Intro to Inventory Mgmt

Blanked Sailings Impact Supply Chains

Ocean shipping has become very difficult to plan in recent years.

Various disruptions have occurred, including COVID-related port closures, wars such as the Iran war impacting the Strait of Hormuz, and weather events such as reduced ship traffic through the Panama Canal due to droughts.

To further complicate ocean shipments, many shippers have increased blanked sailings. This happens when ocean carriers cancel a port stop or even an entire ship’s route. Shippers cite several reasons for blanked sailings, including bypassing a port […]

By Ross L. Fink, Ph.D.|2026-09-27T03:33:06+00:00September 27, 2026|Tags: blanked sailings, inventory management, logistics, scheduling, shipping, supply chain management|

O’Reilly Strengthens Operations with Private Labeling

Automobile parts retailer O’Reilly Automotive is prioritizing the development of its private label portfolio as it pursues greater product control.

A private labeled product is one made by a manufacturer for a retailer, with the product labeled under the retailer’s brand. O’Reilly’s private label sales accounted for more than 50% of total revenue during Q1 of the company’s fiscal year. Private labeling is also expected to build customer loyalty and improve margins.

According to company president Brent Kirby, “When supply chain constraints […]

By James Kirby Easterling|2026-08-02T07:28:33+00:00August 2, 2026|Tags: branding, private labels, sourcing, strategy, supply chain costs|

The Great KitKat Heist of 2026

In late March 2026, a truckload of over four hundred thousand KitKat bars was stolen in Italy, en route to Poland.

The truck was stopped by thieves who posed as police officers. The driver was restrained, but was unharmed. The truck and the cargo have not been recovered.

The KitKat bars were a special Formula 1 edition, reflecting the brand’s status as the Official Chocolate Bar of Formula 1. The candy bars were intended for distribution across Europe.

Nestlé was quick to respond. […]

By Ross L. Fink, Ph.D.|2026-07-01T22:31:56+00:00July 1, 2026|Tags: agile, cargo theft, crisis management, inventory management, project management, supply chain management, transparency|

Jet Fuel Supply Shortage Impacting Summer Travel

The price of jet fuel has doubled since the conflict with Iran began.

Some are concerned about supply shortages, especially during the busy summer travel months. Airlines are looking at a variety of options for dealing with these issues.

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