.

Here in the States, today is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day — a time when we recommit ourselves to ending modern-day slavery and exploitation. Although regulations on human trafficking are tightening, millions of people continue to suffer in every region of the world.

The digital factory boom that many industry experts are predicting — which will be built upon advanced supply chain planning, monitoring, optimization, control and integration — will undoubtedly hinge on smart manufacturing platforms.

2018 is just about in the books. With the New Year come new challenges, so we position ourselves to greet 2019 with confidence and positivity.

We keep hearing about the potential of the Internet of Things (IOT), but how will it help supply chain professionals specifically? Last week, Industrial Distribution ran “Improving Process Flows in the Delivery System through the Internet of Things,” which outlines the practical applications of IOT.

As last-mile delivery companies like Uber Eats expand their reach around the globe, it seems like you can order just about anything right to your doorstep. In Africa, one last-mile delivery company has expanded its operations to deliver more than just prepared food.

After months of trade challenges, world leaders recently made progress in complex negotiations.

The essence of machine learning is teaching computer programs to act like humans. Yet, as more supply chain professionals realize the value of mirroring company assets with artificial intelligence, it’s also clear that considerable value lies in teaching computer programs to act like other machines.

Consumers have increasing appetites for knowledge about where their food comes from. This Thanksgiving, major U.S. turkey brands served up additional details about the origins of their products thanks to the support of blockchain and other technologies.