sourcing

Kimberly-Clark Pursues Sustainable Wood Fiber Alternative

Kimberly-Clark, maker of well-known brands like Kleenex, Scott, and Huggies, has committed $100 million to build a plant in Yuma, Arizona to scale up production and testing of hesperaloe as an alternative fiber for wood pulp in its hygiene products.

This plant is part of a groundbreaking, long-term sustainability effort for its products such as toilet paper and paper towels.

Video Spotlight:

Kimberly-Clark to build new U.S. facility in Yuma (Aug 24, 2026, News 11 Yuma)

This […]

By Lisa M. Spencer|2026-09-29T06:52:36+00:00September 30, 2026|Tags: manufacturing, product design, quality, reshoring, sourcing, strategy, sustainability|

General Motors Parts Agreement Addresses Supply Chain Challenges

General Motors (GM) agreed to a financing arrangement with Procura Auto Parts LLC, a supply-chain management firm, to secure critical parts for continuous production amid supply chain disruptions.

Under the arrangement, Procura will prepay suppliers and store inventory on behalf of GM. Once the inventory is consumed in production, GM will repay Procura with irrevocable payment undertakings backed by a bank syndicate.

Video Spotlight:

GM reaches up to $4.5 billion parts deal designed to […]

By Anita Lee-Post, Ph.D.|2026-09-01T17:25:14+00:00September 16, 2026|Tags: AI activity, inventory, MRP, procurement, sourcing, supplier relationships, supply chain disruption, supply chain management|

WD-40 Faces Middle Eastern Supply Constraints

Prices continue to rise on everyday products that are made—at least partially—with raw materials and components sourced from Iran and neighboring countries.

Americans are feeling a pinch in their wallets as the US-Iranian War continues. WD-40, the globally known manufacturer of lubricating products, is experiencing increases in costs due to chemicals sourced from Middle Eastern countries and associated shipping constraints in the Strait of Hormuz. Gas prices are affected given the Middle East has long been […]

By James Kirby Easterling|2026-08-19T06:58:30+00:00August 23, 2026|Tags: chemicals, constraints, cost increases, petroleum, sourcing|

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|