24 WESTERN PALLET
Supply Chain Trends Led by Labor Shortage
If you are struggling with labor, you aren't alone. MHI, the leading material handling trade association, has released the sixth in a series of MHI Annual Industry Reports developed in collaboration with Deloitte Consulting LLP. The 2019 MHI Annual Industry Report, titled “Elevating Supply Chain Digital Consciousness” provides new insights into trends and technologies that are having a dramatic business impact on supply chains and the people who run them.
Eight out of ten survey respondents believe digital supply chains will be the predominant model within just five years. The survey results also suggest that investment in supply chain innovation is at a critical inflection point, with a trend of declining investment from 2015 to 2018 being more than countered by a 95% increase in projected spending for 2019.
- 57% of respondents are planning new
technology investments totaling more
than $1 million over the next two
years (up 10% over last year’s survey)
- 34% plan to spend more than $5
million
- 22% plan to spend more than $10
million.
Manufacturing and supply chain professionals are facing many challenges but, according to the report, the top one continues to be hiring qualified workers (65%).
This year’s report provides updates on the innovative technologies MHI predicted would have the most potential to transform supply chains. The report also covers the potential of these technologies to disrupt the industry as well as their adoption rates and common barriers to adoption. The eleven technologies covered in the report are:
- Blockchain
- Robotics and automation
- Predictive analytics
- Internet of Things
- Artificial Intelligence
- Driverless vehicles and drones
- Wearable and mobile technology
- Inventory and network optimization
- Sensors and automatic identification
- Cloud computing and storage
- 3D printing
These eleven technologies work together to create next-generation supply chains that can meet these challenges because they are digital, on-demand and always-on.
“The pace of supply chain innovation over the six years of our survey is truly astounding, creating real and measurable competitive advantage for early adopters,” said George Prest, CEO of MHI. “With supply chain complexity showing no signs of slowing, the risk of inaction is only growing. Leading manufacturing and supply chain executives agree that technology is the key to future success.”
New Fire Retardant Wood Coating Is Made from Wood
A spray- or brush-applied fire retardant coating made from nanocellulose is well suited for improving the fire properties of wood based materials, say researchers. It reduces the access of oxygen to the surface, thus significantly inhibiting combustion. The coating is set to revolutionize the market for coatings used in the fire retardant treatment of construction materials. VTT has found an effective production method for the coating through piloting and is currently seeking a partner to commercialize the technology.
The fire retardant coating is based on HefCel technology (High-Consistency Enzymatic Fibrillation of Cellulose) developed and patented by VTT. HefCel technology enables the efficient and cost effective production of nanocellulose from wood-based pulp. The solids content of HefCel materials is ten times the solids content achieved with traditional manufacturing methods. This makes them well suited for uses where low water content is preferred: for example, paints and coatings, packaging and composites.
Nanocellulose has a natural tendency to adhere to wood and to form an airtight film on the surface of wood and various other small particles such as pigments. This makes nanocellulose-based coatings highly suitable for the protective treatment of wood surfaces. Combining HefCel nanocellulose with organic pigments forms a spray- or brush-applied, airtight film that prevents the access of oxygen through the coating and at the same time significantly inhibits combustion.
The idea was developed by VTT research scientists Vesa Kunnari and Jaakko Pere as part of the Design Driven Value Chains in the World of Cellulose (DWoC) project funded by Tekes (now Business Finland).
With its new piloting equipment VTT is now able to manufacture bigger HefCel batches. The research scientists were pleased with the quality of the first trial batch and the energy efficiency of the production method.. "We have many more good ideas about how to simplify the process and make it even more efficient, says Senior Scientist Panu Lahtinen from VTT.
Exploring the potential to commercialize the technology has been funded by Business Finland and under VTT's 'New knowledge and business from research ideas' funding program. A project implemented under the funding program studied, for example, the suitability of HefCel technology as a paint and coating industry raw material.