DC Velocity - February 2014

inbound

As Gerry Fay, chief global logistics and operations officer for Avnet Inc., told DC VELOCITY in an interview last year, talent development is a major focus for the global technology distributor. That’s one reason why the company sponsors the Avnet Tech Games, a competition designed to help college students prepare for real-world business situations while competing for scholarships.

The games test students’ knowledge, creativity, decision making, problem solving, and technical skills. Most of the events are technology focused, with an emphasis on software and systems design (sample titles: “Desktop Domination” and “Android App Showdown”). But two of the games will be of special interest to students of supply chain management and material handling. The JDA Supply Chain Challenge, one of the virtual games, challenges students to make decisions on forecasting, inventory management, capacity management, scheduling, and pricing for a fictional satellite receiver job shop. The Robot Race Obstacle Course, one of the on-site games, asks students to design a robot that can maneuver objects through different courses—a handy skill for anyone with an interest in automated guided vehicles (AGVs).

Registration is now open for both on-site and virtual games. The virtual games are open to college students nationwide. The on-site version of the competition will be held in Tempe, Ariz., in late April and is limited to Arizona students. For more information, go to http://avnettechgames.com.

Tech Games to test students’ supply chain chops

Here are some of the good deeds and charitable works performed by logistics and material handling companies: Logistics Customer Care Center in Indianapolis to exceed Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards for handicapped access specifically to accommodate military vets.

b Ocean carrier Evergreen Line has shipped seven 20-foot containers of relief supplies, at no charge, to the area affected by Typhoon Haiyan on behalf of the Malaysian humanitarian organization Crisis Relief Services &

Training (CREST).
b Employees of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier Southeastern Freight
Lines performed 1,323 total hours of community service in 2013 as part of the
“Southeastern Serves” program. More than 500 associates volunteered at such
organizations as Coats for the Cold in Knoxville, Tenn.; Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth
Homes in Dalton, Ga.; and the Charlotte Rescue Mission in Charlotte, N.C.

b Pegasus TransTech and its employees chose seven causes to support in the transportation industry and their local community during the holidays.

Employees chose to donate to Wreaths Across America, the Trucking Moves America campaign, Hope Is Here-Metropolitan Ministries, the Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, leukemia and lymphoma research, and the local Ronald McDonald House. Pegasus Trans Tech Corp. provides technology services to transportation companies.

Logistics gives back

Sales of material handling equipment are not just on the rebound, they’re on a roll. According to the latest Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing (MHEM) forecast released by MHI, new orders for material handling equipment rose 7 percent in 2013 and are expected to grow 8. 5 percent or more in 2014. That’s quite respectable, but it gets better: The organization expects new orders to jump by 12.0 percent in 2015, nearly double the rate in 2013. Shipments of material handling equipment grew 7. 4 percent in 2013, but that rate is expected to dip to 6. 7 percent in 2014. Growth will get back on track the following year, with a projected 10.7-per- cent increase.

MHI, an international trade association that represents the material handling, logistics, and supply chain industry and sponsors the ProMat and Modex trade shows, also announced its slate of officers for 2014– 2015. Dave Young, president of EGA Products Inc., will serve as chairman. John Paxton, vice president and general manager, Terex Corp., will serve as president. Gregg E. Goodner, president of Hytrol Conveyor Co. Inc., will be vice president, and E. Larry Strayhorn, CEO of SI Systems, will serve as Last Retiring Executive Chairman.